Recently Tagged with "Dichroic"

I get lots of questions about how to make fused glass. So I said I would write a short blurb, I am going to start with my textured pieces as they seem to really amaze people.

The first thing I do is to cut the dichroic glass into random shapes and sizes. I always cut double what I think I will need.
I also cut the pieces for the base glass. Once everything is done, this includes any grinding that needs to be done I load up the kiln and take it up to a fire polish. This will be any where from 1300 to 1400 bependaning of the types and thickness of the glass.
This step can take anywhere from five to seven hours depending on the program I am using. I then have to let the kiln cool down so the the glass will anneal properly. This simply means to cool down. This is usually done overnight.
I then start building each piece. I use very tiny dabs of fusers glue to hold the pieces for the first layer together, then I very carefully add the second layer. At this stage less is more.
I then take my small manual kiln to a tack fuse stage. This is again about 1300 degrees, I use the manual kiln for this stage because I have more control, but that means I have to babysit the kiln. As it is smaller it also heats up and cools down faster.
Then after everything has cooled for about eight hours it all comes out and gets cleaned and then I add more dichroic glass and tack fuse again.
When I say I am tack fussing glass it means I am melting the glass to a high enough heat to glue everything together but not melt it into one solid piece.
Hopefully when this stage is finished I am ready to attach the bail, but sometimes I have to take the glass to the grinder or add more dichroic and this means another trip into the kiln.
This process more than any other I do with glass is a "Hurry up and Wait" but I love it. Every piece is so different. Even if I cut all the same pieces it will change in different way when it s in the kiln.
I hope somebody enjoyed reading this.
If you have any more questions about fusing glass, just ask. It is my passion (besides my husband) and I love to talk about it.
Jo