How to Make Glass Globes

Blow your own glass globe.

You can make glass globes by blowing glass. Glass blowing is a very old art form with many options for creative design. You can add colors to the inside of the glass globe by adding tiny bits of colored glass. If you blow glass, you must be in good health to be able to withstand high heat. Though the process is a bit challenging, you'll be able to create your own blown glass globe designs.

Things You'll Need

• Broken pieces of glass
• Pie tins
• Glassblowing furnace
• Crucible
• Rod
• Hot plate
• Wetted paper towels
• Block
• Butter knife
• Kiln

Instructions

1. Separate the colored bits of glass into pie tins by color.

2. Heat up the glassblowing furnace so that it reaches 3,000 degrees F.

3. Turn the crucible on. This keeps the glass inside in a molten form.

4. Put the rod into the furnace. Quickly remove and take the hot tip to pick up a bit of glass from inside the hole. Turn the rod quickly to break off the string of glass that is attached to the rod.

5. Dip the rod into the different colored broken glass. Put the rod on a hot plate to keep the glass from breaking. Stick the rod into the furnace so that the colored bits of glass will melt into the molten ball glass.

6. Remove the rod again and twirl it on top of wet paper towels. Put the rod into the crucible again one more time to pick up more glass.

7. Put the rod in and out of the furnace. Put the rod on a bench and use a wooden tool called a block to shape the ball. Keep the block wet to keep it from sticking to the glass. Go back and forth from the furnace to the bench a few times to shape the ball with the block. Allow the glass to cool off a little.

8. Remove the ball from the rod with a butter knife. Put the globe into a kiln to harden.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink plenty of water while you work.

• Protect your arms and hands from heat by wearing long gloves.

References

• Beadworx: Making a Paperweight
• Paperweight Collectors Association of Texas: Glass Paperweights