Handmade Lampwork Beads and Jewelry by Bonnie Knapp
A little about lampworking . . . . .
"Flameworking" or "Lampworking" derives its name from the manner in which beads and other pieces of glass were originally made ~ over the glames of oil lamps. Lampworking dates back to the Venetian glassmakers. Today's modern technology allows us to work over a flame that combines oxygen and propane at an average temperature of 1600 degress. Once in its molten state, the glass is wound around a steel mandrel and additional glass is added or manipulated as the artist desires. At completion, beads are "annealed" (slowly cooled), soaked at 950 degrees for 30 minutes and then slowly cooled to room temperature. This process enhances the glass properties and ensures its resistance to chipping and breaking. Finally, the bead holes are cleaned with a diamond dremel.