A quick glass-working question?

Question: A quick glass-working question!?

You ever seen those people who sit behind a blowtorch-like flame and melt thin rods of glass into different shapes!? That's what I want to try with my propane blowtorch!. (And I know it requires experience, but what I want to do is simple anyway!.) For those of you who know something on this subject, how can they melt those thin rods without the rods shattering from the uneven heating!? Is it a special type of glass!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The simple answers are 1) practice and 2) yes it is a special glass!.
It is possible to work soft glass in a torch and not have it shatter by gradually working its temperature up!. However keeping soft glass from breaking while you are working it is tricky because you have to constantly remember to keep it warm so it doesn't cool too much!. But that is especially tricky with a plain propane torch which just barely gets hot enough in a small area to work glass!. Air-propane or oxy-propane is much more common although a MAPP gas braising torch or Hot Head can work soft glass
But the ones you see working the glass so easily at fairs and such are using oxy-propane to work borosilicate hard glass which gets workable at much higher temperatures!. Boro (Pyrex) changes size much less when heated and cooled and thus is subject to less strain!.
For general info - http://users!.ticnet!.com/mikefirth/what-c!.!.!.
For buying and specific info - www!.hotglass!.com or www!.arrowsprings!.comWww@QuestionHome@Com