This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

MIT Glass Lab

 

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The title page reads "MIT Glass Lab". A photograph of a glass furnace in the MIT Glass Lab where artisans work for hours and make glass creations. A photograph showing the job of the "starter" - the first job done by each team of three members. The job is to take a pre-heated pipe and bring it to the first pipe. A photograph showing the use of a marver. When someone is using a marver, his or her back is to the rest of the lab. Photograph of small trays on marver which contain coloring agents for the glass. Each tray contains a different color and is added to the piece by rolling it in the tray. Photograph of a bubble of air being blown into the glass through the pipe after the glass has been marved to shape it and give it a cooler outer shell. Photograph of tools that a gaffer can use while working his or her glass at the bench. Each tool has a pre-arranged location and orientation. Photograph of a wooden tool called a "block". It is used to continue to shape and cool the glass. Photograph of the second tool that the gaffer uses is a large metal tool called a "jack" that looks like a pair of large metal tweezers. Photograph of a gaffer working the piece on the pipe. Photograph of a piece held in the reheating furnace to bring it back up to temperature. Photograph of a piece being blown to the right size. Photograph of a stemmer working on molding the molten glass. Photograph of gaffer and stemmer carefully connecting two pieces together. Photograph of pipe being pulled away and the glass being cut from the pipe. Photograph of a blowtorch being used to heat the glass. Glass that has shattered due to rapid temperature changes. Photograph of the starter gathering glass onto a new pipe and preparing it for the next pumpkin. Photograph of a beginniner attempting to create a paperweight. Photograph of an advanced student practicing making a more intricate shape. Credit: Image courtesy of an anonymous MIT student.