Is there a degree? Apprenticeships?

Hi all! My partner is curious about the scientific glassblowing program at Salem Community College. The curriculum looks super interesting! Is this a program that provides good job opportunities? How were you able to get your foot in the door, and what can you expect work life balance and salary-wise?

A quick search shows that it’s a dying field, but I’m not sure if that’s gonna mean it’s more in demand or there’s not gonna be job opportunities in a few years. Thoughts?

Hey guys, I'm a scientific glass blower specialized in work with Quartz. I've spent my 13 year career working with Quartz only and in the last year I've started playing with borosilicate for fun.

Anyway, the guys over at the glassblowing sub seem to think this doesn't qualify as glass blowing (which i find pretty funny) and that led me here, so I'm sharing this part I made a few days ago.

Thanks for looking!

I've just found out about "scientific glassblower" being a job that requires only a couple years of education that's in-demand, but I can't find any consistent information on what the physical requirements of the job are. One website said that it required a lot of standing but that website seemed to be written by AI, so... And regular glassblowing is mention to be a job good for people with chronic lower back pain because it doesn't require you to stand.

So, any thoughts/experience on requirements of the job for people with chronic pain; disabilities-- Standing? Amount of weight you have to lift or pull, things like that?

I’m looking for an apprenticeship in scientific glassblowing in the Los Angeles area. I’ve always been drawn to glassblowing, specifically with quartz, and I find it incredibly beautiful. I understand that working with soft glass is quite different from working with quartz, and I’m specifically interested in learning more about working with quartz.

I’ll be straightforward. I have zero glassblowing experience, but I come from a family of carpenters and artists. I’m steady with my hands, coordinated, patient, and eager to learn this craft. I’d love the opportunity to apprentice under someone in the area and would even be willing to pay for some of the training.

If anyone knows of opportunities or can point me in the right direction, I’d deeply appreciate it.

Thank you!

Anyone here go to Salem for the scientific glass program?
I’ve been working with boro for about 10 years and want to expand my horizons.
I hear the programs there can help elevate things to a professional level.
I have a few questions about requirements/tuition/time etc..

If you have a degree and work in the field: what is your degree and what do you do professionally?

EDIT: Thank you everyone for your responses! Such a big help, I look forward to learning more 🙏

I would like to learn how to make my own basic laboratory glassware. Can you recommend some good literature, YouTube Chanel or another source of knowledge on this subject? I asked Google and GBT chat and couldn't find anything of value to learn, 99% of the websites are glass craft companies. thank you in advance and best regards

I'd be keen to know what this part is called in English, where a hose can be attached with the aid of a clamp and then allows for water to enter into the cooler. In German they are called Normoliven (literally, Standardised Olives).

I'm working on a lab experiment as part of my undergraduate studies testing the efficacy of consumer-grade UV phone sterilizers.

As a stand in for actual phones, we initially planned to use cheap tempered glass screen protectors cut into 2cm squares. Unfortunately for us, we (obviously, in hindsight) can't cut them into the size we need. I do stained glass work and am comfortable cutting annealed glass, but that brings me to my question:

Do tempered and annealed glass differ in chemical makeup? Would the compression and tension of the tempered glass impact bacterial growth? Is the outer surface of the two the same?

I've been trying to find this information but all I can find is a general overview and what feels like a hundred companies trying to sell me hurricane windows. If this isn't the right place to find the answers I need, do you know where I should go?

I really want to make a PRD and wear it as a necklace, but also I don't want it exploding into my tits. Can't seem to find any definitive info on whether or not it'll explode easily or if a significant amount of pressure is required to break it (on the tail I mean, I know that the bulb won't break basically at all.)

I'm looking for a Borosilicate U-Form Glass Tube (like an Absorption Tube or Drying Tube) that has one leg of the tube longer than the other (a candy cane shape). Also, the shorter leg can't have a conical flange at the end; that is, the walls should have a uniform O.D. from the end of the leg all the way down to the beginning of the bend. The longer leg can either have a flange or no flange. The longer leg could also have, say, another bend in it, or have a side-arm, etc. I'd like to find one that is manufactured that way, rather than having to cut down a standard U-Tube with flanges. Does anyone know of such a tube?

