A limited number of scientific glassblowers still practice the craft in the United States, and ORNL's shop is known throughout that community for its skills. Photo by Curtis Boles E mployees at the Oak Ridge facilities don't have to go all the way to the Smoky Mountains to see a skilled glassblower at work. ORNL has its very own glass shop, and its artists produce much more than glass trinkets to catch tourists' eyes. Their creations, a unique blend of science and art, are precise instruments for scientific research.
Glassblowers can produce new works either from plans on paper or from an idea in someone's head.
Glass items may be modified to suit particular needs or damaged items can be repaired. Becoming a qualified glassblower requires time and dedication to the craft. It takes about 10 years to be considered fully qualified. A limited number of scientific glassblowers practice the art in the United States, and the reputation of ORNL's glass shop, because of the complexity of the work and the expert capabilities of the staff, is widely known in the glassblowing community. At one time the Oak Ridge facilities employed 17 glassblowers, but as wet chemistry moved to computer models, demand decreased and the glass shop at Y-12 closed its doors.