How to Blow and Cap Glass in Glass Blowing

Glassblowing is the art of forming glass into shapes. They might be useful shapes like dishes or completely artistic glass sculptures. Blowing and capping is a technique in glass blowing that is sometimes challenging for newcomers. Use the tips below when trying to blow and cap your glass.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blowpipe
• Molten glass

1. Begin with a piece of glass on the end of the pipe. It can be of any size, and it can be either hot or just warm in temperature.

2. Hold the pipe with one hand near the top of the pipe by the mouthpiece. Place your other hand farther down the pipe, so you can easily control it.

3. Wrap your fingers around the pipe with the hand at the top. Place you thumb adjacent to the mouthpiece in a position at the top of the pipe so that is can move quickly and easily to cover the hole in the tip of the pipe.

4. Place the mouthpiece at the end of the pipe entirely in your mouth along with your thumb.

5. Blow quickly with force. Cap the hole with your thumb while blowing inside of your mouth.

6. Wait for a few seconds for the bubble to start to form in the glass at the end of the pipe. Once inside the hot pipe, the air expands and creates a pressurized force that pushes into the glass creating the bubble.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice the blowing and capping without hot glass on the end until you can do it well.
• Listen for a little popping sound from the puff of air when you remove your thumb from the hole. This indicates a good blow and cap.