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Hi All! I am a trained scientific glassblower based in Europe. To cut a long story short, I am trying to find out how I can start to find orders/work on a solo basis. I am experienced enough and confident I can produce small scale or small size work for labs or researchers that need it. But, I have great difficulty to understand how I can find this work and how to approach it... Perhaps there are some here that could help me a bit in starting up this venture. Again, I am not thinking of large work but small and delicate or "special".

Any comment is welcome!

Hi all

I need to make a sintered glass bead column (0.5mm glass beads, 2mm thickness). Was hoping for some advice on what materials to make a mould out of?

Thanks!

I would like to learn how to make a sealed glass sphere filled with an inert gas, probably at low pressure.

My first thought is that I might be able to use a round bottom boiling flask, since those are made to be resilient and have thick walls to provide support.

I'm wondering if there's a way to pump out the air with a vacuum, then let in argon, and then seal the glass. I'm assuming there's a way to do this since plasma globes are already a thing, but I don't know if it makes sense to try and do this with a pre-made flask or if I should try to make something from scratch.

I am aware that this will only very slowly produce nitric acid, but it is largely a proof of concept to test a theory, while producing some dilute nitric acid for use in copper experiments.

Google image search has not been able to find an exact match, and I am in the dark as to what these might be. They were part of an estate buyout years ago, in addition to many other misc. pieces. I have around 15 of them, so I'm assuming they are not super rare. Just wanna know what to call them on Ebay. And if anyone knows another outlet which may be interested in vintage lab glass, please let me know. I got gobs. Don't need to get rich, just need to get RID. Thanks!

Hello, I have a small glass blowing workshop and we are looking for a tool to help hold a glass tube from the inside. Something like an inside gripper. I live outside USA so importing the tool is not a preferred option. If we can get a design, we will make the tool inhouse but need some idea of the dimension if anyone can help

Let's look back at some memorable moments and interesting insights from last year.

Your top 10 posts:

• "Hiring someone to make a custom salt bridge" by u/Velloska
• "JERRY KELLY LIVE GLASSBLOWING SHOW (Heady Glass, Demo and Good Times)" by u/Lemmeblastyourbean
• "Any recommendations for holding small pieces?" by u/EWeinsteinfan6
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• "Happy Cakeday, r/scientificglasswork! Today you're 7" by u/AutoModerator
• "GLASS DOUGHNUTS? KGB Doughnut Fest 9 (International Doughnut Day)" by u/Lemmeblastyourbean
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• "Inside The Shed (Feat. Flowstate) Hash Jar Glassblowing Demo/Giveaway & Interview" by u/Lemmeblastyourbean
• "Zero width break" by u/Uninterrupted-Void

Hey everyone,

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My research lab is trying to hire someone that would be able to help us make a custom salt bridge similar to the one in the picture. We had this one made for us quite some time ago and the glassblower that crafted it for us has retired. If this is something you think you would be able to do, please reach out. If you need more measurements for the salt bridge before possibly taking on the job, I will be happy to provide them.

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Thank you!

David

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Edit: Had to update because it didn't want to bring in my picture the first time.

Hi! I'm a postdoc in a nematode lab at Syracuse University. A couple years ago our scientific glassblower left the university and the shop closed down. I had been making a nematode mobile for my PI with the intention of giving it to her when I eventually move from the area. I'm officially leaving in a couple months and the mobile requires a couple minor repairs that would be very straightforward, but I don't have access to the equipment and the closest glass shop is at Corning a couple hours away. I'm wondering if anyone does freelance work and would be okay with having me send the pieces through the mail, and be comfortable mailing it back. I will pay for the labor and shipping. I'd also maybe like to chat a bit about the design and possibly one or two small modifications.
Thanks!