Chemical apparatus; Electroplating; Glass blowing and working; Glass coatings; Glass grinding and polishing; Lampwork; Mirrors
As an additional precaution against dust, I sometimes add a tube
containing a long plug of glass wool, between the phosphorus pentoxide
and the delivery tube, and also a tube containing stick potash on the
entry side of the calcium chloride tube, but it may safely be left to
individual judgment to determine when these additions require to be
made. In practice I always keep the affair set up with these
additions. The communication between all the parts should be
perfectly free, and the tubes should be nearly filled with reagents,
so as to avoid having a large volume of air to compress before a
pressure can be got up.
The arrangement will be clear by a reference to Fig. 8, which
illustrates the apparatus in use for joining two long tubes. I have
tried blowing-bags, etc, but, on the whole, prefer the above
arrangement, for, after a time, the skill one acquires in regulating
the pressure by blowing by the mouth and lips is such an advantage
that it is not to be lightly foregone.
Fig. 8.
Sec. 18. The Table.
The system of four blow-pipes is, of course, a fixture. In this case
the table may be about a yard square, and may be covered with asbestos
mill-board neatly laid down, but this is not essential. The table
should have a rim running round it about a quarter of an inch high.
The tools should be laid to the right of the worker, and for this
purpose the blow-pipes are conveniently fixed rather to the left of
the centre of the table, but not so far as to make the leg of the
table come so close to the operator as to make him uncomfortable, for
a cheerful and contented spirit ought to be part of the glass-worker's
outfit.
The most convenient height for a blow-pipe table--with the blow-pipes
about 2 inches above the table top--is 3 feet 2 inches. Nothing is
so convenient to sit upon as a rough music-stool with a good range of
adjustment. The advantage of an adjustable seat lies in the fact that
for some operations one wants to be well over the work, while in
others the advantage of resting the arms against the table is more
important.
Sec. 19. Special Operations.
The preliminary to most operations before the blow-pipe, is to draw
down a tube and pull it out to a fine point. This is also the
operation on which a beginner should exercise himself in the first
instance. I will suppose that it is desired to draw out a tube about
one-quarter of an inch in diameter, with the object of closing it,
either permanently or temporarily, and leaving a handle for future
operations in the shape of the point, thin enough to cool quickly and
so not delay further work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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