meridianday
Galaxy Girl
I am a Devilstar.
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 27-06-2001
Posts: 1640
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21-05-2007 10:46
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meridianday
Galaxy Girl
I am a Devilstar.
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 27-06-2001
Posts: 1640
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Heh, I don't think it's going to become a hobby for me. My husband's already done the glass blowing course twice and loves it (there's a fairly local evening class that he may start on in the autumn), and it was my go to have a turn. However, I don't particularly enjoy the risk of getting burnt and you'd be amazed how heavy the bits of glass are to heft about on the iron rods. So while it was an interesting experience, it's not something I'm likely to be doing again.
I am still struck by the experience of trying to get the glass out of the furnace. The glass is heated to 1050 celsius (or more), and at that temperature the entire inside of the furnace glows yellow hot. This makes it impossible to see the molten glass. As you open the door and a wave of eyebrow singeing heat reaches out for your eyebrows (it takes the hair off the back of your hands quite fast) you have to locate the molten glass by looking for the reflection of the iron rod in it. You pick up the glass by turning the rod in it, and it sticks on like glowing gloopy untouchable honey that within 2 minutes has cooled down enough to have lost all its flexibility. It is the most amazing physical demonstration of localised non-flaming heat I've ever experienced. Are flames even that hot?
My pottery kiln can get hotter, but the only way to look into it is through small holes that I bung up with, um, bungs anyway, so while I can see the glow I don't have to get so close to it. I can't feel it trying to remove my hair and skin.
Fascinating experience, anyway. If my pieces of glass turn out to be photographable - how do I photograph a paperweight? - I'll post pics of them after I've picked them up.
__________________
Mallanox : "My mother was Irish and my father was an alien. I was an only child and I dress funny."
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21-05-2007 14:51
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