Job Description:

• 1) Operates glassblowing lathe to join and shape glass or plastic tubing, according to blueprints and work orders: Selects, inserts, and clamps specified mandrels in head and tailstock of lathe, using wrenches.

• 2) Turns knobs to adjust rotation speed.

• 3) Inserts and clamps tube and other glass parts of various lengths, shapes, and diameters to be joined in chucks, using mallet and wrenches.

• 4) Lights fixed jets and hand torches and turns gas valves to adjust height and color of flames and obtain specified temperature.

• 5) Turns handwheels to move head and tailstock and bring workpieces in contact with flames.

• 6) Blows through hose connected to center of chuck to shape glass or maintain air pressure within tube.

• 7) Selects and manipulates spatula, hand torches and tips, and glass rods to shape, seal, splice, imbed, and weld rotating parts according to specifications.

• 8) Uses hand torch and fixed jets to anneal joined or shaped areas.

• 9) Turns handwheels to move head and tailstock and stretch or separate heated stock to specifications.

• 10) May manually move glass tube over flame and blow it into specified shape.