About the Hot Shop

GAK has one of the few public access Hot Shops in Western Michigan. This 324-square-foot space accommodates both large and small teams with a choice of three Denver annealers (large, top loading, and regular) in order to produce your artwork. One large 350-pound-capacity, HUB Consolidated gas furnace runs 24/7 at a temperature of 2,100˚F to continually provide quality Spruce Pine Batch clear molten glass. There are two workstations, each with a medium glory hole and gaffer bench.

Hot Shop Up Close

Our 324-square-foot Hot Shop, adjoining a 1,500 square foot open studio, features:

One 350 lb. HUB Consolidated gas furnace
Full range of hand tools, pipes, and punties
Two 16" medium glory holes with barn doors
One gas-powered garage
One gas-powered pipe warmer
Pipe cooler
One mobile pick-up color kiln
Two gaffer benches with compressed air, oxygen and gas
MAP gas torches
Propane "Fluffy" torch
3 Denver Annealers (28x23x41; 19x24x38; 30x31x50)

Rent the Hot Shop

In order to rent the Hot Shop, you must be a current member of Glass Art Kalamazoo. You must also have prior approval from the Studio Manager. There is a two-hour minimum to rent the Hot Shop. You must supply your own assistant, if desired. You can bring up to 2 additional people for your rental slot. Please review our complete policies and procedures before booking a rental. If you would like to connect with other renters to schedule a time slot, click below.

Your Hot Shop Rental Includes the Following:

One (1) reheating chamber (glory hole) and one (1) gaffer bench
Use of designated hot shop pipes, punties, and basic shop hand tools. NOTE: If using studio tools they must be checked out with a studio manager and checked in at the end of your rental
Compressed air with an air gun
Knock off table w/map torch - for fire polishing only
Pipe cooler and pipe warmer
At Least half of one annealer - using a regular annealing schedule
Up to 15lbs clear furnace glass. If renters use excessive amounts of glass additional charges may apply. Please notify the Studio Manager before booking your time slot if planning to work large, pull cane, or any specialized working method that might require attention to the level of glass in the furnace
Use of designated blocks and shop paddles
Use of optic molds
PPE designated for renters and students

Price: $37.50 per Hour (2-Hour Minimum Rental Time)

Rental Extras

How Do I Become A Renter In The Hot Shop?

Interested in becoming a glass blower and renting our Hot Shop? Your path to renting the Hot Shop as a glass blower begins with our beginner classes. Start by taking a Make It! Glass Blowing Class – you can find an upcoming class below. Follow it up with an Introduction to Glass Blowing 8-hour Class. After completing both a Make It! And Introduction to Glass Blowing beginner classes, you are encouraged to continue on to the Glass Blowing Essentials 1 and 2 classes to further your knowledge and gain enough experience to begin renting the studios. Students completing all 27 hours of instruction plus 6 hours of supervised practice time may be eligible to rent the Hot Shop.

About the Hot Shop

Interested in Renting the Hot Shop?

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