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- INFORMATION
Glass blowing is one of those tradespeople think very little about in modern-day society. Something that fell out of favor sometime between the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution. After all, anything on display at a historical reenactment must have been replaced by technology at some point, right? That’s wrong. Glass blowing is still alive and vital as an industrial and artistic trade.
On the one hand, the tools and processes of Glass blowing are more advanced than they were in the days when artisans heated Glass on the end of a clay rod and then blew down that rod to shape the molten Glass. On the other hand, the trade is still something an old-world glassblower would recognize if he saw how Glass blowing works. Something we have today that old-time glassblowers didn’t have in the past, though, is a full grasp of the dangers of working with molten Glass. Fortunately, we have developed safety equipment to protect us from those dangers. Even now, it has taken us years to realize the risks associated with Glass blowing to your eyes.
Glass Blowing Safety Glasses have improved over the years to help fully protect the worker. The immediate dangers that come to mind when you think about Glass blowing are Molten Glass dripping onto unprotected skin, high temperatures causing contact burns, or hot air searing the glassblower’s lips and lungs are just a start. However, even if someone can avoid all of those hazards, there’s still the danger of exposing your eyes to molten Glass.
The melting of the Glass process creates ultraviolet and infrared light, damaging one’s eyesight over time. That’s why glassblowers need protective gear that blocks UV and IR light but doesn’t reduce their visibility in the shop to see the Glass they’re working on or where they are walking. It’s also why most glass workers tend to have a variety of safety glasses on hand, so they always have something appropriate for the type of Glass blowing they’re doing.
The lenses are the most important part of Glass blowing safety glasses, and the specific lenses will vary depending on the type of Glass blowing. The most common Glassblowing lenses are the Light Green IR Lenses that protect your eyes from infrared and ultraviolet light but do not filter out sodium flare or yellow light. This makes them ideal for workers who are doing strictly offhand Glass blowing or who are simply doing general kiln work.
Consider a combination lens if you do other types of hot glass work. If you do Glass blowing and some torch work or lampworking, consider the borotruview lenses. These lenses offer UV and IR protection to a 3.0 Shade Equivlancy and filter out 99.99% of the Yellowish sodium flare that comes off the torch. They are an excellent choice for people who want to use the lenses for Lampworking and glassblowing all in one filter.
The second part of picking out the correct glassblowing safety glasses is the frame style you choose to wear. While this might seem simple on the surface, there are many options. For example, glass-blowing safety glasses can look like any other pair. They can also come in fitovers, wraparounds, retro frames, hole face shields, and clip-ons for glassblowers who already wear prescription glasses.
The types of frames a glassblower needs, like the kinds of lenses in those frames, will vary based on your needs and style. For a glassblower to still have steady hands and keen eyes, it’s essential to use the proper safety gear every time you fire up the kiln. Phillips Safety Products is here to make your job as safe as possible so you can keep working safely on your trade.
