How Do I Fire Glass in a Programmable Ceramic Kiln?
The process to melt glass in a kiln is known as slumping. A programmable ceramic kiln has the ability to slump glass. The settings on the kiln must be between 1200 and 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. The 200 degree difference will create a different appearance on the surface of the glass. The higher the temperature, the smoother the finished project. Use a mold made specifically for glass slumping to fire glass into a one of a kind object.
Instructions
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Position the glass bottles on the glass slumping mold. Arrange the bottles so they are standing or laying side-by-side. The position of the bottles depends on the desired outcome. Most generally, the bottles are placed on their sides.
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2
Place the glass slumping mold in the center of the kiln shelf so it is not touching any other project. Set the programmable kiln to 1200 to 1400 degress Fahrenheit. Allow the kiln to heat up slowly until it reaches the desired temperature.
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3
Soak the glass at the desired temperature for one to four hours. The process of soaking the glass just means to hold the kiln at the highest temperature for a period of time. The surface of the glass melts the longer it is in the kiln to create a smooth surface.
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Allow the kiln to cool to 1100 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Anneal the glass at 1100 degrees Farenheit for 20 minutes. Annealing the glass simply means to hold it at the temperature for the designated period of time to alleviate stress on the glass. This helps to prevent cracking and breaking.
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Turn off the kiln and allow the glass to cool to room temperature.
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