How to Apply Clear Coat in Glassblowing

Every process in glassblowing has to be done with precision in order not to ruin the piece. Glassblowing is as much of an art as the final glass product the glassblower makes. A glassblower takes raw glass from a semiliquid glob, much like honey, and forms it into a sphere that can be made into a vase, then adds the final layer of clear glass.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep the glass piece you are working on attached to the puntil (pronounced "punty"). At this point you should already have any colors you want on the piece and you are going to apply a clear coat of glass over the whole piece just to give it a shiny layer of thin glass over the color.

2. Gather the clear glass. There are two different techniques to doing this: You can either heat the glass vase or jar you're working on and then dip it into a pail of liquid clear, or you can take a solid glass tube, heat that either in the furnace or under the blowtorch and coat the piece similar to painting the jar while the glass rod melts on it.

3. Coat the entire jar. Coating it this way will also make the piece have more strength and make the colors underneath magnify. With the puntil, roll the piece around the steel marver table to get a nice even coat. Use the wet wooden blocks to smooth it.