Experimental glass blowing for boys

by Carleton John Lynde

Experiment 47. To make a fountain-pen filler.

Attach a rubber coupling to the large end of one of your No. 4 nozzles, close the other end of the coupling with a glass plug, and your fountain-pen filler is made (Fig. 67).

To make the plug, close one end of a piece of No. 4 tubing, allow it to cool, cut off to a length of 1 inch and smooth the rough edges. Insert the closed end of this plug into the rubber coupling.

Practice using the filler by drawing up and shooting out water.

FIG. 67
A FOUNTAIN-PEN FILLER

Experiment 48. To make a syringe.

Take a half length of No. 6 tube and smooth both ends in the lamp flame or blowpipe flame.

Now to make a plunger: Cut an 8½-inch length of No. 2. smooth one end, close the other end and blow a slight bulb. When cold, wet the closed end and insert it into a small wet rubber coupling.

Note: Always grasp a tube near the end when you insert it into a coupling or stopper, because if you hold it too far back you may break it. Insert it with a twisting motion, after wetting the end and the inside of the coupling or stopper.