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Career Details : Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

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Description

Shape molten glass according to patterns.

Experience

A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Tasks

  • Inspects and measures product to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifier, and ruler.
  • Shapes, bends, or joins sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.
  • Strikes neck of finished article to separate article from blowpipe.
  • Cuts length of tubing to specified size, using file or cutting wheel.
  • Heats glass to pliable stage, using gas flame or oven.
  • Adjusts press stroke length and pressure, and regulates oven temperatures according to glass type processed.
  • Examines gob of molten glass for imperfections, utilizing knowledge of molten glass characteristics.
  • Determines type and quantity of glass required to fabricate product.
  • Preheats or melts glass pieces or anneals or cools glass products and components, using ovens and refractory powder.
  • Places glass into die or mold of press and controls press to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
  • Dips end of blowpipe into molten glass to collect gob on pipe head or cuts gob from molten glass, using sheers.
  • Develops sketch of glass product into blueprint specifications, applying knowledge of glass technology and glass blowing.
  • Blows tubing into specified shape, using compressed air or own breath.

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    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Indoors
    • Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls
    • Standing
    • Consequence of Error
    • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

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