Coe Glass Fusing

Posted in art supplies on 10/01/2010 02:49 am by admin

Coe Glass Fusing

Combing glass is an extraordinarily stimulating kiln shaping procedure. Glass is controlled by warming it up to a softening temperature and then utilizing a lengthy stainless steel instrument to scrape the substance. This action is ordinarily done in a pulling movement. This motion intermingles and smudges the tints together into an exclusive figure.

Arrange the glass and needed items for this procedure. Make sure that all the glass has the equivalent COE (coefficient of expansion). The glass should be clean and dry before starting. Heap the glass a few layers thick or place them horizontally and tacked together. Different hues respond differently to high temperatures. Keep remarks of all that has happened throughout the method.

Abide by all of the safety procedures, like wearing safety attire. Wear cotton clothes for this adventure. Man made fabric will cause acute burns if melted. Shielding green welder's glasses should be worn to guard eyes from the infrared rays of the kiln. These must be worn whenever opening the kiln.

A pot of tap water must be close by to plunge the scorching rake in after raking the glass. Be sure the pot is big enough to contain and support the rake if need be.

The shelf or supporting container needs to be coated with up to nine or more layers of kiln wash. This primer breaks down in elevated heat, so place added layers. Fiber board can also be utilized to safeguard the foundation. Don't utilize thin fire for this function, as it disintegrates in high heat and can stick to the glass.

When the glass is heated up to about 1250 degrees Fahrenheit, permit the pieces to soak at that approximate temperature for roughly 20 minutes before continuing to advancing the heat further. It needs to arrive at a temperature of around 1640 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the COE of your precise glass. Once the glass has arrived at a molten point, turn off the oven. Sporting all the protective attire open the kiln lid. Barely comb through the uppermost coating of the material, as digging any more could disturb the kiln wash under the glass. This raking needs to be done fast before the glass cools. If the matter starts to cool sooner than wanted, shut the kiln and turn the kiln back on to heat up the glass.

Dip the combing rod in water if required and dry with a towel before resuming any further combing. If glass should stick to the tool in the process, pick up the rod slightly and allow the molten glass to cool down before removing the tool from the kiln. If pleased with your results continue to the next steps. If desiring more raking, close up the kiln and turn it back on. Allow the glass to heat back up again before beginning the combing action yet again.

The final piece can be flash vented to about 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. This feat will avoid some added change and to elude devitrification to develop on the glass. The annealing period must to be extended before permitting the glass to resume to room temperature. Allow the finished piece to cool down below 100 degrees F before opening up the kiln.

For further information on glass fusing, please visit the Glass Fusing Made Easy web site.

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