[PA-NJ Glassblowers] RIT Student Research on the best newspaper to use in glassblowing wet pads

Tony Patti gaffer at glassblower.info
Mon Jan 20 22:56:38 EST 2020


https://www.rit.edu/science/news/glass-color-science-crossover-underscores-c
ollaborative-opportunities-rit

 

Can't comment on the methodology, but here it is:

 


Strittmatter leveraged an additional resource on campus to support her
research: the  <https://www.cis.rit.edu/> Chester F. Carlson Center for
Imaging Science (CIS). Through working with CIS associate director
<https://www.rit.edu/directory/kmbcis-karen-braun> Karen Braun, Strittmatter
connected with  <https://www.rit.edu/directory/jafpci-james-ferwerda> James
Ferwerda, associate professor in RIT's  <https://www.rit.edu/science/>
College of Science, to investigate color in the use of newspaper pads during
glassblowing. Artists often shape and mold glass with wet newspaper, which
doubles as heat protection. 

 

Strittmatter and Ferwerda studied the charred black spots on various
newspapers (Democrat and Chronicle and The New York Times were among those
tested) to determine differences in effectiveness as glassblowing tools. A
good newspaper pad, Strittmatter said, is thick enough to eliminate any
feeling of heat from molten glass, yet thin enough to have optimal control
over shaping the material. 

Using a colorimeter, they measured the intensity of the charred spots. It
was found that The New York Times was the "best tool for the job" due to it
reflecting the most wavelengths of light. In other words, it was the least
burnt specimen.

 

Although Strittmatter concluded The New York Times provides the most
functional longevity as a pad, her research is still young. She said there
are other factors to consider, such as ink types and manufacturing
processes. 



 

Personally I prefer to use unprinted newsprint to avoid exposure to the inks
burning

for example http://www.swalter.com/newsprint-tissue-paper-20x30.html

 

Tony Patti

www.glassblower.info <http://www.glassblower.info> 

gaffer at glassblower.info <mailto:gaffer at glassblower.info> 

 

 

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