Glassblowers
A glassblower coiled the long tube of glass used in Galileo’s
thermometer.
A team of glassblowers fashioned the light bulb for Thomas Edison,
as well as the necessary glass vacuum pumps.
And a glassblower assisted Vladimir Zworykin in developing the
tube that evolved into the television.
p.s I havent done anything as great as this yet.
The list goes on but I will not bore you with more glassblowing
firsts, plenty below to bore you silly. Glassblowing is made up of
lots of different categories one of those is
the
Scientific and Medical Glassblower.
This is the apprenticeship I served,
it was a seven year apprenticeship.
Scientific and Medical Glassblowers
The basic responsibility of a scientific glassblower is to to assist
the researcher consulting with research groups to determine their
custom glassware needs and advise them about what can and cannot be fabricated.
THE WORK
The glassblower works from discussions or sketches developed by or
in consultation with the research staff, to create special apparatus or
any other experimental research equipment they can dream up,
( If you can draw it I can make it ) in
Pyrex, quartz, soda or even lead glass which may have glass to metal
seals involved in the construction.
Advice is often sought on various problems with the use or maintenance
of apparatus such as Vacuum lines.
Scientific glassblowers are not usually
asked for run of the mill glassware our function is to build apparatus
you can't buy hence the seven year apprenticeship and not a three year
one.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW GLASSWARE.
Time consuming but very interesting I haven't had a lot of time to
do this lately.
REPAIR of GLASSWARE only
if its " CLEAN" click here
for more information
MACHINERY IN THE WORKSHOP.
Bench burners, torches, glassblowing lathe, half chuck, mini lathe,
lathe burners, diamond saw/drills, grinding machine, annealing oven, full
set of grinding compounds also maintains and repairs glassblowing equipment.
CHEMICALS USED IN THE WORKSHOP
Sodium nitrite, Silver Nitrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ammonia,
Dextrose, Nitric Acid, Ethanol, Acetone , Toluene, Hydrofluoric Acid .
OFFICE WORK
Stock control, the stock in the workshop consists of over 500
separate items of glass materials.
Inventory of supplies/suppliers, purchases supplies, packing and shipping
of glassware.
Maintains records of time and supplies used on each job; bills to appropriate
grant code.
DRAWINGS
Drawings of all glassware constructed can obtained from the workshop.
DEMONSTRATIONS when asked.
TEACHING. At least once or twice a year teach a student/s
the glassblowing basics or a bit beyond if needed.
OTHER, SKILLS.
Knowledge of the tools, equipment, materials, methods, and practices
of the glass blowing trade.
Knowledge of the types, grades, of glassware and their properties as
related to glass blowing operations.
Knowledge of the occupational hazard and safety precautions of the
trade.
Ability to interact effectively with clients to determine their glassware
needs.
Ability to perform design work from verbal or written instructions
and rough sketches.
Ability to use and care for tools and equipment common to the glass
blowing trade.
THINGS YOU WOULDNT THINK COULD BE OF ANY USE TO A GLASSBLOWER
BUT ARE A NECESSITY.
Corrugated paper (this is a must )
Copper wire (another must )
String
Plastic bags
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