Here is my finished vessel! Fresh out of the kiln with my wire wrapping treatment! |
In making a Vessel, the REAL first steps are to have the proper equipment, tools and safety material. Always wear protective glasses and clothing. Have a fire extinguisher avaialable at all times and cool water for any burns. Have your work area properly ventilated and covered with the appropriate non flammable surfaces. Read as much as you can on the lampworking process, take classes, and practice, practice, practice!! Most of all relax, listen to some good music, and HAVE FUN! |
1. Start by heating the tip of your glass rod to a nice molten ball. Get a nice coil of glass all the way down the end of a mandrel. I am using light ivory glass here. I usually start about an inch and a half away from the end of the mandrel and work my way down to the end, including covering the tip end of the mandrel. (I am using a 1/8 inch mandrel here). |
2. Heat and then marver the glass to a nice slender vessel shape. Remember to constantly keep heating all areas of the vessel in the flame. |
3. Take the vessel out of the flame and let cool for just a few seconds. Now roll onto the silver foil. Always place your foil on a flame resistant surface. |
4. After rolling entire vessel in the silver foil, roll again on your marver to get the silver foil to lay smoothly against the vessel. Your vessel should now look something like this. Make sure not to keep it out of the flame for too long. |
5. Be careful not to burn off any of the silver foil. Do this by keeping the vessel heated high in the flame. Then begin to apply an encasing layer of coils over the foil in the transparent color of your choice. I am using light grass green here. |
6. Continue coiling the hot glass all the way down the length of the vessel just like you did with the first base layer of your vessel and enclose the tip end as well. |
8. Again heat and then marver the glass into a nice vessel shape. |
9. You can use the end of your stationary or hand held marving pads to shape up the top of the vessel. |
10. You can use a marble mold to shape the end of your vessel. |
11. After heating the top area gently press in with the tip of your tapered marver to make an impression in the glass. Roll your vessel all the way around in this manner to create your vessel lip. |
13. Make an accent bead for your vessel topper by starting with a base of light ivory. |
14. After taking the bead out of the flame let cool for a few seconds. Then roll your bead on the silver foil. Again make sure your foil is on a flame resistant surface. After applying foil keep bead warm in flame. To avoid burning off silver keep in high flame. |
15. Now you are ready to apply a layer of transparent glass. I am using the light grass green to match my vessel. |
16. Shape your bead into a nice shape and now it is ready for the kiln. |
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