Heating Coils

09/29/09 - Heating Coils or Kiln Elements - Sometimes referred to as the kiln elements these curled wires are the heart and soul of a unit. When the kiln is turned on, these coils heat up and allow the kiln to reach the required temperature. They are usually made out of a metal alloy that is called Kanthal. When they wear out from usage, they can be replaced easily and quickly. Check with the manufacturer of your individual unit for purchasing information.

Diamond Hand Polishing Pads

09/28/09 - Diamond Hand Pads - Diamond hand pads really come in handy when you need to polish glass in its natural state. The Diamond hand pads are the most popular brand. Sometimes a particular piece demands that polishing or removing sharp edges needs to be done by hand and not by a machine. These polishing pads are manufactured by a variety of companies and come in an array of grit sizes. The higher the number of the grit size, the finer the polishing effect on the glass.

The Crackle Technique

09/26/09 - Crackle Technique - There are many involved ways to achieve the look of crackled glass. These particular techniques will give you the same look without having to work with hot glass. They are very simple to achieve.

Cold Working in Glass Fusing

09/24/09 - Cold Working - Cold working is completed while the glass is in its natural condition or at room temperature. There are numerous ways to modify the glass, such as drilling holes, etching a design, grinding edges, etc. These processes are accomplished when the glass is cold. Sometimes the route is done prior to firing the glass, such as cutting or grinding, while other practices are done after the glass has been fused.

Devitrification

09/23/09 - Devitrification - Devitrification is also known ad devit. It can sometimes occur on glass that has been fired to a high temperature and held for an extended period of time. This crystalline substance appears as a dull finish on the surface area of some glass. Glass goes through at change when held at a high temperature. It goes from glassy surface to a crystalline structure due to the chemical change that is occurring. Usually this is an unwanted occurrence, but some glass artists actually try to achieve this look on their pieces.

Glass Casting Molds

09/21/09 - Glass Casting Molds - These particular molds are used for the various casting techniques. They are not like the slumping molds. There isn't a hole in the bottom to allow any air to escape during firing. There are many various types of molds depending on the type of casting technique. These glass casting molds are the containers for frit, fusible glass or molten glass.

Glass Canes

09/18/09 - Glass Canes - Canes are a fabulous and simple way to insert exclusive patterns and details to fused glass pieces. They are made by using either a furnace or a torch. the glass is heated to a molten state and pulled to create the canes. Sometimes they are twisted with other colors, or decorated with other pieces of glass.

Ceramic Fiber Insulation in Glass Fusing

09/17/09 - Ceramic Fiber Insulation in Glass Fusing - Ceramic Fiber Insulation is comes in a variety of shapes and forms that help with glass fusing. It is a refractory material. From a fiber blanket to kiln insulation this material can withstand the torrid temperatures inside a kiln.

I am continuing to fine tune and update the site. This page is linked directly from the Tools and Supplies page, as I continue to update and fine tune the site.

Annealing Point in Glass Fusing

09/16/09 - Annealing Temperature - The annealing temperature, also known as the annealing point is the stress-relief point. It is reached during the cooling down phase of glass. At this point, glass has become too firm to be bend but is still soft enough that any built up stress can be released. The piece is soaked at this temperature which evens out the warmth throughout the piece and allows any built up stress to be released.

The Hot Casting Method

09/12/09 - Hot Casting - Hot casting is another casting glass process. This procedure does require the use of a furnace to achieve the torrid heating temperature necessary to pour the molten glass. Special molds are used to receive the hot glass and there are more safety precautions that are required. It is the final page on the Casting Glass methods page.