How Are Glass Dildos Made?
Glass dildos embody a unique simplistic beauty that is made possible by the way that they’re made. Beginning as a molten hot glob of glass at the end of a long steel rod in a furnace, glass dildos are then shaped and colored by skilled craftspeople before being cooled and always tested for safety.
Borosilicate glass is often used for its heat resistant properties. This durable material has been used for centuries to make items such as dishes, cookware, windows and more. When borosilicate glass is placed into a piping hot furnace, it can be shaped into a variety of forms. To make a glass dildo, pre-made rods of glass are often used as a starting point before they’re shaped into the many kinds of body-pleasing designs.
In addition the their firm feel and artistic designs, one of the major benefits of using a glass dildo is how hygienic they can be. Glass is nonporous, which makes it easy to clean and sterilize to ensure safe use. These solid pieces, when they’re expertly crafted (such as the Glas collection), can be extremely durable for repeat use.
Let’s dive deeper into the process of making a glass dildo.
History of glassmaking
Glass has been used to create all kinds of daily household items since ancient times. The first archeological evidence of manufactured glass comes from Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The process of making glass was a difficult one until the 1st century when workers in Syria and Palestine discovered glass blowing, an easier process that changed the way that glass was manufactured.
How is glass produced?
Glass making has not changed a whole lot since it was first introduced in ancient times. Glass starts as sand, which is made up of a combination of silica, soda ash and lime. It is then heated in extreme temperatures that cause it to melt; and as the dildo cools, it can be shaped into various forms by blowing or using molds. During the process, the glass maker can use additives to color the item as well as improve its durability and other properties.
There are various different glass-making techniques — among them is using glass containers to make glass in three stages: melting, pouring or blowing glass into container molds and then letting it cool. Another process is known as the float glass process, which is usually used to make flat windows and it entails laying glass on the surface of molten metal tin or lead to give it its flat shape. Then there’s manual glass blowing, which can be employed to create art objects and other custom glass items.
Once a glass item is produced, it can then be coated, treated and decorated in all sorts of ways.
Is all glass the same?
As we’ve said before, not all glass is the same — in addition to the different manufacturing processes that can give the glass different qualities, there are different types of glass that also have different characteristics.
Soda Lime Glass is a common type of glass that is said to account for 90% of the glass that’s manufactured. It’s used in everything from windows to bottles.
Borosilicate glass is designed to be the most durable through harsh temperatures and chemicals. This type of glass is most common for products such as cookware and laboratory equipment. It’s also frequently used to manufacturer glass dildos in order to make them safe under any condition. Borosilicate glass also makes it possible to use these dildos for temperature play.
Glassmaking step 1: The furnace
The first stop for glass on its way to become a dildo is the furnace. Usually, glassmakers will begin with a pre-made glass rod that’s placed at the end of a long metal rod. A glassmaker will manually begin shaping the dildo, adding color and any added design elements before letting it cool.
Glassmaking step 2: Annealing and tempering
The cooling of a glass dildo is known ass “annealing,” and is intended to remove residual internal stresses that can happen as it’s being manufactured. For some glass items, the annealing requires a controlled environment while other smaller items will naturally cool.
Annealing helps to make a glass dildo more resistant to breakage and moderate temperature changes. For an even more durable type of glass, tempering can make it four times as durable as annealed glass. It takes longer to create, however it is believed to withstand breakage better than other types of glass.
Glass can experience “stress” when it’s bent or unevenly cooled when it was created, so it’s important that your glass toys come from a reputable brand to ensure that the items that you’re using were made with safety in mind.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect glass dildo for you, start exploring all of the unique sensations that it offers. Temperature play can be safely explored by placing your toys in warm or cool water to change its sensation against the skin.