Organizing Your Lampworking Table

Just getting started in lampworking? Need an easy guide to show you how to organize your table so you can work faster and safer?  I've put together this guide to show you how to do just that!

I love to make time for "torch time" (as we call it in our home)   There is nothing more relaxing than working on the torch.  Time just flies by! And the final creative product is just worth all the time and effort you put into every piece.

First, the one thing you should consider when setting up your lampworking table is safety first! That is the reason I put this guide together so you can get organized safely making sure that everything is easily accesible as you make beads on your torch.  Always wear your protective eyewear when using your torch and remember, the torch will be hot even after it's been turned off.  NEVER cross your hands or arms over the torch and always tie your long hair back. I've written this organization guide so that your work area will be set up in a way that you don't have to reach over the top of your torch making it easy to access your lampworking mandrels, tools, glass etc.....


Gathering your lampworking items:
Their are many kits you can buy that include all the different pieces that I'll be talking about here. Theses items are as follows:

1. Torch with "C" clamp and bottle holder for holding your MAPP gas onto your table to prevent slipping.
   
2. Heat resistant work surface protects your table from hot glass drips etc..
   
3. Ceramic Fiber Blanket for cooling your completed beads slowly
   
4. Mandrels for making your beads on
   
5. Mandrel Release so you beads will slide off easily when you're done making them
   
6. Mandrel holders (2) for holding your mandrels
   
7. Various tools
   
8. Marver one with and one without handles
9. Various colors of glass rods
10.  Frit (pieces/chips of colored glass)

Organize your working surface:

• Your Hot Head Torch should be set up on the edge and in the middle of your table with a "C" clamp and bottle holder. (follow the directions that came with your kit)
  
• Next place your heat resistant work surface right in front of your torch head.
• Set up your mandrels on the left-hand side of your heat resistant work surface on a mandrel holder.  Keep your mandrel release on that side of the table too.
• Place your ceramic blanket just up above your mandrel holder.  It's the perfect spot because you're already holding onto the mandrel with your left hand when you're making a bead. When you're done, slip the bead into the ceramic blanket.
  
• Set all your tools on the right-hand side of your heat resistant work surface. Lay them so that their "heads" are all laying on the edge of your head resistant surface. Tools including your rake, handled marvers, leave maker, mashers, pliers, picks, tweezers etc....
• Place your marver (without a handle) underneath your torch head.  Place your dish full of Millifiori or frit next to your marver.  It will make it easy for you to dip your bead into the frit and roll it on the marver.
  
• Just to the right of your tools lay out all the glass colored rods, that you think you'll be using for your project for that day, on another mandrel holder.  They work great for elevating the tip of the hot glass up off the table when you're done using them. On the right side of the heat resistant board just above your glass colored rods that you've laid out for the day, keep all your extra glass pieces in case you need to grab a new color....you can hold all your glass rods in a quart size Mason jar or a wide bottomed ceramic flower pot filled with sand. (Make sure it's sturdy...you don't want it to fall over)
• An optional item is a bowl of water for dipping your tools into. It releases the melted glass that may have stuck to them. I place mine on my work surface near my tools.
  

Other safety measures:
Wear protective eyewear while using your torch.
Never leave your matches or lighter on the table.....I store mine in a metal tin on the floor.
Use leather gloves to remove hot head torch form you MAPP bottle.
Sit in a chair with rollers so you can roll back easily from the torch.
Keep extra glasses handy for people who want to watch you create.
Use your mandrel scrubber in the sink for removing your bead and bead release residue from your mandrels after you're done cooling your beads in your ceramic blanket.

Note: The organizational instructions are meant for right-handed people although you can use these if you're left-handed by just reversing the "Right" and "Left" words in the directions below.

CAUTION: Do not store your Hot Head torch (the torch head) attached to the fuel tank! Always turn the knob off and remove it after it has cooled down.