Tips For Glass Blowing

Glass blowing is both art and skill. You will get immense pleasure if you do it properly but if you are careless and not properly known your trade then disaster may be inevitable. You may hear so much hues and cries about the dangers of blowing glass but most are exaggerated. If you look at any accident then you will know immediately that the accident happens due to poor environment, not taking proper care and lack of knowledge. Many people regularly do the glass blowing without any problems. Following are some of the tips which may be useful if you are in the field of glass blowing.

1. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. You must have a first aid box ready. If you are beginners then it is possible to get some cuts and burns even if you are careful. If that happens then you don't have to run all the way from your studio to the chemist shop. Your first aid box must have the medicine for burns and cuts apart from other emergency things. However as you become more skilled the frequency of burns and cuts will be reduced to minimum.

2. Plan your entire project in advance. Don't keep it in your head. Write it down on a paper and do the necessary changes before you start a project. Many projects which are started without any planning will ends up in disaster. While doing the planning, give special attention on type of glass you are going to use and different types of tools required. Keep all the materials and tools ready before starting the project.

3. Understand the properties of your glass. Each glass reacts differently in different conditions. If you don't know it before starting a project then you will be in for the great surprises.

4. Don't start with very ambitious or complicated project that require great skill. Instead start with the simple project like join the two or three pieces of glass. Practice until you acquire the basic skill of glass blowing and then move on to the more complex processes.

5. For cutting a piece of glass, use simple file or knife made up of tungsten carbide material. Never try to cut the glass with the saw.