Fusing

The basic thing that sets Fused Glass apart from other art glass forms is that it is heated in a kiln rather than with a torch (flameworking) or a furnace (blown glass) or never heated (stained glass).   Much of the design process is done while the glass is cold, working with sheets of colored glass much like stained glass, or with dichroic glass.

The process begins with cutting colored or dichroic glass into pieces to form a base and all the design pieces and arranging the design in multiple layers.  The next step is to fire it to a temperature of 1300-1500 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on the desired result) in a kiln and slowly cool it to properly anneal the glass.  Most pieces involve 2-3 firings to get the look and the layers just right.  Each firing takes 4-12 hours, depending on the thickness and intricacy of the piece.

Learning the complexities of glass, kiln and firing schedules is a true challenge, and I am continually learning.  Finding the right firing schedule for a particular combination of glass can be very elusive and it is like trying to create a formula with a hundred variables.  These variables can include (but are not limited to!):

• desired size of finished piece
• number of layers
• sizes of the pieces making up the layers
• the colors of the glass
• the texture of the original glass
• the texture desired in the end product
• and the size of the kiln (I use two - one very small, one 18 inches across by 14 inches high)