Beginners Area

Welcome! This area has been built just for you. You'll find The information you need to help you learn how to control something that resembles warm honey, and how to be safe doing it so you can do it all over again. Many who try it become hooked when they make their first bead. As many lampworkers would say, Welcome to the Addiction!

A torch is just a torch, right? Isn't a plumber's torch the same as a HotHead torch? Do I have to get a HotHead? Pictured below are 2 views of two different torches. One of them is a standard plumbers torch, and one is a Hothead. They both have the same parts, but as you can see, they're not the same size and the torch face is larger on one than the other. One burns hotter than the other, and deposits less soot on your glass. There are many who will tell you that a HotHead is a good beginner's torch, but I disagree. It's a good torch - period. Sure, there are things it can't do, but if you're primarily interested in recreating the look of ancient beads, as I am, this is a great torch for doing that. I happen to have 2 torches, a HotHead and a dual gas torch. Guess which one I use the most? I've been using my HotHead since 2001, the same one, and have never had any problem with it. I can tell you for certain that it's much more portable than a Dual Gas torch is. If, however, you're wanting to use borosilicate and make functional glass pieces, then you'll definately need a dual gas torch for that.

So, now that you've had a chance to look at both torches, which one do you think is the Plumbers torch? Which one the HotHead? If you guessed the bigger one, you're right.

So what are the basics I need to know? Many videos I watched either left things out I would want you to know, or had information in there that current thinking disagrees with. This leaves me with the option of making my own. When I was sitting down trying to decide what all I would put into a beginner's video, I happened upon a video that says pretty much everthing I would want to put into mine. I had the opportunity to meet the person who made the video and she gave me permission to share it here with all of you. Thank you so much Mistress Beatrix Alfraye.

If the video isn't working, here is a direct link to the video, but before you click on it, I highly suggest you bookmark my website so that you can come back for more: https://youtu.be/6NDsPCMUUEc You'll be glad you did.

Diadium Glasses -

Glass -

Mandrels -

How to cool your beads -

Cleaning your beads -

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You can contact Kitty by emailing her at kay@listen-up.org