64 - How to Work Lead Glass.
To work lead glass into various drinking glasses or other vessels, or even to draw cane for bead making, it is necessary to raise the punty [out of the melt], and to make a gather of glass by turning. Take it out, let it cool somewhat, and then work it on a well cleaned marble [marver]. The marble should be somewhat cool, and well bathed with water before use.
This practice will ensure that the paste of the lead glass does not pull up any of the marble. The glass will always gall marble not bathed in water. Some chips will incorporate into the work giving, it an ugly Iook. Therefore, frequently flush the marble with fresh water for as long as you are working the glass. Otherwise, all its grace and beauty will be lost. This is one of the principal observations of this matter. In addition, the harder the marble the better it will work, and the less danger there will be of galling.
When the glass is first gathered it should be somewhat cooled on the surface before dipping it again. Work the glass upon the marble as usual, flushing it frequently with fresh water. Let the glass on the punty re-cool somewhat before taking another gather, enough to make the desired work.
This sort of glass, Iead glass, is so runny that were it not cooled, and taken up by turning [the punty] to wind a gather, it would be impossible to work. It is so runny that it would not even
hold onto the punty, because it is as loose as soup. This arises out of [the fact that] the Iead calx causes it to become very fluid.
Because they are necessary to do any work, you must observe these diligences:
Namely, gather the glass little by little, allow it to cool, and work it over marble frequently bathed in water. Furthermore, make sure to keep the pot of glass rather calm, and in a place in the furnace where it will not see too much heat, otherwise it will not be possible to work this glass at all.