The anatomy of a glass piece or water pipe refers to a standard design element in the construction of a glass piece.
Details about the anatomy of a glass piece can vary, depending on the function or use of the piece. Some may have more details than others. The anatomy of a glass piece is sometimes compared to that of a human being, with the main difference being that while each part serves a specific purpose, they are not all necessary for it to function properly.
Anatomy of a Glass Piece:What’s in Your Water Pipe
The most common forms of glass pipes are hand pipes, chillums, and water pipes (also known as bongs). Hand pipes are generally portable and inexpensive. Chillums are smaller versions of hand pipes, typically made out of metal, wood or stone and have no percolator. Water pipes, also called bongs, have been used for centuries to consume tobacco and various other herbs and substances. Their primary benefit is that they filter out harmful toxins in tobacco smoke before inhalation. They do this by directing the smoke through water before it reaches the mouthpiece.*
In most cases, there will be three components to an anatomy of glass piece:A bowl – where material is placedA downstem – where smoke travels from the
I have recently been given an opportunity to do an anatomy of a glass piece, and I thought it would be a good idea to write about it because I really like making glass and I want to share my knowledge and experience with others who are interested in learning some glass blowing techniques.
This is the first time that I have been asked to do an anatomical blog about a glass piece and it is also the first time that I have done an anatomical blog so bear with me as I learn how to do this.
The reason why we need anatomy of a glass piece is to understand more about the process of creating art glass. This will help the artist have better control over the process and gain a better understanding of what is happening while they are working on their piece. There are many times when you may be frustrated with your work because it was not turning out the way you wanted it to, or you may not understand why something happened during the process. You will become less frustrated when you understand what you are doing and why your piece turned out the way it did.
This blog is written for someone who has never made art before or for someone who has never seen a scientific look at how a glass piece is made, but if you know anything about blowing glass, please feel
The inside of a glass piece is a world in itself. From the outside, we see it as an object: smooth, solid and opaque. We are fascinated by its shape, its color, its surface quality. But we can’t see through the glass to understand how it was made.
And yet, glass is a “solid liquid.” Solid in that it is rigid enough to hold its shape; liquid in that it is thin enough to allow light to pass through.
To make a glass piece, the artist must create an object with structural integrity that also has the fluidity of a liquid. The glassblower must be able to direct the flow of molten glass into any shape he or she desires while simultaneously tending the furnace’s fire and manipulating air currents with tools like tongs and blowpipes.
This blog will look at each stage in the process of making glass objects. I’ll begin with raw materials and move through each step in the making of a specific piece from start to finish.*
The glass pipe or piece, as it is commonly referred to, has been around since the early 1900’s when Chinese and Japanese immigrants first brought with them their secret way of smoking opium. From then, glass pipes have evolved and come a long way to become one of the most popular, if not THE most popular form of smoking.
With new styles and technologies introduced everyday, the glass pipe market is constantly growing and changing for the better. The main reason for glass pipes popularity is that they are the best way to smoke in public without attracting any unwanted attention from others. But there is another reason why people prefer glass pieces over any other smoking contraption.
This reason is that a glass piece can be bought in almost any local convenience store or head shop. This is mainly because a glass pipe does not require any special equipment to make it work. If a person has an intact piece of working knowledge about how it works and its mechanism, he can use it with ease.
The interior of a glass pipe contains three basic parts: the bowl, the chamber, and the carburetor. The bowl is where you pack your material, where you put it in to smoke. It is also called the “cup,” “carb,” or “bowl piece.” The chamber is the main body of the pipe, which houses the smoke that you are inhaling. The chamber also contains the carburetor, an opening that brings fresh air into the pipe during smoking. A carburetor does not have to be located in the chamber, but most often it is. The carburetor can be a straight tube extending from the bowl piece or a small hole in the side of the chamber that extends from one end to another.
The base of your pipe is also important. It provides stability when you set your piece down and it can contain a small reservoir for water to clean your pipe after smoking. This piece is most often called a nail.* Once you have identified these parts and understand their function, you will be able to identify them on any glass piece you see!
This is a simple glass pipe that has been with me since I was a kid. It is a piece that I have worked on over the years and it has always held a special place in my collection. The pipe was made by a glass artist named Heady Glass and he and I have been friends for many years. I have always admired his work, especially his precision on all of his pieces and his attention to detail.
Turing back the clock, my first experience with glass art was when my brother brought home a small pipe from one of his friends. It was an interesting piece that really got my attention because of the way the clear glass looked like it had been frosted or dipped in sugar or something like that and there were even little bits of silver foil inside it. That was my first introduction to the art of glassblowing, but it wasn’t until later in life when I met Heady Glass that I became interested in collecting glass art.
The piece is made out of quality borosilicate glass (the same material as Pyrex cooking ware). This type of glass is used because it is extremely durable, heat resistant and chemically inert, which means it won’t react with other chemicals if exposed to them over time.
The frosted look you
I’ve been working a lot lately on glass pieces and during that time I’ve come up with a method for making the glass look like it has texture. This piece above is one of the best I’ve made yet. I’m going to share my tips with you in case you want to try it yourself.
The main thing you need to do is decide how much texture you want. If you want just a little bit, it’s very simple. If you want a lot of texture, then it’s a little more complicated.
The first way to add texture to your glass piece is by using the carve function on your torch. The carve function will allow you to make lines in the glass where there wouldn’t be lines on an actual object. If you are carving lines into the glass, then you might as well make them straight lines, but if you are carving out sections of the glass, then why not make them curved? Curved lines give more of an effect of three-dimensional depth than straight lines do.
For more information about this technique, download my free e-book “Glass Beadmaking: An Introduction” at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32904101/Glass-Beadmaking-An-Introduction
