How to Purchase Dichroic Glass
Dichroic glass is vivid and eye-catching. It is used in jewelry and as home decor accents in "art glass." Dichroic glass has been around for centuries, its name derived from the Greek "di" and "chroma," meaning two color. Modern dichroic glass is made by depositing layers of metallic oxides on the glass in a vacuum chamber using a high-voltage electron beam. The technique produces up to 50 layers of alternating metallic and silicon oxides. Modern dichro typically has three colors: a reflective color, a transmitted color, and a third reflective color visible at a 45-degree angle.
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Instructions
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Purchasing Dichroic Glass
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Locate dichroic glass merchants. An Internet search of "Dichroic Glass" will produce numerous sites selling the glass (see a sampling in Resources below). Many sites offer the glass in sheets (and pieces or shards called "scrap") for your own craft designs. They also sell pendants for making jewelry, as well as finished jewelry and hand-blown art glass objects.
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Know the difference between real dichro and faux. Faux dichroic glass is made from melting foils onto Memory Glass with melted embossing powders. Because real dichro has the metallic oxides fused directly into the glass, its color will last indefinitely, whereas the foils of faux dichro could become scratched.
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Check the quality. A common problem with poor quality dichro is a scummy finish, usually caused by improper cleaning prior to fusing. For sparkling dichro, BoroCoatings is considered among the best based on its crystal matrix. If you are able to handle the glass before purchasing, check for the clarity of its reflected colors. Rotate the glass and look at how the color shifts. If you cannot make the purchase in person, choose a quality manufacturer, one that offers a lifetime guarantee.
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Shop around. But remember to compare the prices based on the same relative quality. And be sure to note whether the price is retail or wholesale. Wholesales prices generally require bulk purchases. Also factor in whether your purchase will be subject to state tax and the cost of shipping and handling.
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Tips & Warnings
Use dichroic glass sparingly as a decor accent. Like anything, too much can appear gaudy.
