GATHERTHE GLASSHOUSE
ORDER 1 / 4A BEAD THE WIDTH OF A THUMBFAT AND EVEN
SOLIDWORKING
A HOT SHOP AFTERNOON
GATHER
A gather of glass is on the end of the pipe, white at the tip and dull red at the neck. Roll it to even the heat, breathe into it to open the wall, and knock it off before the daylight goes. Three orders and a bell.
R roll
SPACE puff
T temper
X trim
ESC pause
No pieces on the shelf yet.
PIPE DOWN
The glass waits.
The gather, the light and the order book are all where you left them.
SHOP NOTES
Four words on a hot pipe.
- HOLD R / ←
- Roll the pipe. Spinning carries the heat along the piece, flattens the underside on the marver, and fights the sag.
- HOLD SPACE / P
- Breathe in. The pressure front walks from the neck down the form, and the glass only answers where it is still soft.
- HOLD T
- Hold the piece in the glory hole. It softens all over, the dents can be worked back out, and the piece comes out carrying stress. Hold it too long and it over-heats.
- X / ENTER
- Knock the piece off the pipe. Too hot and it whips on the plate. Too cold or never breathed into and it is a lump.
- G
- Pull a fresh gather and start the order over.
- M / ESC / H
- Mute / pause / these notes.
The glow is the temperature. Straw and orange is workable, white is on the edge, and dull red has stopped moving. The ring around the piece shows where you are against the band the marver will forgive. Blowing into cold glass only sets a dent.
THE PIECE IS OFF THE PIPE
It rings.
The kiln is shut and the bench is dark.