All About Flameworking- Beginners Guide
How to Start Flameworking: A Beginner’s Guide to COE104 Soft Glass & Borosilicate
Flameworking (also called lampworking) is one of the most addictive and rewarding forms of glass art. With nothing more than a torch, rods of glass, and some patience, you can create beads, marbles, pendants, sculptures, ornaments, and intricate hollow forms.
Whether you want to work with COE104 soft glass or borosilicate (boro / COE33), this guide covers:
•The tools you need
•Safety equipment
•Where to buy glass
•Beginner-friendly techniques
•The differences between soft glass and boro
•Places to learn flameworking in England and America
What Is Flameworking?
Flameworking is the process of melting and shaping glass in a torch flame. Unlike furnace glassblowing, flameworking uses rods or tubes of glass heated directly in a flame.
Soft glass and borosilicate behave differently:
•Glass Type
•COE
•Melting Temp
Best For Soft glass COE104
Beads, small sculptures, colorful work
Borosilicate COE 33
Marbles, pipes, scientific forms sculpture
COE means Coefficient of Expansion. Different COEs should never be mixed in the same piece because they cool at different rates and can crack.
Soft Glass vs Borosilicate for Beginners:
COE104 Soft Glass
Soft glass melts more easily and works well with beginner torches. It has incredible color variety and is ideal for:
•Beads
•Small animals
•Sculptures
•Jewellery
•Decorative pieces
Many artists start with soft glass because it heats quickly and allows beginners to learn flame control faster.
Jewellery
Borosilicate (COE33)
Boro is tougher, more heat resistant, and less prone to thermal shock. It requires hotter torches but becomes easier to control once you gain experience.
Borosilicate is commonly used for:
•Marbles
•Hollow vessels
•Scientific glass
•Functional glass
•Larger sculptural work
Many experienced lampworkers eventually move toward borosilicate because of its durability and working characteristics.
Sculpture
Essential Beginner Flameworking Tools:
•Torch
Your torch is the heart of your setup.
Beginner Soft Glass Torches:
•Hot Head torch
•Minor bench torch
•Bethlehem Alpha
Beginner Borosilicate Torches:
•Nortel Minor
•Bethlehem Alpha
•Red Max
Boro needs an oxygen/fuel torch because it melts at a much higher temperature.
•Kiln
A kiln slowly cools and anneals your glass to reduce stress fractures.
For soft glass beadmaking, some beginners temporarily use:
•Vermiculite
•Fiber blankets
…but a kiln is strongly recommended for durable finished work.
•Glass Rods & Tubing
Soft Glass Brands:
•Effetre / Moretti
•Vetrofond
•Double Helix
•CIM
Borosilicate Brands:
•Northstar
•Glass Alchemy
•Simax
•Schott
Basic Hand Tools:
You do not need hundreds of tools to begin.
Start with:
•Graphite paddle
•Tweezers
•Tungsten pick
•Mashers
•Reamer
•Diamond shears
•Marver
•Rod rests
Community lampworkers often recommend starting simple and building your tool collection gradually.
Safety Equipment You Absolutely Need
Flameworking is safe when done correctly, but safety equipment is non-negotiable.
•Didymium Glasses
These special safety glasses protect your eyes from:
•Sodium flare
•Flying shards
•Harmful brightness
For borosilicate work, many artists upgrade to ACE lenses or shade 3–5 lenses.
•Ventilation
This is critical.
Your studio needs:
•Extraction fan
•Ducted ventilation
•Fresh air intake
Glass fumes and combustion gases can become dangerous without proper airflow.
Fire Safety
Always keep:
•Fire extinguisher
•Heat-proof workbench
•Nonflammable clothing
•Closed-toe shoes
•Hair tied back
Studios commonly require all of these basic precautions.
•Respirators & Dust Protection
If working with:
•Powders
•Frit
•Enamels
•Coldworking dust
You should use a respirator or dust mask.
Frit
Enamel
Visual Arts Center of Richmond
Beginner Techniques to Learn First
The biggest mistake beginners make is trying advanced hollow work too early.
Start simple.
Easy Beginner Techniques:
•Stringers
Pulling thin lines of molten glass for decoration.
•Dot Stacking
Layering dots for floral and mandala designs.
•Encasing
Covering colors or designs with clear glass.
•Sculpting Simple Shapes
Animals, mushrooms, hearts, and ornaments are perfect beginner projects.
•Marvering
Rolling hot glass on graphite or steel surfaces to smooth and shape.
•Basic Beadmaking
Still one of the best ways to learn heat control.
Dots Stacking
Intermediate Techniques:
Once comfortable with flame control:
•Hollow forms
•Implosions
•Marble making
•Lathe work
•Vacuum shaping
•Wig wag patterns
•Reticello
•Fuming with silver and gold
These techniques require stronger heat control and more experience.
Implosions
Where to Buy Flameworking Glass & Supplies:
UK Suppliers:
•Tuffnell Glass
•Tempsford Stained Glass
•Warm Glass UK
•Fireworks Glass Studio Shop
US Suppliers:
•Mountain Glass Arts
•ABR Imagery
•Frantz Art Glass
•Devardi Glass
Mountain Glass Arts has a useful beginner guide covering both soft glass and borosilicate flameworking.
Best Places to Learn Flameworking in England
Fire Work Glass Studio
Glass blower
+44 7802 664194
Excellent beginner-friendly workshops and supply shop in Devon.
The Glass Hub
Glass blower
+44 1225 768888
Offers professional glass training and studio access.
Cheshire School of Glass
Education center
+44 7950 004452
Well-known for structured teaching and beginner courses.
Gather
Glass blower
+44 20 8090 9466
Modern London glass studio with flameworking facilities.
Lumsdale Glass
Glass studio
+44 1629 580821
Great for artistic and beginner lampworking experiences.
E&M Glass
Glass blower
+44 1948 770464
Offers glass courses and studio learning opportunities.
Best Places to Learn Flameworking in America
Glass Class Denver
Glass blower
+1 720-995-4742
Popular beginner-friendly flameworking school and studio.
Mesa Arts Center
Offers dedicated beginner and advanced borosilicate classes.
Bay Area Glass Institute
Provides soft glass flameworking education for beginners.
Visual Arts Center of Richmond
Supports both soft glass and borosilicate flameworking. �
Visual Arts Center of Richmond
Craft Alliance
Offers beginner lampworking courses using COE104 and borosilicate glass. �
Craft Alliance
Tesla Glassworks
Glass blower
+1 832-725-8047
Provides hands-on borosilicate instruction and studio experience.
What Your First Setup Might Cost:
Beginner Budget
•Torch
£100–£600
•Oxygen setup
£100–£300
•Kiln
£400–£1200
•Safety glasses
£50–£250
•Basic tools
£50–£200
•Glass rods
£50–£150
You can begin soft glass on a smaller budget than borosilicate.
Final Thoughts
Flameworking has a steep learning curve, but it is incredibly rewarding. Most beginners improve dramatically after just a few weeks of consistent torch time.
If you’re unsure where to begin:
Start with soft glass (COE104) if you want easier melting and colorful sculptural work.
Start with borosilicate if you want durability, marbles, hollow forms, or scientific-style work.
Most importantly:
Learn proper safety first
Practice heat control slowly
Avoid mixing COEs
Take an in-person class if possible
The glass community is extremely welcoming, and once you light your first torch, you’ll understand why so many artists become obsessed with the craft.