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Lampwork glass beads

· 1 min read · Techniques

Illustration: Lampwork glass beads

In lampworking, a glass rod is heated in a flame until soft and wound around a metal mandrel to form a bead.

Steps of the technique: Prepare the mandrel, Heat the glass, Wind, Shape, Decorate, Anneal
Summary of the steps

How it is done #

  1. The mandrel is coated with a release agent.
  2. Glass is melted in the flame and wound onto the mandrel.
  3. It is shaped with tools and decorated with dots, lines or threads of other colors.
  4. The bead is annealed in a kiln to remove stress and removed from the mandrel.

COE #

Glass has a coefficient of expansion (COE) that must match among the glasses mixed; otherwise the bead cracks.

Tradition #

Murano and millefiori (“thousand flowers”) beads are famous.

Safety #

Glasses with a filter, ventilation and care with the flame.

Step by step #

  1. Prepare the mandrel. Coat it with release agent.
  2. Heat the glass. In the flame, until soft.
  3. Wind. Around the mandrel.
  4. Shape. Turn and mold.
  5. Decorate. Dots, lines and colored threads.
  6. Anneal. In a kiln; then remove the mandrel.

Tools and materials #

  • Bench torch
  • Glass rods (same COE)
  • Mandrels and release agent
  • Annealing kiln and filter glasses

Common mistakes #

  • Mixing glasses with different COE.
  • Not annealing: the bead breaks.
  • Flame without ventilation.
  • Heating too suddenly.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.