How to Make Fused Dichroic Glass
The process of making fused dichroic glass involves melting pieces of glass together. You need a kiln to fuse. Fusing involves heating the glass at a high temperature until the glass flows together. Though dichroic glass can be very expensive, it will add a new dimension to your projects. There are many choices of glass on the market, but you need to choose glass of the same coefficient of expansion (COE). COE is the rate at which the glass expands and contracts.
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Things You'll Need
- Glass
- Glass cutter
- Glass runners
- Kiln
- Kiln shelf
- Kiln wash or fiber paper
- Brush
Instructions
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Process
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1
Choose the glass that you want to fuse. You will need to cut your glass in the same shape and dimensions. You will need a base glass; this will be the color of your choice. Next will be your dichroic glass. You can use pieces of dichroic glass laid on top of the base glass. The third piece of glass is your top layer. It will need to be a piece of clear glass. The clear glass will give depth to the piece.
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2
Stack your cut pieces. Stack your cut pieces of glass on top of each other. Place the base piece of glass first, then the dichroic glass, and then the clear glass. Make as many stacked pieces that you want.
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3
Prepare the kiln shelf. The shelf needs to be prepared with kiln wash. Kiln wash is a protected wash so the glass will not stick to the shelf. Brush on a thin coating of the kiln wash and let dry. You will need to apply three coats of kiln wash. Dry thoroughly between each coat. A fiber paper can be used in place of kiln wash. This also protects the glass from sticking to the shelf. Cut the fiber paper the same size as the shelf.
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4
Place the prepared glass in the kiln on the prepared shelf. Close the lid and program the kiln for a full fuse at cone 015 or 1450 degrees, and start the kiln.
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5
Let the kiln cool down gradually to room temperature. Once the kiln has reached room temperature, remove your fused dichroic glass piece from the kiln.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with different color combinations. Try different shapes. Read books on beginning fusing.
Always use safety measures when using glass.
Resources
- Photo Credit Barbara Flood
