How to Get a Second Gather in Glass Blowing

When learning to blow glass, one of the first things learned is gathering the glass on the pipe in preparation for blowing. Once you have mastered that, you can also learn to get a second gather of glass on the pipe, which basically uses the same process as the first gather, but it's easier.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glass
• Furnace
• Pipe
• Safety goggles

1. Allow the first gather of glass to cool slightly so that it is no hotter than slightly warm. If the first gather is too hot when it enters the furnace, it will move.

2. Cap the pipe with your thumb, and dip the end of the pipe with the first gather in water to cool it if needed.

3. Open the furnace door just enough to put in the first gather.

4. Rest the pipe on the sill of the furnace again, just like you did with the first gather.

5. Rotate the pipe twice to get the second gather on your pipe. This time you do not have to look for the reflection of the glass. Once you put the pipe in the furnace, you can feel the glass gather.

6. Bring the pipe up level after 2 rotations. Leave it resting on the sill long enough for the strand of glass to break off.

7. Remove the pipe with the second gather from the furnace. Once again, hold that end of the pipe downward all the time.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't attempt glass blowing at home; it should be done in a well-equipped studio under supervision of a professional.
• Always wear safety goggles around hot glass.