Beadmaking Tech Sheet # 2- Torches, Gas and Other Tools- Zenia See
Torches, Gas and
Tools
The second of the two most important things in beadmaking
is, of course, the source of heat that is used to melt the glass. Torches
come in all shapes and sizes, as well as different gas mixes. Depending on the
glass you are working with, the size of your beads and how detailed they are will
help you decide which torch is best for you.
Gas
There are two main categories of gas systems- a single fuel and a multi
fuel system. The single fuel systems rely only on Propane or MAPP gas, and the
multi fuel systems use a concentration of oxygen as well as propane or natural
gas. The single fuel systems are great for beginners, they are more cost
effective and they work well enough to learn how the glass acts in the heat.
The multi fuel systems are much hotter flames due to the oxygen speeding up the
combustion reaction. Because these systems are hotter they make working with
the glass much easier. If you want to invest in this hobby- a multi fuel system
is the way to go. The hotter flame allows for much less frustration and a lot
more productive fun! Propane is the easiest gas to get a hold of unless you tap
right into your natural gas line. Oxygen is available in either tanks or
through the use of a refurbished medical oxygen generator. The tanks can be
cumbersome and problematic while the generators are perfect for an endless
supply of oxygen!
Torches
The torch is important for how easy or how difficult the learning process
will be. Torches come in all shapes and sizes and you need to know before you
purchase one what kind of work you are going to be doing. The best torch for a
beginner is a single fuel system (Hot Head) mainly because it is cheap, it
softens the glass enough to get a feel for it, and from there you can move onto
larger and hotter flames. It is a great way to start…baby steps! After
you decide that you looooooove beadmaking
and just cant get enough of it then you can look at the multi fuel systems. The
most popular torch for beadmakers is the Minor Burner
(by Nortel and sold at FIG) because this has the perfect flame for Soft Glass.
It is a multi fuel system which makes the flame hotter and it can work in a
neutral, reducing or oxidizing flame. The flame can also be manipulated from approximately
an inch down to a very thin point of a flame in width that allows for great
detail to be added to beads. If you are going to use hard glass you will need a
hotter torch with a bigger flame, there are two main options, the Mid-Range
burner and the Major Burner. The Mid-Range Burner is great because it gets hot
enough to work with Boro and it also has a Minor
Burner on Top of the larger burner so there is more of an advantage in working
with larger or smaller pieces as well as the glass you are working with. The
Mid Range allows you to work with hard and soft glass. If you are strictly
going to work with hard glass the Major torch is a good choice. It is a very
hot torch and it will allow you to manipulate the glass much easier than any
other torch. It is almost too hot for soft glass.
Hand Tools
Before you turn your torch on and start playing make
sure you have a few MUST HAVE tools. The most important tool is a pair of Didymium
glasses- they reduce the appearance of the soda flare that is given off (you
mean scotch isn’t the most important tool Zenia…Dad).
Not only do they get rid of that bright orange flare but they act as a good
safety feature against those flying bits of glass that happen when the rods
thermal shock (face it everyone will do it!!)
Now that you have the glasses, the glass and the torch system all set up
it is now time to play!! Wait! You are missing something! Now you need
something to wrap your glass onto so you can make those works of art you have
been waiting to do! This little tool that you will become quite familiar with
is called the mandrel (named after Howie?...Dad) it is a stainless
steel rod (available in varying diameters) that is used as a base for you
melted glass to be shaped on. The stainless steel is a good material because
can go in the kiln without melting and it is a poor conductor of heat which
allows for you to hold the mandrel comfortably without worrying about it
getting to hot. The only thing about mandrels is that the glass will fuse
itself to the mandrel and you will not be able to get the bead off after it is
annealed. This can be avoided by the use of a Bead Release which acts the same as kiln wash and does not allow
the glass to stick to the mandrel. The bead release just flakes off after it is
used, so make sure to reapply after each use! Just be careful that it does not
crack in the flame!
Up to this point everything mentioned is pretty much a must have. There
are some hand tools that are definitely useful to a beadmaker-
one in particular is a pair of tweezers or bent needle nosed pliers. They are
both great for pulling smaller stringers, tweazing
your eyebrows and even adding decoration to your beads. If you are only going
to buy one tool a marver would probably be your most
used tool (the pliers you can always borrow from your dad!). The marver is a way of shaping the glass they come in a variety
of materials and sizes. Some marvers come with angled
sides or are just a rectangle- both are just as useful. Any other objects that
you find that help you make your beads is great!
(Maybe the next trip to the dentist won’t be so bad after all! Wink wink).
Safety Setting Up a
Studio
Just
a few pointers when you are setting up your studio…
1) make sure it is well ventilated (a fume hood might
be a good idea)
2) a metal work surface is a good idea in case you drop
a hot piece of glass or something happens with your torch the metal will not
ignite
3) Make sure that you are working in an area away from
the pets, pests… oops, I meant kids. When the glass shocks and pops the
pieces will end up in random places that you won’t even think of!
4) Insurance companies will frown on a regular full
size BBQ tank inside the house but the use of the smaller 5 lb tank is fine.