Parchoffi
Also called pacioffi or paciofi, parciofi (Murano), 'ciofi, wooden jacks
Jacks with wooden blades, used wet to open and shape glass without marking it.
What it is
Parchoffi are jacks that have two wooden rods in place of metal blades, fitted into two short tubes at the end of the spring.[1] The rods are replaceable; Cutting Edge, for example, sells cherrywood rods separately.[2]
How it’s used
They’re used wet, otherwise the wood burns too quickly.[1] They’re for working hot glass without leaving marks, for instance opening a large thick vase or a low bowl from the inside, where the pointed blades of metal jacks would cut a deep groove.[1]
History
On Murano they’re called borsee a parciofi or a paciofi, usually just paciofi; American glassblowers mostly use the Muranese word, sometimes shortened to ‘ciofi.[1] The origin of the word isn’t clear; one suggestion recorded in the Conciatore lexicon is pacion or pacioso, “chubby”.[1] Makers spell it several ways, such as Cutting Edge’s “Parchoffi (aka Pacioffi)”.[2]
The wood varies by country: wild cherry in the United States, wild pear in Italy, Germany and elsewhere in Europe, for parchoffi and most other wooden hot-shop tools. These fruitwoods don’t burn quickly against very hot glass and form a thin layer of carbon on the surface.[1]
Sources
Parchoffi in the archive 16
| Photo | Tool | Maker | Sellers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphite Parchoffi HandleA parchoffi designed to hold graphite sticks, in two sizes. | Jim Moore Glass Tools | 3 | |
| Jack Handles for Foot Tools and PaciofiStainless jack handles that take Fantlab's foot shaping tools and paciofi sticks, with fork ends sold separately. | Fantlab | 1 | |
| Pacioffi (Stainless)Stainless pacioffi handles that take wooden sticks, in two handle lengths. | Maruko Tools | 1 | |
| Pacioffi HandlesEnnion jack handles with brazed-in stainless tubes that hold wood or cardboard sticks, for parchoffi work. | Ennion Glass Tools | 1 | |
| Paciofi SticksWooden paciofi sticks that fit Fantlab's stainless jack handles. | Fantlab | 1 | |
| ParchoffiStainless steel parchoffi (pacioffi) that take wooden rods, for smooth surfaces and flowing curves. A pair of cherry rods is included. | Cutting Edge Products (Red Hot Metal) | 2 | |
| Parchoffi HandleParchoffi for smooth curves and graceful transitions. The large version has longer handles and a bigger stick bore. | Jim Moore Glass Tools | 3 | |
| Parchoffi Set, 1" × 12"A fine-grade cherry parchoffi set. | Leviathan GlassWorks | 1 | |
| Parchoffi Set, 3/4" × 10"A fine-grade cherry parchoffi set. | Leviathan GlassWorks | 1 | |
| Parchoffi, Large - Round HandleParchoffi (parcioffi) with wooden sticks and a 50 mm round handle, for smooth surfaces and soft curves. | Carlo Donà | 2 | |
| Parchoffi, Medium - Round HandleParchoffi (parcioffi) with wooden sticks and a 45 mm round handle, for smooth surfaces and soft curves. | Carlo Donà | 2 | |
| Parchoffi, Small - Round HandleParchoffi (parcioffi) with wooden sticks and a 40 mm round handle, for smooth surfaces and soft curves. | Carlo Donà | 2 | |
| Screw-On Pacioffi HandlesHandles for screw-on cardboard tubes. Soaked like a newspaper pad, the tubes open bowls and wide forms without leaving tool marks. | Ennion Glass Tools | 1 | |
| Square Back ParchoffiA square-back parchoffi (parcioffi) hinge sold with cherrywood sticks. | Cutting Edge Products (Red Hot Metal) | 1 | |
| Square-Back ParchoffisSquare-back parchoffis, available with grooved ("licorice stick") or smooth blades and long or short handles. | Watanabe Glass Tools | 1 | |
| Squareback Parchoffi HandleA small parchoffi with a squareback hinge that keeps the sticks parallel, for straightening bulging cup and vessel walls. | Jim Moore Glass Tools | 2 |
