Hot Glass ~ Glass Fusing ~ Slumping

Introduction

Glass kilnwork is HOT HOT HOT and popular, popular, popular!

This guide will introduce you to the art of fused glass.  It will explain some basic principals of kiln formed glass, introduce the "vocabulary" of the glass artist and provide some tips for getting started in this great artform.

If you've seen dichroic glass pendants, kiln formed bracelets, fused glass coasters, plates or windchimes, or slumped vessels, you have seen kiln formed glass.  This is an artform where a little creativity can pay off quickly! 

Fused & Slumped Glass Bowl

Hot glass is relatively easy to learn and projects can be created in a weekend.  These "cookies" were made by decorating cut glass with glass embellishments and then melting them in a glass kiln.

Glass "Cookies" Made with Compatible Glass, Dichroic Pieces and Frit

Glass comes in many types and textures, but for kiln work, it is important that the glass components used in a project are all compatible.  Through the heating process, glass expands and contracts and its vital that all of the pieces of glass, and decorative elements such as frit (ground glass), confetti (thin shards of glass), noodles and stringer (pasta shaped glass rods) are all from the same (Coefficiency of Expansion) or COE.  Otherwise, you project will break either in the kiln or as it cools.  Not fun.

Spirit and Opal Art Glass from System 96

There are two common product lines in which all components are tested compatible. The first is 90 COE (manufactured by Bullseye) and the second is System 96 (manufactured by Uroboros & Spectrum).   90% or more of my customers are using the System 96 line because it is more readily available and is expanding each and every month.

Dichroic glass is available in all COEs and is coated with metals that shift in light for an amazing effect.

Dichroic Glass

Some Basic Glass Fusing Vocabulary

Kiln:  A very hot oven used to melt and fuse together pieces of compatible glass.  Kilns range in size from a mini table top kiln measuring about 14" square to a bathtub sized kiln.  I have two kilns in my studio but I use my HotBox the most!  I currently do not recommend the new microwave kilns for a couple of reasons. 1.  I haven't tested them myself.  2.  It is recommended that you purchase a separate microwave oven to use exclusively for fusing.  (You might as well just purchase a kiln to begin with.) 3.  As your art grows, you'll want to do more than what you can do in a microwave kiln.

Table Top Glass Kiln

Fuse:  The process of changing glass in one of three ways.  Full fuse: glass layers melt into one smooth piece.  Dimensional Fuse:  Glass melts together with rounded edges but still maintains the shape of the individual pieces.  Tack fuse:  Glass melts just until the pieces are stuck together, but they still maintain their dimensional shapes.  In the cookie examples on top the left cookie received a full fuse and is smooth.  The cookie on the right was dimensionally fused and still has a bumpy texture.

Frit: Ground compatible glass

Compatible:  All of the glass will expand and contract at the same rate in the kiln.  All of your components must be compatible (have the same COE).

Tools and Skills: Basic glass cutting skills and tools are needed to complete fused glass projects but don't let that stop you.  You will need: a good glass cutter (I recommend and use Toyo), a pair of breaker grozer pliers, and running pliers. 

Noodles & Stringers:  Compatible glass shaped like noodles, fetuccini, or strings.

Inclusions: Glass or metals that are used in fusing.  Many metals can be used inside of glass for really wonderful projects.

Findings: Jewelry parts used on fused glass.

Dichroic:  Glass or papers treated with metal salts which glow and shift colors.  Dichroic glass is expensive (about $1.00 a square inch) but gives you a lot of bang for that buck.

Slump:  Glass is cut to shape and then draped over or into a mold to take on the shape of the mold.  The glass bowl pictured above was slumped.

Shelf Primer: also known as kiln wash and glass separator is a ceramic based product that is painted onto kiln shelves and molds to prevent the glass from sticking.  It comes in many different brands and is a must have for the glass fuser's studio.  It is applied with a haik brush.

There are also shelf papers which take the place of kiln wash on flat surfaces.  An example is ThinFire shelf paper from Bullseye.

Casting:  Piece of glass are placed in a mold to take on the shape of the mold.  Many people use glass frits for casting but small pieces of compatible glass work very well in a casting mold.

Casting Mold

Kiln Furniture:  Kiln furniture refers to kiln posts, dams and kiln shelves. 

Kiln Posts

Ready to Try It?

The types of projects you want to make will determine what you'll need!

Conservative: View one of Vicki Payne's (from Public Televisions') excellent educational DVDs: Glass Fusing and Slumping Techniques or Fused Glass Jewelry or catch her programs on PBS.  I've spent hundreds of dollars on training to get the knowledge I could have obtained if I'd watched these DVDs first.

Curious: Visit a local glass arts studio for advice and the basic tools and supplies needed to get started. Many studios rent kiln time and offer free advice. 

Committed: Purchase a small kiln, such as the Hot Box (available on ebay), kiln posts and a shelf,  a few pieces of compatible glass, kiln wash and a great beginner's DVD and get started. Starting with a small kiln is a good idea, because they operate on household current and even if you decide you want a bigger kiln later, you'll always enjoy having a small one for "little" projects.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading my guide! I hope it has been helpful.  Please don't hesitate to contact me via email if I can be of further assistance to you!