2023 list of scientific glassblowing tools and supplies [updated] (2023)

Scientific glassblowing is a special type of glassblowing process that focuses on the manufacture of devices and apparatus used for scientific research and production.

These applications are commonly found in laboratories and industrial settings where scientific glassware is commonly used and specifically designed for chemical processes. This special craft can also be called lampwork.

The materials commonly used in scientific glassblowing are usually quartz or borosilicate glass, since scientific glassblowers often start with pieces of glass.

The tools associated with scientific glassblowing are very unique to the trade, so the following list may be of great help to those who are new to scientific glassblowing. Not only will the essential scientific glassblowing tools be discussed, but also safety equipment and personal protective equipment.

Complete list of scientific glassblowing tools

1) Flashlight

The most important piece of equipment in a scientific glassblowing workshop is the torch or lighter. These pieces provide the heat source for working with hot glass at the right temperature to facilitate shaping and shaping a piece of glass. Flashlights for lamp work can be expensive, but they're worth it if you're working with delicate glassware.

2) Blow hose

Isblower(or blowpipe) is an important tool used by scientific glassblowers to create glass shapes and forms for scientific applications. This glassblowing tool is aptly known as a blowpipe, as the glassblower blows air through it into the glassware to give it shape. The blow hose itself consists of a tube with a nozzle at the end for the glass blower. The tube of the blow hose is usually made of latex material.

3) Swivel

The end of the blow hose that is not connected to a nozzle serves as the end to which the glassware attaches. To connect the glassware, the tube of the blow hose must be connected to a swivel, which in turn is connected to a rubber fitting that actually makes contact with the glassware.

The swivel is a transition fitting made of brass or stainless steel. The swivel may be in the form of a right angle fitting or a straight fitting. This device facilitates the rotation of the glassware by keeping the position of the blowing tube fixed.

4) hoses and rubber plugs

There are a variety of blow hose connectors for use at the other end of the tube to serve as a means of connecting the blow hose to the glassware to be formed. This accessory consists of rubber hoses and plugs that may vary in size. The variety of sizes available allows glassblowers to choose the right size that suits their glassware starting materials.

Multiplugs are another type of rubber plug that can be used for this function. These stoppers are available in rings of different sizes, allowing glassblowers to easily vary the size of the connections to the glassware.

5) Graphite Blades

Most scientific glassblowing tools, with the exception of the blow hose assembly, are made of graphite. Graphite tools are commonly used in the scientific glassblowing trade because the physical properties of graphite allow the material to withstand high temperatures.

Graphite is also a great material for scientific glass blowing tools as it can be easily molded and molded into different shapes to make different tools. Graphite vanes, in particular, are excellent training tools for scientific glassblowing.

Flat pallets have such a simple shape that they can be used in a variety of ways. They are commonly used to flatten the bottom of glassware and adjust the diameter of glass tubes. Another common use for flat vanes is to create a cone shape over a piece of glass.

6) Graphitrunden

Graphite spheres are another important type of blown glass that shape scientific tools. Like flat paddles, graphite rounds can be used to form bands on glassware. Their cylindrical and conical shapes make them excellent tools for creating scores along the walls of a glass tube.

7) Striker

Strikers are very useful tools that can easily light the torch or burner that a glassblower uses. Some strikers feature an attached cup that serves to trap the combustible gas for easier ignition. The firing pins are an essential tool in scientific glassblowing as they facilitate the heating of the glass.

8) Tweezers

Scientific glassblowing tongs are a great tool when attempting to maneuver heated glassware. They can act as an extension of your hands when trying to pull or bend hot glass. The tongs can not only hold and grip the hot glass, but also other tools you use.

9) Knives and scorers

Knives and markers play an essential role in glassblowing as tools that allow pieces of glass to be properly cut and scored. Thisglass cutting knifeThey are made of tungsten carbide, a dense inorganic carbon compound. There are several methods of cutting glass that can be used in conjunction with these important tools. Pieces of glass can be scratched with a glass knife and then broken.

10) Wolfram-Pick

Tungsten spikes are great tools when it comes to repairing pieces of glass. They typically consist of a handle and a thin tungsten rod known as a pickaxe. Because of its slender shape, it can act as a sort of glass sewing needle to make repairs to hot glass by eliminating small openings.

Tungsten picks can also move small amounts of glass onto a glass work piece, making it easy for a glassblower to add material if needed.

11) calipers

Scientific glassblowers need to know exactly the size and dimensions of the glassware they make. One of the most important tools for measuring pieces of glass is calipers, which can help glassblowers more accurately and precisely determine the shapes and sizes of the hot pieces of glass they are making. If the finished glassware is not the right size and shape, it can introduce many errors in an experiment that a scientist might perform in a lab with this equipment.

12) Doppelbrille

Glassblowing can be very harmful to a person's eyes, which is why many glassblowers use itdual lensesto protect your eyes when working with hot glass. The reason the glassblowing process is so harmful is because hot glass emits ultraviolet light, which causes damage similar to looking at the sun.

Didymium goggles are an excellent form of personal protective equipment as they not only protect the eyes from glass splinters but also filter the harmful yellow light emitted by heated glass.

13) Heat protection pad

Heat Defend-PadsThey are excellent protection against hot workpieces. These pads can be used to support glass when it is too hot to hold and can be used to remove dust from a work piece. A good quality heating pad can allow glassblowers to dust a glass work piece without leaving a mark.

14) Kevlar gloves

Kevlar gloves are very important pieces of personal protective equipment. They can protect your hands from hot surfaces and give you the opportunity to work with hot parts without burning your hands.

It is important for glassblowers to understand the limitations of delicate hand movements with thick gloves, but the importance of safety far outweighs the minor inconveniences. Investing in quality gloves is an investment in your own well-being as a glassblower.