Delphi Stained Glass, Lansing, U.S.
Concepts Taught: Students will work with color and shapes to creat an abstract look
Objectives:
Students will 1) learn glass cutting to create a “mosaic look” picture frame; 2) work with color and shape to create abstract designs; and 3) learn fusing and kiln basics.Grade Level:
High School
Time Required:
Three to Four Sessions
Materials for 12 Projects:
Qty. Item Number Description
3 sm #B110150 Clear Glass (cut into ¾” x 3½” strips)
1 #F790190 Golden Amber Mosaic Frit
1 #F770190 Evergreen Mosaic Frit
1 #F740390 Cobalt Blue Mosaic Frit
1 #F760690 Red Mosaic Frit
12 Acrylic Frames, 3.5” x 5” (available from most craft or photo stores)
1 #LN275 Adhesive Glue
Glass Cutting Supplies:
1 #5104 Toyo Glass Cutter
1 #5068 Running Pliers
1 #5163 Safety Glasses
Teacher’s note: One sheet of clear glass strips makes twelve frames. One bottle of each of the mosaic frits makes about 12+ frames. Use extra sheets of clear glass to make additional frames. Students can also use fusible glass instead of frit to create their own design.
Directions:
Refer to Delphi’s Instructions for Fusing for detailed instructions.
1. Cut clear glass into strips. For glass cutting directions see Delphi Instructions for Beginning Stained Glass handout or Stained Glass Made Easy video #6149V.
2. On a kiln washed shelf, arrange the clear strips to form a rectangle.
3. Cover the clear glass with random pieces of mosaic frit. It is acceptable to overlap the colors.
4. Using Fusing Schedule on Delphi’s Instructions for Fusing, place in kiln and fire flat.
5. Attach a clear acrylic frame to the backside of the fused picture frame with adhesive glue. Insert your favorite photo!
Tip: Be sure there is at least two layers of glass over each of the seams or you may get a hole.
Photography and project from Glass Fusing Made Easy book #5981. Please refer to it for more detailed directions and beautiful beginner projects.
Fusing glass in a kiln is a fascinating technique that enables artists to create unique and gorgeous projects. The following fusing rules and firing instructions should provide you with enough information to lead your students through a variety of projects, creating an appreciation for the complexities and potential of fused glass, and paving the way for more intricate designs and ideas.
I. Tested Compatible
A. All glass has a coefficient of expansion, or COE.
B. Glass manufactured specifically for fusing is often “tested compatible,” or guaranteed to be a certain COE.
C. The most popular fusing glasses are either 90 COE (Bullseye, Uroboros, Wasser) or 96 COE (Spectrum and Uroboros).
D. Always use compatible glass, which is known to have the same COE.
1. When glass is heated it expands, when it cools it contracts. If fusing two or more pieces of glass together, they need to expand and contract at the same rate. Otherwise, when the glass cools, one glass will pull on the other and cause the piece to crack along the seam.
2. If the glass survives the cooling process, there is still a risk that reheating to bend it, or placing it in a sunny window will cause cracking. Stress from incompatible glass is always in the piece. Do not try to refire broken incompatible glass.
II. Slower Is Better
A. You can’t heat or cool glass too slowly. Going too fast can result in cracked glass or Thermal Shock (photo 1).
B. A safe rate to heat is 15o per minute (900 o per hour), although stacked glass 2” in diameter and smaller can be heated at a faster rate.
C. Slow-cooling of glass or “annealing” depends on the thickness of the glass. If the glass breaks because it was heated too fast; turn off the kiln, allow the glass to cool, push it back together, and try again – at a slower rate. Breaks from thermal shock usually go straight across the piece and have a little hook near the edge. They can usually be repaired by refiring.
III. Glass Likes To Be ¼” Thick
A. When heating glass to full fuse, anything with less mass will shrink up,
anything with more will spread out. This movement can be controlled somewhat by fusing slower, and not going to full fuse.
IV. All Kilns Are Not Alike
A. There are some variances between kilns, especially mini kilns. Sometimes pyrometers are slightly off, and sometimes current loads vary.
