How dangerous is it to view someone making lampwork beads if the watcher isn!
Question: How dangerous is it to view someone making lampwork beads if the watcher isn't wearing eye...?
Does the question make any sense? Sorry if it doesn't! What I want to know is: if someone is making lampwork beads using a torch, is it safe for people to watch the person work, or do they need to be wearing eye protection also? Is there a distance away that would make it safer, regarding damage to the eyes due to the flame of the torch?
Answers:
and I watch too, but I always wear eye protection. Why would you not? The danger is not only in the flame, there are occasionally flying bits of glass. In my humble opinion, you can never be too safe when glass and fire are involved.
Lampwork beads sometime shatter or pop while under construction. This sends tiny, hot pieces of glass flying in many directions. I’ve had this happen to me a few times. How far do the pieces fly? Maybe 2 or 3 feet. Some lapworking glasses contain didymium to reduce effects of sodium flare which makes it somewhat difficult to see your lampwork piece as it goes through various stages of heat.
When people do glassblowing and bead work they generally wear special glasses to filter out the bright yellowish glow from the hot glass, this is mostly so they can see what they are doing. If you are standing there watching from a reasonable distance, it shouldn't be much of a danger as there isn't much ultraviolet light coming off at the temperatures they are working at. It would be different if you're looking into a vacuum carbon resistance furnace at 2000 C, watching someone arc welding, etc.
If there is any likelyhood of something he/she is working on shattering and scattering glass bits, regular safety glasses might be advisable, although the risk is pretty remote.
This can result in a small but powerful pop when the pressure is release. This can throw hot material in any direction. Use of eye protection, as well as long sleeves and a hat is advisable.
There is no set distance for safety. Obviously, the farther away, the better. It is better to just wear the protection. I am not familiar with lampwork beads, but plumbers (welding pip) and glassblowers will commonly have burn marks on their hands and arms from hot debris when they were not protected.
Anyone close enough to see what is going on should be wearing eye protection. Hair and skin grow back. Play it safe please.