How to Blow Glass

Step1

So you want to blow glass... good luck, your going to need it. Before you can satisfy that itch you got to find a place to blow and set up shop. Garages, basements, and sheds are the best unless you have 100k to open a shop.

Step2

You'll first need to make a workstation. Make a workbench that's inclosed on four sides; sides of the table, behind the table, and a cover a few feet above the table, this is the hood, leaving one side open for you to work at. Place a sheet of aluminum on the top of the table. This is so when you piece explodes or you drop hot glass it won't start a fire. Put a hole in the back of the hood for your exhaust fan. You can have the fan on top of the hood if you want but its going to pull your flame up.

Step3

Next you want to mount your torch to your table. I screw mine down, there's a lot of force coming out of that thing and you don't want 24 hundred degrees staring you in the face, thou you wont see it for long.

Step4

Find a place about ten feet away (min), out of the way for your O2 and propane tanks. Connect the pressure gauges and flashback arresters to them and run your rubber gas lines to you torch. Make sure that the lines wont be in the way or get destroyed were ever they are.

Step5

Your going to wont to keep your kiln close but out of the way. Mine sits right behind me on the counter so I can just turn around and grab or kiln.

Step6

So the important part is done, you got your workstation, gas is flowing, the fan is sucking and your kiln needs to be filled. Start blowing, There are many different ways and techniques used to blow glass. I personally make glass tobacco products and other things of the sort. I will probably be making articles on what I know.