How to Use High Fire Paints when Glass Fusing

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High fired enamel paints (such as Paradise Paints or Thompson High Temperature Enamels) can add color and dimension to your fused glass beads, jewelry and art. This tutorial will explain how to use high fire enamel paints in your fused glass.

Things You'll Need

• high fire enamel paints
• glass
• glass kiln

Instructions

1. 

   Gather your tools and materials.

2. Mix the paint with a palette knife by taking approximately 1 teaspoon of paint and placing it on a large piece of glass that you are using as your mixing palatte. Mix in with oil based medium until the paint is a nice consistency, neither too thick nor too thin. The amount will depend on room temperature, humidity and altitude.

3. 

   Place the clear sheet of glass to be painted over your design. Using a Trenton tracer brush, trace the outline of your design onto the glass. Let the paint dry and then scrape the line in places it is too thick until it is has the desired effect. You can place the glass in the kiln, oven or toaster oven and heat to hasten the drying time.

4. 

   Place in prepared kiln. Fire the tracing black outline using the following schedule as a guide:

   Ramp ºF/Hr Target temperature Hold for
   1 800 1150 0

   With Paradise Paints, this will leave a matt finish. Wait until objects are room temperature before removing from the kiln.

5. 

   Mix additional paints and paint your design.

6. 

   Fire a second time according to the following schedule:

   Ramp ºF/Hr Target temperature Hold for
   1 800 1350 0

Tips & Warnings

• Certain enamel paints, such as Paradise Paints, can be used to add color in the fire polishing stage.

• Marking an even line on glass can sometimes be a challenge. Using an air pen is an alternative to using a brush or quill pen. Place a clean piece of glass over your design and trace using the air pen. Fire the trace outline. Then complete your painting. You may add one or more colors as appropriate between firings. Note that pre-mixed enamel, such as Satellite Unique Enamels, work best with an air pen.

• There are a large variety of high fire enamel paints. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, including cost, shelf life, color choices, odor and firing range. The later, will always be one of the most decisive factors. Below is a chart comparing the firing range of many of the enamel products currently on the market:

• Silver Stain 950-1050ºF

• Transparent Enamels 1050-1090ºF

• Paradise Paint-Matt 1150ºF

• Fusemaster Transparent Enamel 1175ºF

• Glass Stainers 1200-1250ºF

• Drakenfields Bending Colors 1160-1300ºF

• Thompson Pre-filled Gold Pen 1150-1300ºF

• Satellite Unique 1350-1480ºF

• Fusemaster Lead Free Opaque Enamels 1300-1550ºF

• AMACO Versa Color Over-glazes 1325- 1460ºF

• Paradise Paint-Full Gloss 1350-1450ºF

• Thompson Marking Crayons 1350-1400ºF

• Thompson Water Color Enamels 1400-1450ºF

• Glassline 1500ºF

• Thompson High Temperature Enamels,

• Enamel Marking Pens 1550-1650ºF

• Be sure your fired objects have returned to room temperature before removing from the kiln. Removing the items from the kiln before they are at room temperature may cause then to shatter, even if they are not to hot to touch.

Resources

• GeltDesigns
• List of GeltDesigns Tutorials by Topic
• Fused Glass Tutorials