torchwork
Flame-based glass manipulation
Torchwork is glassworking done with a torch or flame rather than in a furnace, allowing artisans to heat and shape glass rods and tubes into beads, figurines, marbles, and decorative objects.
The technique is also called lampworking or flameworking, reflecting its origins when oil lamps provided the heat source.
She learned torchwork to make handcrafted glass beads for her jewelry business.
Torch-based glass shaping
- borosilicateHeat-tolerant glass compound
- beadsSmall pierced ornaments for stringing
- pendantsJewelry that hangs
- marblesSmall spherical game pieces
paperweights · goblets · figurines · ornaments · sculpting · blowing · molten · annealing
Breath-propelled projectile tube
- kilnOven for hardening clay
- mandrelAxle for machining
- tongsHinged grasping utensil
- tweezersPincerlike gripping instrument
graphite · paddle · jacks · ventilation · workbench · oxygen · propane · regulator
Shaped three-dimensional art
- vesselsCarriers or containers
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
- beadmakingCreating small pierced ornaments
- miniaturesTiny representations of larger things
marbles · ornaments · pendants · gallery · exhibition · artisan · craftsmanship · design
Raising temperature artificially
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
- shapingGiving something its form
- pullingForce toward oneself
- twistingRotating with distortion
encasing · layering · fuming · reducing · striking · annealing · cooling · gathering
Low-temp metal fusion
- brazingFiller-metal bonding process
- weldingHeat-fusing metal pieces
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
silversmithing · goldsmithing · enameling · granulation · filigree · metalsmithing · fabrication · fusing
lampworking
Torch-based glass shaping
- borosilicateHeat-tolerant glass compound
- beadsSmall pierced ornaments for stringing
- pendantsJewelry that hangs
marbles · paperweights · goblets · figurines · ornaments · sculpting · blowing · molten · annealing · kiln
blowpipe
Breath-propelled projectile tube
tweezers · graphite · paddle · jacks · ventilation · workbench · oxygen · propane · regulator · annealer
sculpture
Shaped three-dimensional art
- vesselsCarriers or containers
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
- beadmakingCreating small pierced ornaments
miniatures · marbles · ornaments · pendants · gallery · exhibition · artisan · craftsmanship · design · aesthetics
heating
Raising temperature artificially
twisting · encasing · layering · fuming · reducing · striking · annealing · cooling · gathering · winding
soldering
Low-temp metal fusion
jewelry · silversmithing · goldsmithing · enameling · granulation · filigree · metalsmithing · fabrication · fusing · joining
torchworkglass cutting
Severing transparent sheets precisely
glass engraving · sandblasting · acid etching · pâte de verre · slumping
torchworkhot glass
Heated workable silica
glassblowing · slumping · fusing · coldworking · cutting