Wear protective gear for your body, hands and face while melting glass.
Only melt glass in a safe area that is away from flammable materials such as wood and paper.
Low melting point glass can be purchased at glass suppliers and is labeled as such.
Glass melting has a long history, going back to approximately 3000 BC. In these early times, glass was melted to decorate vases. Glass is made up of silica, sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate. Most glass melts at 1400 to 1600 degrees Farenheit. Nevertheless, there are specialized glasses that will melt at as low as 900 degrees. A kiln is necessary to raise the temperature of glass to 1400 to 1600 degrees, while a blow torch can raise the temperature of glass to approximately 900 degrees.
Ignite the flame on your propane blow torch. Position the blue portion of the flame on the glass.
Move the blue part of the flame across the glass in even strokes to allow for even heat distribution.
Heat the glass for 5 minutes or until the glass begins to glow slightly orange. The glass will become pliable and begin to melt.
- "Beads of Glass"; Cindy Jenkins; 2010
- "Thermal Decomposition of Solids and Melts: New Thermochemical Approach to the Mechanism, Kinetics and Methodology"; Michael E. Brown and Boris V. L'vov; 2010
- "Introduction to Glass Science and Technology"; J.E. Shelby; 2005
- glass ball image by Ravenid Magnus from Fotolia.com