Rich Fizer in his new studio takes a break from work as he poses for the camera.  Rich has been working countless hours constructing his new equipment where safety is a 'must'.  Unlike his old studio, this new equipment is computerized to ensure a stable working environment.

Behind Rich on the left is the "Main furnace".  This furnace has a capacity of 400 pounds of glass and is heated up to a blistering 2,185 degrees.  Getting the glass up to a working temperature can take many hours.  The furnace is the main storage for collecting the hot clear glass on a blowpipe or punty.

Rich is showing us an example of how he works with a blowpipe placing it into the "Glory Hole".  The glory hole is a high temperature chamber used to keep the glass very hot as he works with it, allowing it to be soft and pliable for shaping his wonderful creations.  This is currently his newest and largest glory hole.

Below is a photo of the smallest glory hole and Rich prefers to use it for his specialty sculpted fish and other delicate work.  Both of these "Glory Holes" are heated to an average temperature of 2,250 - 2,300 degrees, making it a very warm working environment.  Behind this glory hole, against the wall, are a few blowpipes (hollow high temperature rod) and punites (solid high temperature rods) used for blowing or collecting glass to create his work.