Burners and Torches: National Handtorch Type 3A Blowpipe
Burners and Torches: National Handtorch Type 3A Blowpipe
Burners and Torches: National Handtorch Type 3A Blowpipe
Surface-mix torches and burners are used most frequently when large
areas of glass need to be worked. Oxygen and fuel gases are mixed at
the torch tip. The flame characteristics tend to be broader and softer,
with less velocity than a comparable sized flame from the pre-mix
torch. This is a good torch to use when preheating a large piece of glass
apparatus for repair, or when shaping large tubing. An excellent
example of a burner that incorporates surface-mix and pre-mix
capabilities would be the Carlisle CC Burner.
There are many other makes and models of burners and torches
available to the glassblower. Their different flame and body
characteristics determine their application in the glassblowing field.
Review all safety procedures. Think out what it is that you will be
doing and know what action to take if something happens different than
expected. Read through the instruction text to prepare for the exercise.
It is best to avoid surprises at this stage of instruction!
Light Up
Flame sizes are determined by what you are attempting to do with the
glass. Only glass that has been heated to the working point range will
be soft enough for you to form into the shapes or seals desired. Heating
an area of glass 10 mm in diameter means only 10 mm of glass will be
hot enough to to shape or form. Logically it would follow you do not
heat an area 30 mm in diameter to seal on a tube that is only 10 mm
OD. Match the area of hot glass to the size of the seal.
To shut down and relieve all positive pressure from the gas delivery
system:
1. Close valve at the gas source.
2. Open valves at the torch and burn off released gas.
3. Back off pressure adjusting screw at the regulator(s).
Cutting Glass
Glass tubing and rod come in four (4) foot lengths and metric diameters.
Four feet of tubing is rather awkward to handle in the flame so we need
to cut it down to a manageable size. Select tubing of 10 mm OD and
place on a flat surface. Mark the glass into 16 inch lengths.
Option #1
Option 2.
1. Hold glass tubing in one hand
2. Hold tungsten carbide knife in vertical position with other hand.
Place glass tubing between your thumb and knife, hold firmly -
horizontal and close to your body for support and stability.
3. Twist hand with knife - creating scratch.
4. Break tubing as in Option #1- step 4.
Option 3.
Option 4. Access to a glass saw or cut-off wheel can make this process easier for some.
Rotation
This is a difficult skill to develop and the lesson plan will minimize its
use. However, it is a valuable and worthwhile skill to acquire and your
glass products will reflect your proficiency in rotating glass tubing.
1. Select a glass tube from the previous lesson.
2. Grasp the tubing with both hands and hold horizontally.
3. Rotate glass in a clockwise (top away from you) direction.
Tip: Hold hands palm down. Thumb and pointer finger will serve
as the "motors" turning the glass tubing. Remaining fingers squeeze the
tubing against your palm. These fingers serve as a sleeve bearing,
aiding in the support and stability of the glass tube while rotating.
To self-test your mastery of rotation skills, select two pieces of glass
tubing 10 mm OD and approximately 8 inches in length. Place one
piece of tubing in each hand and practice rotation, aligning each tube to
the same imaginary centerline. Synchronize rotation and observe for
consistent alignment.
Fire polishing the ends of glass tubing and rod will seal small cracks in
the end wall, reducing the chance of fractures originating from this
source. Fire polishing ends will also reduce cuts and abrasions to you or
anything (corks, latex tubing, etc.) coming in contact with the glass end.
1. Cut 10 mm tubing into 16 inch lengths (or use tubing from previous
lesson).
2. Light and adjust torch flame (sharp/soft).
3. Fire polish by rotating the glass tube end in the flame.
A good fire polish has a smooth finish and the ID and OD of the glass
tube remains unchanged.
Tip: Hold the glass tube in a declining or horizontal position
with the tube end angled away from you. This will prevent the flame
from traveling up the tube and out the far end, possibly resulting in a
burn.
Annealing
Use a soft, bushy annealing flame to "brush" away the stress areas
located in and around the area of your fire polish and other seals you
will learn to make. Think of your flame as an artists paint brush. The
strain (paint) needs to blend into the surrounding glass smoothly, with
no jagged edges.
Test Tubes
Test tubes are relatively easy to make, frequently used, and give you an
opportunity to practice rotation and fire polishing skills. This exercise
will introduce you to the process of blowing into the glass, forming and
shaping the tube end.
1. Select 10 to 18 mm OD tubing - 16 inch lengths with fire polished
ends.
2. Light torch and adjust flame to match tubing diameter.
3. Grasp tubing with both hands - rotate.
4. Place rotating tube in flame at the half-way (8") point.
5. When the tube softens (cooked noodle au dente?) and constricts to
half its original diameter, remove from the flame, do not stop rotating,
and slowly pull about 6" apart.
6. Place tubing back into flame and burn off into two equal lengths.
This exercise is known as pulling points. Place the points on the hot
glass rest to cool.
Tip: Roll the glass point (after cooling) on a flat surface. If your
rotation is good the glass tube and "point" will be centered.......no
wobble!
7. Adjust your flame to a sharp/intense profile.
8. Place the shoulder of the glass point into the flame at an angle -
rotating at all times - and pull off the excess glass, leaving a semi-
rounded bottom.
9. Attach the blowhose assembly to the glass tube.
10. Reheat the tube bottom to the working point temperature and blow
(little puffs), shaping the tube bottom.
11. Anneal
Butt Seals
Option # 1
1. Cut tubing into 8" - 12" lengths, fire polish ends.
2. Attach blowhose assembly to one tube.
3. Seal second tube with a cork or use a test tube bottom from the
previous lesson.
4. Light torch and adjust flame.
5. Rotate ends of glass tubing (as if fire polishing) in flame.
6. When tube ends are red hot remove from flame, stop rotating, push
tubes together making contact all around.
7. Back to the torch, keep the flame concentrated directly on the seal,
rotate and blow, maintaining ID and OD.
8. Anneal
Option # 2
This option does not require rotation. It does require the glassblower to
hold and manipulate the torch around the glass tube that is held in a
standard laboratory ring stand.
1. Clamp tube #1 vertically in a ring stand. Tube end about chin high
with blow hose attached.
2. Hold in one hand the torch adjusted to a sharp flame. A sealed tube
(#2) is held in the other hand.
3. Sweep flame back and forth across the end of tube #1, concentrating
on the back half of the tube.
4. Tube #2 is simultaneously held directly above tube #1 at a slight
angle. This tube will also be heated as in step 3.
5. Bring tube #2 down contacting the back of tube #1, continue to
sweep flame back and forth across the tube ends.
6. Continue to bring tube #2 down onto #1 making complete contact
around the circumference. With practice steps 5 and 6 are completed in
a quick smooth continuous motion.
7. Using a small sharp flame, work out the seal by heating small
sections of the seal at a time.
8. Anneal
Tip: Heating large areas of of glass using this technique may give
you control problems at step #6. Concentrating your heat on
approximately 20 % of the tube diameter at a time should give you the
best results.