How to make glass at home?

What only at present cannot be done with your own hands? Be it an ordinary craft, a wardrobe item, furniture, and more. How to make glass at home? - It would seem that glass melting is unrealistic. In the modern world, nothing is impossible. The main thing in this business is desire. And in this article you will find a detailed step-by-step algorithm of such an entertaining and interesting activity as making glass.

to contents ↑

What is known about glassmaking?

It is known from history that glassmaking is a very ancient process. How it's done? According to the time frame, it refers to the period up to 2500 BC. Previously, such a rare and valuable occupation in our time gave way to the widespread production of this material.

Glass products are ubiquitous. They are used as containers, household items and decor, insulators, reinforcing fibers and more. Glass differ only in the constituent material that is used for the manufacture. But the process itself is almost the same.

The main materials that will be needed:

1. the main element is quartz sand (silicon dioxide);
2. sodium carbonate or soda;
3. calcium oxide, it is also lime;
4. glass melting oven;
5. other salts and oxides that can be used on an individual occasion in addition (aluminum, iron, magnesium, lead and calcium or sodium salts);
6. protective clothing;
7. grill;
8. charcoal;
9. forms and other elements for shaping;
10. refractory crucible.

to contents ↑

Methods for making glass using an oven

The first way to solder glass at home is to use a stove.

Acquisition of quartz sand:

• This material is the basis for the production of glass. Glass, in which there are no iron impurities, has its advantages - it is light. What can not be said about the glass in which it is present. It will give green.
• It is important to wear a mask before starting work. Quartz sand is fine-grained and easily enters the nasal cavity and further into the lungs. This, in turn, will irritate the throat.
• You can easily buy quartz sand in a specialized online store. He has a low cost.

Important! The cost of the approximate amount that will be needed will be around 20 y. e. In the future, you can purchase it up to a ton, the approximate cost of which will be 100. e. This is if you plan to work on an industrial scale.

• It happens that finding quality sand is not so simple, and it exceeds the amount of impurities. Dont be upset. In this case, manganese dioxide will come to the rescue. It should be added in a small amount. If your idea is glass with a greenish tint, then absolutely nothing needs to be done. Leave it as it is.

Addition of carbonate and calcium oxide:

• Carbonate in this case reduces the temperature of production of industrial glasses. At the same time, it causes the glass to corrode with the participation of water. To avoid this, it is necessary to add lime or calcium oxide to the glass.
• Magnesium or aluminum oxides are used for glass resistance. As a rule, these inclusions do not occupy a large percentage of the glass. The figure is approximately 26-30 percent.

Adding other chemical elements:

• This method of making decorative glass at home requires the use of lead oxide. It gives shine to the crystal, its low hardness, makes it available for cutting, gives a low temperature of melt formation.
• Lanthanum oxide can be found in eyeglass lenses. It has a refractive property.
• With regards to lead crystal, it can contain up to 33 percent lead oxide.

Important! The more lead, the more dexterity is needed to shape molten glass. Based on this, many glassblowers prefer a smaller amount.

• Impurities of iron in quartz glass give it a green tint. In this case, iron oxide is added to increase the greenish tint. This also applies to copper oxide.
• Yellow, amber, and even black can be obtained using a sulfur compound. It all depends on the amount of carbon or iron added to the glass charge.

The main stages of glass manufacturing:

• Place the mixture in a heat-resistant crucible. The latter should be as resistant as possible to the temperature that will be in the furnace. It can vary from 1500 to 2500 degrees. It depends on the supplements.

Important! There is one more important requirement for the crucible - it must be such that it can be easily fixed with metal tongs.

• Melt the mixture to a liquid consistency. For industrial silicate glass, this can be done in a gas-heated furnace.

Important! There are also electric, muffle and pot furnaces. They can make special glass. Note that quartz and sand, which do not contain additional impurities, go into a glassy state when the temperature in the furnace is 2500 degrees Celsius. If sodium carbonate is added to the contents, this is ordinary soda, then the temperature will drop to 1500 degrees.

• Carefully monitor the consistency of the glass. It is important to remove all bubbles from it in a timely manner. This can be achieved with regular stirring until uniform density. It is also necessary to add one of the elements - sodium chloride, sodium sulfate or antimony oxide.
• Shape the glass. To do this, use one of the listed methods.
• The simplest thing is to pour the molten glass into the mold and wait for it to cool. Using this method, many optical lenses are created. Previously, this method was used by the Egyptians.
• Place the finished molten glass in the bathroom, which contains the molten tin. The latter acts as a substrate. Next, it is necessary to blow it with compressed nitrogen to give shape or polishing. Another way is to collect the required amount of glass at the end of the hollow pipe and, by turning the pipe, blow it.

Important! Glass made by this method is called float glass. Since the beginning of the 1950s, they have been producing it.

