Caterpillars

Caterpillars

Supply List:
Torch set up
Burt's Bees burn cream/q-tip
Fire extinguisher
Size 3 tip for you torch 
Triangle Stand for Hot Glass
Ceramic mat
6 mm Pyrex rod (colorless and colors)
Towel (breaking glass)
File/glass cutter
Graphite paddle
Tweezers

Lighting the torch:
    Use the "POOP" method (propane on, oxygen on, oxygen off, propane off). 
     Have your flame (match or striker) ready and hold it near the torch tip.  Turn on the red knob (propane), and obtain about a 6" orange flame.  Turn on the green knob (oxygen), and obtain about a 3/4" blue flame.
     Turning off the oxygen first (green), then the propane (red).  DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN THE KNOBS!!!!!  YOU'LL RUIN THE NEEDLE VALVES AND YOUR TORCH WON'T PROPERLY TURN OFF!!!!!!!!!
      Do you work at the tip of the darker blue flame.

Caterpillars:
     Remember:  Hot glass looks the same as cold glass!!  Don't burn the top of your bench, put your hot glass on the ceramic mats. 
     DO ALL YOUR WORK OUTSIDE THE FLAME!!!!  Use the flame to soften your glass.  Keep your glass rotating in the flame, for even heating. 

     Once you start the caterpillar, do not allow it to cool for a long period of time.  If you do, slowly reheat the glass to reduce stress.  
     Make a small bulge (segment) in the middle of the glass with the colorless glass.  These bulges are called Miria's.  Make miria's on both sides of the last miria made.  Continue to make miria's until the desired length. 

Pull off one end of the rod to form the nose. Add the appendages in the following order:  Eyes, spots, antennas, and legs.  These can be in any color.  Make sure the appendages fuse to the glass!!  Otherwise they will fall off.  Using your tweezers, hold the caterpillar.  Heat the rod/handle and pull it off, forming a tail.

Remember:  Turn off the green knob (oxygen) then turn off the red knob (propane).  DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN THE KNOBS!!!!!  

Next Lesson