Artful Glass Studio brings to you original glass Designs
WARM
GLASS FUSING PROCESS
Fused
Glass is achieved by placing two or more pieces of glass, usually cut
to a shape, into the Kiln. The Kiln is then heated slowly to
a
pre-determined temperature. The temperature is in
the
range of 760 - 820 degrees centigrade.
This temperature is held for a time, dependent on the amount of glass being fused.
The Kiln Controller then allows the glass to cool to another pre-determined level. Where the temperature is held steady. This is to allow the the glass to anneal. Which means to settle down and loose all the stresses built up during the heating process.
If the stress is not removed the piece will shatter, either when the colling process is completing or within a few weeks of completion.
More glass can be added to the woror thek piece and the process of fusing can be repeated.
The temperature can be varied so that the additional glass will form contours on the original piece.
This process can be repeated any number of times. However, as more glass is added the problems with stress increase and the lengths of time the piece is in the Kiln increases.
Heating takes longer and cooling and annealing are considerably increased. So is the chance of failure due to stress.
SLUMPING:
Slumping or shaping is achieved by placing the fused glass piece over a mould then firing it. The temperature are again preset and lower than for fusing. The glass melts slowly and sags into or over the mould. Then the annealing process completes the work.
This has to be done precisely or the piece is lost.
This temperature is held for a time, dependent on the amount of glass being fused.
The Kiln Controller then allows the glass to cool to another pre-determined level. Where the temperature is held steady. This is to allow the the glass to anneal. Which means to settle down and loose all the stresses built up during the heating process.
If the stress is not removed the piece will shatter, either when the colling process is completing or within a few weeks of completion.
More glass can be added to the woror thek piece and the process of fusing can be repeated.
The temperature can be varied so that the additional glass will form contours on the original piece.
This process can be repeated any number of times. However, as more glass is added the problems with stress increase and the lengths of time the piece is in the Kiln increases.
Heating takes longer and cooling and annealing are considerably increased. So is the chance of failure due to stress.
SLUMPING:
Slumping or shaping is achieved by placing the fused glass piece over a mould then firing it. The temperature are again preset and lower than for fusing. The glass melts slowly and sags into or over the mould. Then the annealing process completes the work.
This has to be done precisely or the piece is lost.