Do not
 

Do not place you press so that when you lift the top your hand hits the hot torch head. Ow.

Feel free to add some more!

Do not flame polish the end of a point then blow into it a few seconds later.

Ask me how I know...

Do not pick up pieces of glass with your hands after they shock off of a rod.

Do not put your freshly used rod in the pile of other rods your goona use and then dig for the next color.....OUCH!

Do not heat the glass until it's soupy on the mandrel and spin it around to lengthen a side.

Unless you like globs of hot glass on your shoulder.

Then go right ahead.

Where is the like button, damn it. Some of these are funny because I have done it myself.


Do not clean the glass rod with your clothes under your arm unless it is room temperature. A third degree burn is not ideal in the armpit.

Do not test your graphite marver's temperature with your chin.

Do not leave the needle-fine hooks on the end of your rod.

And do not scratch your ear with the hand holding a hot rod--unless you like bits of your hair melted into your bead.

Do not shake the jar of bead release unless you are 100% sure you closed the lid tightly. Even if you ARE sure, check again.

Do no wipe a hot mandrel across your pant leg to get that glob of bead release off the end of the mandrel....

Do no wipe a mandrel across your pant leg to get that glob of bead release off the end of the mandrel....after heating it...

Do not reach across your bench because DH "has just got to see this!!" and light your sleeve on fire.

Never use your mouth as a third hand.... especially with an hot stringer.........

Do not light your torch with the oxygen on.

Stop! You all are killing me laughing! I've done so many of these....

May I ask why on this one?

Do not use Opal Yellow unless you are courageous and with no vanity. I have a scar on my eyelid to prove it :(

I was having a hard time lighting my torch & decided to try it with oxygen.
The resulting fireball singed my eyebrows, and thank goodness I had my glasses on, because I felt like I had a sunburn, so my eyes would have probably not been happy.

Edited 'cause Charmaine is right!!!
Doh!

DO NOT try to snap your knees shut to catch a marble and keep it from hitting the floor. This is definitely the ONE time you will make the catch! And wearing shorts no less. ;-D Samma

and especially not if you're wearing lip balm (it's gets all over the glass)

Do not sneeze without moving away from the flame. OUCH, ended up with a burn on my finger the size of a grape!

Some of these are funny though, but only after the healing. :D

Just because you need it to finish the bead your working on, do not pick up the rod of glass you dropped on the floor - it just might be uncool.

Do not forget to tie your long hair back when torching ... especially when you have a tendency to reach over the flame to grab stuff in the middle of a bead.

I have a couple marble-shaped burn scars to remind me not to do this...

I have one marble and one eyeball shape scars. Seems to be a right of passage, huh? I'm done now, they can hit the floor all they want ;-D
Samma

Two things :
1) sorry, but oxygen is not flammable
2) do not try to smooth out silver foil with your fingers on a hot bead.

Do not put a book on top of your kiln, then turn on your kiln ...

ouch!

Ah I am so glad I am not the only one!

Do not scratch the cat while torching, as he won't be happy with the results.

Barbara