Lampwork Bead Artists Sell Quality Beads
by Jocelyn Davidson
The ancient art of lampworking was widely used in Italy in the 1300s. From there it spread to the rest of Europe and eventually further afield to the Americas and the rest of the world. Today there are <A href="http://www.ptcarberry.com">lampwork bead artists</A> found in most countries in the world.
Many of them prefer to work from their home studios where they painstakingly produce their unique creations. They are made one at a time using different colors, styles and techniques. Some have created their own recognizable style through many years of working with beads. They are so devoted to producing quality products that they have no hesitation in offering guarantees to customers.
The most commonly used types of glass are soda-lime and borosilicate. The first is soft and comes in many colors. Borosilicate is hard, more expensive and fewer colors are available. It also needs a higher temperature requiring use of larger torches and oxygen instead of air. However, it is less likely to crack.
Unlike glass blowers who require a furnace, these artisans use torches. A torch may be attached to a bench for a more stationary flame whilst a hand held one offers heat that can be maneuvered. A wire called a mandrel is used and it is coated with a substance that prevents the glass from sticking to it. A pick made of tungsten allows holes to be bored in beads and a reamer made of graphite is used to enlarge them. A kiln is necessary for annealing the beads.
It is important for a lampworker to introduce a glass rod slowly into the flame so as not to break it. The mandrel is dipped into a releaser so molten glass does not stick to it. It is heated and rotated while the molten glass is wound onto it, forming the base for the bead. The combination of the heat, gravity and use of several tools go into creating the shape of beads.
A combination of heat, tools and gravity are used for shaping of the beads. They can then be decorated using various different techniques and materials. Fibers of glass may be melted onto the surface. Copper, silver or gold may be applied in the form of metal leaf, wire or mesh. When colors with a silver base are used, a technique called striking has to be used.
Methods that work with glass in its cold state are called cold working techniques. Sandblasting, cutting, grinding, polishing and painting are some of these techniques, each offering an array of possibilities. Grinding wheels may are used to roughly facet it and an acid can be applied to the surface to frost it. The glass has to be cooled at a specific temperature in a kiln. If this is done too slowly, it becomes stressed causing it to crack. Many mass produced products do not go through this process or it is not done correctly.
An artisan lampworker will ensure that holes in beads are cleaned properly and do not have rough edges that can cut the stringing material. If they are not cleaned properly, the dust from the releasing agent is hazardous to inhale. Artist made beads are more expensive but they often vastly increase the quality of jewelry made with them.
Assign the services of competent <a href="http://www.ptcarberry.com">lampwork bead artists</a> by obtaining all the contact details from the Web. To reach the recommended website right away, visit http://www.ptcarberry.com.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Lampwork Bead Artists Sell Quality Beads
Author: Jocelyn Davidson
Email: nathanwebster335@live.com
Keywords: jewelry, fashion, clothing, style
Word Count: 549
Category: Jewelry
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