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(Scroll down to read about these). Wha1.t is Sandblasting? #1.  What is Sandblasting. #2. What is Lampworking      (go to top of page) I began sandblasting beads in 1997. I wrote this article for Lapidary Journal in September 1998, and performed a slidshow for the Society of Glass Beadmakers in 2000, in Oakland, CA. I hope this helps with any question on how to deeply cut glass. I am also being published is Bandhu's newest book.   Click on each page to see it larger   What is Sandblasting? Click here to see a slide show of my presentation I gave in Oakland Ca. for the ISGB gathering 2000. Lampworked glass? (go to top of page) Lampworking is an ancient process of creating glass beads(1300 bc Greece). The basic techniques have'nt changed since then. It is done by first coating a mandrel with a bead release. Once the bead release is dry the mandrel is ready for use. In ancient times an oil lamp and a mouth blow pipe were used to melt the glass used. The method I use is with an oxy/propane glassworking torch...or, a surface mix torch. First, you must heat up the coated end of the mandrel. At the same time heating up a rod of glass until the tip is molten and forms what is call a gather (or molten glob of glass at the end of the rod). Touch the gather of the glass rod (the round blob that is created when glass melts) to the heated end of the mandrel. Start turning the mandrel, and turning the glass rod in the flame, thus winding the glass onto the mandrel. The mandrel is what makes the hole in the bead. Keep adding glass, decorating the bead to your hearts content. Once you like the look and shape of the bead, it must be annealed in a kiln (each type of glass has its own annealing temperature). The process of making a single bead consists of layering glass layer on top of glass layer. This may take some time (an hour or two). Thus the term "labor of love" really means just that. Once you have made your first bead, you will be addicted, and will want to create more little works of art every day.