Chicago Hot Glass

Glassblowing, also known as off hand glass blowing or furnace glass blowing, is the process of making hollow vessels and sculptural objects out of hot liquid glass. Liquid glass is gathered out of a large furnace on steel pipes which are used to inflate the glass like a balloon. The glass bubble can then be shaped and sculpted with a variety of hand tools into vessels and other forms. Solid glass can also be sculpted in the same way. Glass cools rapidly so after about 30 to 50 seconds of manipulation the glass must be reheated in a heating chamber called a glory hole. Additional bits of hot glass can be added to form handles, stems and sculptural elements.

Flameworking, also known as lampworking, is the process of heating small glass rods in the flame of a small torch in order make beads, pendants and small scale sculptures. Flameworkers use either borosilicate i.e. hard glass (Pyrex and other brands) or soft glass (Morretti and other brands). Soft glass is commonly used for bead making while borosilicate is often used for small vessels, such as goblets, and small scale sculpture.

Glass fusing and slumping is the process of cutting up pieces of flat glass, arranging it in patterns and firing it in a kiln until all the separate pieces melt together. Flat glass can also be placed onto or into molds to create three dimensional forms.

Chicago Hot Glass offers classes, lessons and rental facilities in all three of the glass disciplines mentioned above. Call today to book a class!