Glass Fusing Made Easy

09/29/09 – Kiln Elements – Sometimes referred to as the heating coils these curly wires are the heart and soul of your kiln. They produce the heat that allows a unit to reach the desired temperature. They are generally created out of a metal alloy called Kanthal. When worn out from continuous usage they can be replaced quite easily. Check with the manufacturer of your particular kiln for purchasing information.

09/28/09 – Diamond Hand Pads – Diamond hand pads come in handy when you need to polish glass in its natural state. Sometimes a piece necessitates that polishing or removing sharp edges needs to be done by hand. These pads are made by various manufacturers and come in quite an array of grit sizes. The higher the number of the grit, the finer the polishing effect.

09/26/09 – Crackle Technique – Have you seen the look of cracked glass and wondered how that could be achieved in fusing? Well, I did months ago, and could not find anyone willing to share the process to achieve the look. Well, one of my friends, Alicyn was kind enough to let me in on the secret to this cool look. It is really quite simple to achieve. There are three different ways discussed on this particular page.

09/24/09 – Cold Working – Cold working is done while the glass is in its natural state or at room temperature. There are many ways to alter the glass, such as drilling holes in the glass, etching a design, grinding edges, etc. These methods are done when the glass is at room temperature. Sometimes the process is done before firing the glass, such as grinding or cutting, while other techniques are done after the glass has been fired.

09/23/09 – Devitrification – Devitrification can sometime occur on glass that has been fired and held at a high temperature. A crystalline substance appears as a dull finish on the surface of some glass when heated above 1000° Fahrenheit and held for an extended period of time. This is a white scum that will appear on the glass. Normally this is an undesired occurrence, but some artists actually try to achieve this look on their pieces.

09/18/09 – Canes of Glass – Canes of glass are a fantastic way to add unique details and patterns to any fused piece. They are created either by using a torch or by using a furnace. Glass is heated and pulled to create glass canes. Once pulled, the canes are sometimes twisted with other colors or decorated with other pieces of glass.

09/17/09 – Ceramic Fiber Insulation – Ceramic Fiber Insulation is a refractory material that comes in various shapes to assist in the glass fusing process. From fiber paper to kiln insulation this material can withstand the high temperatures inside the hot kiln up to about 2300 degrees Fahrenheit.

This page is linked from the Tools and Supplies page, as I continue to update and fine tune the site.  Check out the page for further information.

09/16/09 – Annealing Temperature – The annealing temperature is also known as the annealing point. This stress-relief point is reached during the cooling down phase of glass. Glass has become too solid to be distorted but is still soft enough to release any built up stress. Allowing the piece to soak or be held at this temperature allows the glass temperature to even out through the piece and to release the stress.