Bandhu Scott DunhamContemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (Volume 1 and 2) Third Edition

This is a two book set of volume I and II of Bandhu Scott Dunham's series on Contemporary Lampworking. Taken together these two books and the following book, Volume III make up a series which is the lampworking equivalent to Oppi Untracht's "Jewelry: Concepts And Technology", i.e. a definitive survey on the subject. I think a good first book for people just learning recreational lampworking is Cindy Jenkins' "Making Glass Beads", which may give the novice a bit more of the romance of it in a more enthusiastic manner. These books should definitely be the next two on the reading list for the serious lampworking student.Dunham presents a series of topics which show the reader the basics of how to do lampworking, starting with very simple ways to heat glass, add colored stringers and progressing right on up to very complex ways of making complex objects, such as laboratory glassware and large sculptures. Book I is the basics and book II is not just a step up toward more advanced techniques, but a step describing advanced tooling. Initially I wished for more information about specifics of tools themselves, but then I realized that lampworking is not a thing which is bound by any specific technology, but rather by skill of the worker and the properties and chemistry of the glass.For me, one single technique, the proper winding of a steel wool vessel core, paid for the books. Perhaps for another reader it would be the hint to use a borosilicate punty when making Effetre marbles or the proper way to place a dot or any one of the thousands of other simple things we learned wrong when we start out with lampworking.The language is fairly simple if you've done basic lampworking and read previous lampworking books and have a basic knowledge of both art glass and lab glassware. One word should do for an example. It is found in a technique which tells about the use of a "rubber policeman" to temporarily stop up a hole at the cold end of a piece of glassware. Anyone who has worked in labs knows what are rubber policemen, but people who come to lampworking from the world of video games and t.v. shows probably should keep in mind that their browser can link to dictionaries.Some of the reviewers seem to be put off by the black and white photos. I don't believe I would have told that, since it betrays a certain level of inexperience on the subject. Lampworking has two photographic facts of life. Number one is that color photography is not adequate to capture the color spectrum of hot glass. Number two is that hot glass in a flame produces a flare or false color reaction which makes unfiltered color photographs a mess of yellow and throws off the color of filtered ones.Other readers seem put off by the fact that a lot of the techniques are more directly applicable to borosilicate than to COE 104. I'm not at the level where I can actually do boro with any confidence but I've achieved a level where I can see that the distinction is a false one. The techniques build on one another. If you can keep Effetre cooler but warm enough to work on just a spot without cracking the rest it makes you a better borosilicate worker and if you can work on the stiffer borosilicate it helps you cut down overheating your Effetre. Et cetera.A minor irritant is that these books are spiral bound, which would make these books difficult for a precocious young reader to handle. However any adult who has sufficient manual dexterity for basic lampworking should be able to read them without tearing pages.

Really pretty unbelievable. Extremely insightful and gives answers to questions you could search for hours online.

I am just beginning to learn how to use a torch to create things out of glass. This book is an excellent resource. It is well written and easy to understand.

Purchased as a gift and he loves the books!!

I found this book to be fantastic. Despite my only working in soft glass, I love that it talks about Boro as well. I had an instructor tell me it didn't apply to soft glass work and I shouldn't buy it... I am so glad I make decisions for myself! The history told is very informative, the tips and tricks throughout the book make it worth every penny. I was most interested in learning the chemistry behind the glass because once you understand that, so many other things come into place. Even on the descriptions that don't direct relate to what I do, I learned something. I love the author's sense of humor- it makes the book an easy and delightful read. So many books are simply "how-to's" these days and don't explain the "whys". Thank you for writing this book and explaining the "whys" in a way everyone can understand! I have now purchased volumes 2 and 3 and am excited to read them. A must have for any lampworker's library.

This book is more specifically for boro flameworking than for soft glass. It has some usefull information for soft glass but not worth the price if you are not planning to use boro glass. Also, the majority of pictures are in black and white. If you are willing to spend this much for a book on flameworking with soft glass get "Passing The Flame" by Corina Tettinger. If Boro is your main focus, by all means, this book is the right one for you.

Every time I open up thesee books I am captivated by how much information is inside. All of the material is organized in an easy to follow manner and is full of images to help explain if words fall short. There is information to help beginners get started all the way to more complex techniques that even a professional could use. These books should be on every flameworker's shelf regardless of skill level or experince.

The two volumes provide a descriptive study of how to make glass art in every form imaginable. These books are perfect for course material if you are taking classes in glass blowing, flameworking, etc. I am disappointed of all the black and white photographs but understand this book is not a coffee table book. I'm new to flameworking and it is helping me understand everything I need to know about my new craft.

If you want a hobby, or a new career, glass has to be the most surprising, exciting and amazing craft you will ever do. It never ceases to delight, teach and enslave you. And these books are THE books to get! There are plenty on lamp working and each of them will tell you to sit down and make something. This is the only manual that does not start that way. This is the one that tells you to start by forming a ball, manipulating glass and and finding the 'feel' of it, get to know it, go too far, ruin it and break it. Thats how you learn the character of glass. This is the bottom line manual. It tells you what you need to know and then some. If you do glass you need these manuals.

Interesting read, mostly for those who want to model with glass although basics of bead making covered well. Most pictures in black and white. Contained all the info I needed regarding annealing.

I was very disappointed as many pictures are in black and white which made it more didficult to follow than more recent publications with all colour pictures

Great publication covering all you'll need to get you started and beyond in the world of Lampworking, covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques, well worth the money

This is one of the lampworking bibles. Glass chemistry, safety, working properties, and techniques are covered, not just for lampworking but also for glass blowing. The material is densely packed and highly detailed. I would have liked a bit more information about glass chemistry, but that's because I have a background in chemistry. For most people (other than people who want to make glass from raw materials), the amount of information will be sufficient. I cannot possibly detail all of the topics covered in this set, but I can say that it is a resource that lampworkers will be returning to throughout their career/hobby. The spiral binding is an added bonus, making the books easy to open flat and refer back to while working.