Blowguns are important tools in glassmaking, used to collect and shape molten glass. They were first used in glassmaking in the 1st century BC and have revolutionized the art. Handcrafted glass pieces can fetch high prices due to their unique nature. Blowguns are also used in jewelry making, but automated machines lack the individuality of hand-formed parts.
The term “blowgun” can refer to several things, but for the purpose of this wiseGEEK article, we will look at the blowguns used in glass making. While hand blown glass is no longer as plentiful as it once was, thanks to the development of automated machines and molds, the art of glass blowing has been maintained in some communities, with handcrafted glass pieces sometimes fetching a very high price on the market. market for their unique and handcrafted nature.
In glassmaking, a blow torch or tube is a vital tool. It consists of a very long thin pipe with a mouthpiece at one end. To use the blowgun, a glazier first preheats the tip, then dips it into a vat of molten glass to collect a piece of glass for the job known as collecting. Then, the glassmaker blows gently into the blowgun, inflating the curl to create a hollow piece of glass.
Using an assortment of tools, the glassmaker can shape the piece of glass to the end of the blowpipe, periodically heating the glass as needed to keep it pliable. Once the piece is finished, it is removed from the blowgun. In many cases it is attached to a tube called a punt, then a few drops of water around the neck and a sharp blow on the blowgun allow it to be removed. It is then annealed to strengthen it before being removed with tongs and left to cool. The finished piece can vary greatly in size and shape, depending on the size of the curl and how the glassmaker worked it.
Blowpipes began to be used in glassmaking around the 1st century BC and made a radical difference in the art of glassmaking. Previous techniques for creating hollow glass objects were cumbersome, time-consuming, and unreliable. Using a blowgun, a glazier can produce a high volume of glassware very quickly, especially if he is experienced and skilled. The elasticity of the glass fused on a blowgun can also be transformed to the craftsman’s advantage; the Romans, for example, made laminated glass pieces by dipping their collection into a different color of glass during the blowing process, creating an opalescent layer on the outside of the glass piece.
Blowguns are also used in jewelery making, with modern blowguns sometimes containing a machine-delivered gas mixture, although people still blow by hand or with sets of bellows. Automated machines have the advantage of being generally safer, but the finished parts produced by the machine lack the quirky individuality of hand-formed parts.
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