Does anyone know of anywhere that teaches glass blowing?

[Guy Burt-Davies]

the british school of neon based at masonlite in chatham is probably the best place anyone could learn and being part of masonlite you’ll be using good quality glass etc. http://www.masonlite.co.uk

the only thing is a full training course will set you back several thousand pounds and the equipment you need to set up a glass shop will set you back around 10k – and that’s second hand. whilst i think that it’s great to hear someone say they want to set up a neon shop rather than just use LED’s I’d really look at where you’ll get your business from. We have a neon shop of our own but it’s cheaper to use a trade manufacturer like Kemp or Benge or Direct Neon.

The neon trade is becoming more competitive as LED’s eat into traditional neon markets and some well established trade shops are struggling, I’d really think long and hard about whether you’d be able to recover the initial investment and compete with the existing neon shops before going out on your own – this is just my own humble opinion but maybe some of the other guys on here will have other views.

Good luck

Guy

[elitesigns]

I agree with Guy, that led’s may be causing neon trade suppliers to suffer a little and become more competitive. On the other hand, neon glass shops are falling in numbers, not sure how many left now probably less than 100 across the UK. Neon is going to be around for a long time yet, and for a 1or2 man glass shop it doesn’t take that much to keep you busy, your location can be a great asset if you have no local glasshops, because although trade suppliers are cheap, moving neon around the country is not.
Away from the boring topics of money, i’m a glass bender and can honestly say it is the most interesting facet of the sign industry, and nice knowing you are one of the very few in the country that can do it.
Learning to bend glass is another thing altogether it is also the most difficult thing in the sign industry by a long way, it is something that alot of people could never master, as guy says masons offer a very good course but it must be said it is still a foundation course for you to develop on, you will learn everything you need to bend glass but it takes years to master it.
The other option is teach yourself, can be done expect many many frustrating hours over the fires.
Go to the states they do courses which are only 7 days 🙂 but they only use lead glass and there standard on bending does leave a little to be desired.
If you ever need any help setting up give me a shout, more than glad to help

craig

[Robert Lambie]

good topic guys… ill reply later, just popping out.

on the price of plants, i looked into buying the complete setup.
even got training videos in to have a look at how its all done. (no i am not saying a video will train you for this sorta thing.) just wanted to see the process is all…

anyway, we pulled out because we could not get a “good” glass blower. ive heard there are many cowboys in this side of our game, getting one thats good at it is another kettle of fish. those that are good, do and why not? charge a high rate of pay. anyway… being up here on outskirts of Glasgow, they were like gold dust, so we swayed way off that idea.
anyway… reason I’m saying this is… back then we could set the lot up for about £6000 brand new. came with bombard unit… various ribbon burners etc being very new i don’t know if what i buying is absolutely everything, but the supplier assured me it was.
i was buying from the states from one of the largest neon plant suppliers over there.
if you would like anymore info on them etc PM me and ill let you know 😉

[Paul28]

Thanks for the response, guys much appreciated, I didn’t think it was going to be simple, and need to do alot of homework and thinking on this one.
i would like to see traditional neon around for a long time yet, I personally love working with it, and think LED is not a replacement.

Cheers
Paul