Glass Lapidary

Glass Lapidary

how do I safely operate and maintain an alcohol lamp?

This question is for the high school and college chemistry teachers. I now possess a faceted type glass alcohol lamp with metal cover attached by chain. The last time I used one of these was back in freshman chemistry in college. Right now I intend to be using one of these lamps for lapidary (cabbing) procedures involving dopping wax. As an engineer I have by now developed a healthy regard toward the use of potentially dangerous equipment and I now need an experienced teacher to tell me once again what I should have learned the first time but did not. The question I have is this: what are the major do's and don't toward the safe operation, maintenance, and storage of an alcohol lamp?

Alcohol burners or alcohol lamps are notoriously dangerous. The best way to keep it around is with NO alcohol in it. The major risk is the device tipping over and spreading flaming alcohol all over the place. North Carolina does not allow the use of alcohol burners in high schools.

My dad cut gemstones professionally (we still own the family rock and gem shop business), and he would use a portable propane torch* to melt wax. Yes, it gets hotter, but you have more control over the flame, and there is less danger overall.

*like this one from Lowes: http://www.lowes.com/pd_148755-13877-309272_0_?productId=3130885&Ntt=plumbing%20torch&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=plumbing%20torch$y=0$x=0