What Do Glass Blowers and Finishers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Glass Blowers and Finishers shape molten glass according to patterns. They also place glass into dies or molds of presses and control presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.

Other tasks include:

• Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
• Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
• Blow tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blow and rotate gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes.
• Operate electric kilns that heat and mold glass sheets to the shape and curve of metal jigs.
• Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.

We asked Glass Blowers and Finishers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Glass Blowers and Finishers blow tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blow and rotate gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes. They spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.

A typical day for a Glass Blower, Molder, Bender and Finisher will also include:

• Place glass into dies or molds of presses and control presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
• Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
• Design and create glass objects, using blowpipes and artisans’ hand tools and equipment.
• Shape, bend, or join sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.

We asked some Glass Blowers and Finishers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Glass Blowers and Finishers also repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing. They may also cut lengths of tubing to specified sizes, using files or cutting wheels.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Glass Blowers and Finishers Superimpose bent tubing on asbestos patterns to ensure accuracy. They might also Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.

In addition, they Operate and maintain finishing machines to grind, drill, sand, bevel, decorate, wash, or polish glass or glass products.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Develop sketches of glass products into blueprint specifications, applying knowledge of glass technology and glass blowing.

To some Glass Blowers and Finishers, it is also their responsibility to Place rubber hoses on ends of tubing and charge tubing with gas.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Glass Blower, Molder, Bender and Finisher, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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