FLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COMFLAMEWORK.COM

punlished in Glass Line
April/May, 1995 - Vol. 8 No. 6

    I've been a full-time lampworker for 28 years, making everything from small figurines to three foot sculptures. The one thing that I have not done much of is beadwork. I have made several dozen beads, but in no way am I an expert. I needed to say that before I get into the subject of this article, because it's about some bead makers that I am writing about. Most of you reading this article will probably think it's a waste of good space, because it's like telling a dog to bark and wag his tail. They all know how to do it. I also should say that if it seems I am writing with an attitude, you're right I am.

In the past few years it seems that everyone and their dog are making glass beads. I do about 35 weekend shows a year and it's rare to do a show with less than one bead maker. Of course we talk at the shows and more often than not these folks are new to the glass world, most with a year, or less, behind the torch. All of this is well and fine except for one very serious thing. I have met numerous new bead makers who do not wear eye protection of any type! At least five in the past year. Each time I tell them, in the strongest way I can, that they're going to go blind if they don't wear didymium glasses. Most of the time they have told me that they've heard that they don't need to because they are working with soft glass. The last encounter I had compelled me to write this article.

I was at a show near Houston and I met a new bead maker. We talked for a few moments and she told me she didn't wear eye protection. I jumped on my soap box and started telling her she was going to go blind if she didn't get smart and start wearing didymiums. She told me that she was a member of the local bead society and that they had talked about this very subject at their last meeting. It seemed that they didn't like the way they looked in them and they were just generally a hassle to wear. Then she said they took a vote and decided they didn't need to wear glasses. The harder I tried to convince her of the dangers of sodium glare, the more resistant she became. Finally she suggested that I drive several hundred miles to their next meeting and present my views to their group. After assuring her I wouldn't do that, I ended the conversation in complete frustration. I don't know if she took my advice back to her group of four or not, but I doubt if it made any difference.

It's very much like the rumors I've heard from some of the same new comers that you don't need to anneal soft glass. One told me that she had been making glass beads out of moretti glass for six months and she knew what she was talking about. Then she told me about the 48 hour rule of soft glass. It goes like this. If it doesn't break in the first 48 hours, it won't ever break. After I explained the annealing process to her, she assured me I was misinformed and should re-check my facts. This is really of very little importance, because it only means their beads will fall apart. The problem of not wearing didymiums is drastically important though. If they don't do it, they'll go blind, or at the very least, develop serious eye problems. When I work colored rod, be it borosilicate, or soft, I also wear number 5 welding flip downs over my didymiums. When I work larger glass, I also add a gold shield for UV protection. This may be overly cautious but I only have two eyes!

When I first decided to write this, my wife told me that I should include more technical information. That I should explain in depth the effects of prolonged exposure to sodium glare on the human eye. I considered doing that, but I'm not a ophthalmologist, I'm a sculptor. We've all known for years that if you take the proper precautions, our profession is relatively safe. There are a few rules that you just take for granted. Keep your fingers out of the fire. Don't test the temperature of your glass with your tongue and wear didymiums. For the most part every lampworker I've met knew and observed these simple rules. But, for those who need technical data on the subject to convince them, it's not hard to find. James Schell wrote a comprehensive article in GLASS LINE this past October/November issue.

I don't have the answer on how to deal with this new phenomenon, but I do see it as a very real problem. Somehow we must get the word out to this new generation of glass workers. Wearing didymiums is not an option that they can vote on and toss out because they don't like the way they look in them! If they don't start wearing didymiums, it won't matter how they look, because in a few years they won't be able to see themselves, each other, or anything else for that matter! They don't need that in their life and we don't need it in our profession. Get smart. Spend the $50.00. It's cheaper than a new pair of eyes!

Editor's Note

The following are reference and informational articles regarding the necessity of eye protection for all glass workers. References provided by Gary Coyne.

Didymium Glass Filters. By Anthony J. Hawkins. Fusion: Nov., 1992 Vol 39 #4.

Didymium Glass Type for art glass blowers, scientific glass blowers, and lamp workers. Fusion: Aug., 1993 Vol 40 #3.

F.Y. Eyes. By Lisa M. Malchow. Fusion: May, 1993 Vol 40 #2.

Effectiveness of Eye Glass to remove Damaging Radiation from Gas Flames. By Jeff Tassin. Proceeding 28th A.S.G.S. Symposium, 1983.