• Leave the glass to cool. It is important to place it in a place where it will not be damaged, it will not be spoiled by water, dust or, for example, leaves. Keep in mind that when exposed to cold objects, it will crack.
• The final action of this method of making glass at home will be annealing the glass. This heat treatment method will give strength to the material. When using it, all point sources of stress that can be encountered during the cooling of the glass will be removed.

Important! At the end of this work, additional coatings can be applied to the glass to increase resistance and strength. It can also be laminated.

Useful Tips:

1. Non-annealed glass has less strength.
2. As for the temperature for the final work, it depends on the exact composition of the glass - from 400 to 550 degrees Celsius.
3. The cooling rate of glass depends on the size. Large glass products must be cooled slowly. With small things are faster.

to contents ↑

A method of manufacturing glass using a roaster

The second way to make glass at home is a charcoal roaster. Let us in this case also analyze everything step by step.

Equipment for work

First you need to make a stove. Great for this is a barbecue grill. It is important that it is heated with charcoal. In this case, in order to melt quartz sand into glass, heat is used that produces coal during combustion. Again, the cost of this material is not too high. They are in wide availability.

Important! Use a standard size grill. Better if it will be in the form of a dome. The main qualities that he should possess are the presence of thick walls and good strength. If the grill has a ventilation hole, it is usually located at the bottom, it must be opened.

However, there may be slight obstacles in this method. Even if there are very high temperature numbers, it is not always possible to melt it with ease. To do this, before starting the process, you need to add lime, borax or washing soda to the sand. The amount of additives should not exceed ⅓-¼ of the volume of sand.

Important! Remember that these additives significantly reduce the melting point of sand.

Glass formatting

To blow glass, prepare a long, hollow metal tube. In order to pour glass, a shape is needed. It should be dense and should not melt from hot glass. Use, for example, graphite.

Important! When using this method, it must be remembered that the heating of the grill occurs much higher than its usual heating. It is possible that the grill itself may melt. Therefore, in the manufacture of glass in this way, you need to carefully and responsibly perform all the actions. Negligence can lead to serious injury or even death.

Security measures:

1. Near the working area, place a large volume of sand and a fire extinguisher.
2. All work must be done outdoors.
3. The floor must be concrete, for example.
4. When cooking glass, stay away from the grill in order to protect yourself and your clothes from high temperatures.
5. Remember to wear protective clothing. These are fireproof clothing, oven gloves, a high-strength apron over clothing, and a welding mask.
6. Also in this method you will need a vacuum cleaner. It will fulfill the role of blowing coal. We arrange it as follows: we carry the body to a sufficient distance. We fix the hose to the ventilation hole, which is located below. You may need to bend it to give it the necessary shape. You can fix it to one of the legs of the grill. The hose must be fixed firmly and not move.

Important! If the opposite happened, then in no case do not approach him, because he is very hot. Next, turn off the vacuum cleaner and see the position of the hose. It should be aimed exactly at the vent.

Operating procedure:

• Put charcoal on the inside of the grill. It is necessary to put it in two, or even three times more, than for baking meat. It’s good if it will be filled almost to the brim.

Important! Use hardwood charcoal. It burns faster and better than briquetted.

• Place a cast-iron bowl or sand crucible in the middle of the bowl.
• Carefully examine the packaging from the coal used. Light it in a suitable way. There is coal that is ignited directly by itself, and there is material for which a kindling fluid is used. Wait for the flame to spread evenly.
• Wait until the coal is ready for further work. Coal readiness can be determined by color. They will be orange.
• The next step is to turn on the vacuum cleaner. This is necessary so that the coal is purged.

Important! Coal that is exposed to airflow can heat up to very high temperatures. Up to about 1100 degrees Celsius. This must be taken into account when near the oven.Ascending outbreaks may appear from it.

• If the temperature has not reached the desired figure, then you need to check the location of the hose in the ventilation hole.
• Everything necessary for the melting of sand has already been completed. The final step will be to remove the container with glass from the grill. Here you also need to be very careful. Use a long metal tool.
• Then follow all your ideas with glass.

Important! Keep in mind that the glass made by this method will be thicker. Working with him will be a little harder. This is all due to the low temperatures in its manufacture.

to contents ↑

Glassmaking recommendations

Finally, we offer you some more tips for making glass at home:

• Instead of special quartz sand, beach sand can be used. It should be the whitest, homogeneous and subtle. However, the quality of such glass will not always be necessary.
• Coarse sand or additives must be ground beforehand. To do this, use a mortar or grinder.
• Before cooking, sand can be pre-shredded pieces of glass. Thus, they can be recycled into new glass.
• Be sure to wear a mask before shredding glass.

to contents ↑

Stock footage

We gave two ways to craft glass yourself. The same method is suitable for the manufacture of marine glass at home. When performing work, be extremely careful that it does not result in deplorable health consequences.