It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of making lampwork art, but don’t let your excitement distract you from the more serious side of the process – safety.

Hope you enjoyed the video. Look for more videos here at lampwork.com soon.

There are use and storage regulations throughout the US concerning the fuels associated with the lampwork process. Please check with your local suppliers concerning the regulations.

The Torch & The Fire
Video Transcription

Hello and welcome to lampwork.com’s video series. I’m Elizabeth Long.

If you are new to lampwork, you’ll find some helpful information on the Lampwork Safety link on the homepage.

This is a torch lighting demonstration with a little bit of information about the torch. Torches used in lampwork are connected to a fuel source and an oxygen source through two separate lines/hoses.

This setup is a Nortel Minor Bench Burner connected to propane gas (fuel source) and an oxygen concentrator (oxygen source). The red hose connected to the torch is connected to the propane tank outside. The red knob on top of the torch is the valve that controls the propane flowing into the torch. The green hose below is connected to the oxygen concentrator. The silver valve on the side of the torch controls the oxygen coming into the torch.

How to Light a Lampwork Torch

Please read all instructions before attempting to light your torch.

The red fuel valve and the silver oxygen valve on the torch are both closed (no fuel or oxygen can flow through the torch). The oxygen concentrator has been running for a few minutes and the valve on the propane tank outside has been opened, so now I will light the torch. What you want to do is hold your lighted match in front of the torch. You can hold the match in front of the torch as long as you need to, as long as the fuel knob/valve is closed, there is no gas getting through. And when you are ready, open the fuel valve slowly. Then adjust your oxygen valve.

DO NOT turn the fuel valve on before you get the match in front of the torch. If you turn the fuel knob/valve on before you get your match in place, gas will flow through the torch and out into the room in front of the torch. Then when you introduce the lighted match into the area, the gas in the air will ignite which can burn you or items around the torch which can ignite into a seriously dangerous fire.

When your torch has been lit, open the oxygen valve by turning the oxygen knob/valve.

Torch Lighting Steps
1. Make sure the fuel knob/valve and the oxygen knob/valve are both closed.
2. Light your match.
3. Hold the lighted match in front of the torch.
4. Slowly turn on the fuel by turning the red fuel knob.
5. Once the torch has been lit, turn on the oxygen by opening the oxygen knob/valve.

Then adjust both fuel and oxygen valves until you have the flame you want. As you become more familiar with lampwork, you’ll learn what type of flame you need for different techniques.

How to Turn the Torch Off

There are two ways to turn the torch off.

The first method is to turn off your oxygen valve then your fuel valve. Use this method if you are taking a short break.

The second method is used when you are through for the day and will be leaving the torch unattended. First, close your oxygen valve. Then close the valve on your fuel SOURCE (not the fuel valve on the torch) such as a propane tank. My propane tank is outside, so I am going to go outside and close the valve on my propane tank. Now, with the valve on the propane tank closed, the fuel in the line will burn out. Once the fuel has burned out and the flame has extinguished, close the fuel valve on your torch.

You want to ALWAYS keep the fuel valve closed when you are not using your torch. If the fuel valve on your torch happens to be open and the valve on your fuel tank/source is open, then fuel will flow through the line/hose and into the torch and out of the torch into the room, which is extremely dangerous. So you ALWAYS want to keep the fuel valve on your torch closed when you are not using it.

You also want to always keep away children and pets.

There are regulations throughout the US concerning the use and storage of the fuels used with lampwork. You want to check with your local authorities to learn about the regulations in your area.

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed this video.