Glass Beads 103.4-Wig Wag Cane

Wig-way canes are characterized by waves of color which are placed on a base core of glass.  The class is intended for the beginning student and does not require a lot of experience or expensive tools and materials.  The class will start with an introduction and a presentation slide of the class Syllabus.  We will then review the prerequisites including having knowledge of basic lampwork safety requirements, a well ventilated work area and a pair of didymium safety glasses.  It is also recommended that the students has a kiln to properly anneal their canes and beads.

The class will start off with a review of how to make a barrel base on a 1/8″ mandrel.  Clear glass will be used as the core because it provides some stiffness to facilitate making the cane.  The clear core will be covered by a white opaque glass.  The instructor will then move directly into placing lines of black stringer on the base barrel and demonstrating the first twist method.  The barrel will be heated up and the instructor will demonstrate how to use heat control and timing to create the twisted waves.  The second method of creating waves will be also be demonstrated using a spot heating method.

The second wig-wag cane will be made using glass frit.  The instructor will demonstrate how to apply the frit to the base barrel and how to apply the black outline stringer.  A clear cap of glass will be placed on the base barrel and a second mandrel will be set in the glass.  Finally, the instructor will demonstrate how to heat and twist the molten glass into the wig-wag cane.

The third cane will demonstrate how to make a wig-wag cane from 3 colors in a cube formation.  The instructor will demonstrate how to make the cube barrel base platform and then apply 3 colors to facilitate the cane.

The final wig-wag cane will be the most complex.  The instructor will make the base barrel and then apply 6 rainbow colors around the circumference of the barrel.  A black encased cane will be applied in between each color to provide an outline.  A clear cap will be placed on the barrel and a second mandrel will be inserted into the base.  A large amount of heat will be applied to the base barrel to start the process of creating the wavy wig-wag.  Heat control and timing will be paramount in this cane to complete the wig-wag formation.

A short congratulatory wrap up will conclude the class.

Who this course is for:

• Beginning lampwork glass bead artists.