Hand Blown Jar From Start To Finish      demo by: Mark Black

Here's a slide show of Mark blowing a small jar. Below you'll find a detailed
step-by-step description of the process!

As you scroll down this page captions pertain to the image below.

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Welcome to Glass Paradise.  Let's fire up the torch and have some fun!

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As you can see below, a large torch allows me to work with THICK Pyrex tubing.

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The process begins by pulling a point.

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Pure silver bullion is melted onto a quartz rod.

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The silver is placed into a 2000 degree flame...

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Silver oxides are fumed onto the surface of the tube.

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A borosilicate colored glass rod is melted in the flame.

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The color rod is carefully attached.
 
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The molten glass is spun around the tube.
 
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A clear glass rod is used to rake the pattern.

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The raked pattern in melted into the surface.

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The jar is gathered into a liquid bulb.

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It's most difficult to keep the piece centered as the glass becomes fluid...

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At this point the heat radiating from the glass becomes very INTENSE!

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Blowing out the jar gives it a symmetrical shape.

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The base is flattened by pushing down on a graphite pad.

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A claw is used to handle the glass while it's hot.

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Removing the glass point to open the vessel.
 
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Heating the lip so it becomes liquid again.
 
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Shaping the lip with a carbon rod.
 
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The final inspection.
 
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Thanks for visiting Glass Paradise   Welcome back anytime!        ~Mark Black  

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More demos coming soon...

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2008 studio remodel - "The Arsenal"

Anything is possible.