B. Use firing schedules as a guide, but remember to check your piece frequently during fusing, and record changes in schedules as needed.
C. Prepare your kiln by applying kiln wash with a kiln brush. Apply one thin coat in each direction. Don’t forget to apply kiln wash to molds, too.
V. Take Good Notes
A. Use a project log to keep important information about your projects.
B. Keep track of what glass was used, how thick the glass was, the firing schedule and the results.
C. This helps repeat good performances and prevent bad ones.
VI. Fusing Glass
A. Glass Fusing Stages For Mini Kilns
Common Temperatures Fusing Stage Glass Stages
8000F – 11000F Brittle Zone Do not open the kiln in this range
13250F – 14250F Tack Fuse Edges are soft, glass is stuck together (photo 2)
14250F – 16000F Full Fuse Glasses combine, uniform thickness throughout (photo 3)
B. Fusing Schedule
Use for table top kilns, pieces ¼” thick, and 3” – 6” in diameter (larger pieces should be heated and cooled slower to prevent thermal shock.
Dial Setting & Time Kiln Temp. Glass Stage
2 for 20 minutes (check kiln) About 5000F No change in glass
3 for 30 minutes (check kiln) About 10000F Still no change in glass
4 for 10 minutes (check kiln) About 15000F Glass should be slightly more than tack fused
4 for 5 minutes (check kiln) About 15000F Glass should be full fused (see further instructions below)
C. Once the desired look has been achieved, turn off the kiln.
1. To stop the fusing process, flash vent the glass to let the heat out by holding the lid off the kiln about 8 seconds and watching the glass surface turn from orange to blackish (the color will return to the glass as it cools). Repeat the process until the temperature stays close to 1000 when the lid is replaced.
2. Replace the lid and turn kiln on low for 20 minutes. This will keep the kiln approximately 1000 - 1200 o, allowing a minimal annealing cycle. Turn off the kiln and cool naturally to room temperature.
D. If more melting is desired, turn dial to 5, but do not leave kiln.
1. It is easy to over fire glass at this temperature and ruin the piece. Let the kiln heat to 1600o and turn the dial back to 4. This will allow the kiln to get slightly hotter, without continuing to gain heat.
2. Check the piece every 3 minutes and try not to let the kiln go above 1600 o. When the desired look is achieved, follow the instructions above.
VI. Basic Supplies
Listed with Delphi item numbers for quick reference
1. #HB120 Table Top Kiln
2. #7441 Ceramic Kiln Shelf – 6”
3. #7465FM Kiln Wash
4. #7466 Haik Brush
5. #FIREUPS Tested compatible glass – Uroboros Glass Pack, 90 COE
6. Glass Cutting Supplies
a) #5104 Glass Cutters
b) #5068 Running Pliers
c) #5066 Breaker/Grozer Pliers
7. Variety of Bending Molds
a) #7433 4 ¼” Shallow Dish Mold
b) #J4 Belt Buckle/Barrette Mold
VII. Kiln Parts
All glass fusing kilns have basically the same parts:
A. Elements (high temperature coiled wire)
B. Firebrick insulation
C. Stainless steel cover
D. Thermocouple (high temperature wires covered by ceramic rings)
E. Pyrometer (temperature read out dial)
F. Infinite Dial – some kilns simply have an on/off switch; the Hot Box pictured has the Infinite Dial
Photography and instructions from Glass Fusing Made Easy book #5981. For more information and project ideas refer to this book and Delphi’s fusing favorites:
Fused Glass Handbook #6430
Fusing guru Gil Reynolds presents 25 projects with easy to follow instruction for mold-making, creating pattern bars and many other hot glass techniques.
Kiln Crafted Video #4990V
Discover how glass shaping techniques developed thousands of years ago have been put to use by contemporary artists. Observe different stages of the glass melting process. Learn how to turn ordinary glass into beautiful sculpture as well as forming, mold materials, preparation, heating and cooling cycles, and more. Includes example projects ranging from beginner levels to advanced.
