G
Gaffer - The master craftsman or senior member of the blowing
team in charge of the entire production of a project.
Gather - (Noun) A mass if molten glass collected on the end of a
blowpipe or punty. (Verb) to collect molten glass on the end of a tool.
Gathering - obtaining a layer of clear glass over a subsequent layer
of glass.
Gathering Iron - A long, thin tool used to gather molten glass.
Gilding - Using leaf (golf or silver), painting or effects to add
interest to the surface of the glass.
Glass - A homogeneous material with a random, liquid like molecular
structure. The manufacturing process requires that the raw materials be
heated to a temperature sufficient to produce a completely fused melt,
which, when cooled rapidly, becomes rigid without crystallizing.
Glassblowing -The shaping of glass using air pressure.
Glory Hole - A heated chamber or opening of the furnace used to keep
the glass hot and workable. Several different sizes may be attached to a
large furnace or you might have only one size on a small one that rotates
open and closed depending on were the glass project is at. The cylinder is
usually heated up to 2300 degrees.
Grall - A glassblowing technique wherein a thick "blank" or core form
is blown, usually with two or more layers of color. The blank is then
engraved, bringing out the underlying color much like a cameo. The engraved
blank is subsequently reheated and blown to full shape, fusing the image
into the surface.
Grinding - The removal of glass with abrasive or abrasive (grinding)
wheels in order to shape, polish or otherwise finish both flat and hollow
glass. Grinding process include milling, sawing, edging, and drilling.