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	Home Page --> Tutorial Lesson 13, Bending Glass

Bends

Bends may be accomplished in two ways. The first involves rotating the glass tubing in the flame. The second method is used when the glass cannot be rotated (ex. the glass is attached to a vacuum line), so the torch flame is moved around the glass.

Option #1 - Rotating the Glass

1. Select a piece of 10 mm glass tubing about 16 inches long. Attach a blowhose to one end. The other end should be sealed.

2. Adjust the flame on your torch or burner to a bushy hot flame - between a sharp and annealing setting.

3. Rotate the glass tubing in the flame, simultaneously moving the glass back and forth over a 3 inch range.

4. When the glass develops a feeling of a cooked noodle (you'll know it when you feel it) remove it from the flame, stop rotating, and bend. Blow while bending to maintain the ID and OD.

   

Option #2 - Rotating the Flame

1. Mount a pice of 10 mm tubing vertically in a ring stand. The clamp should be near the end rather than centered.

2. Attach a blow hose to the tube at the clamped end (a)

3. Using a bushy hot flame, rotate the torch around the tubing, evenly heating an area of tubing at least 2 inches in length. Hand support the tube at point (b).

4. When the tube softens to a cooked noodle consistency, remove the torch, bend, and blow to maintain the ID and OD.



Tip: Try to avoid attaching anything other than a cork at end (b) of the tube prior to bending. Excessive or off-balance weight (ex. blowhose) at this end may cause some difficulty in creating a smooth bend. You may want to attempt bends with the tube held in a vertical position as well as the horizontal position shown.

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