Cabochon Class Page 1

Glass is available in all forms and in the following class I'll show how to have fun using Recycled Glass in kiln fusion.

  
We are starting with a prepared kiln washed -- kiln tray.  And we will be applying different colored recycled glass.  Leave yourself enough space between the glass not to have the glass rounds melt into themselves - unless that's your intention.  I will show you an example of fused cabochons at the end of this class.  


         

                                

    Placement of glass on tray                                   Side fire Kiln                                    Crashing     



Step 1: 

Place your recycled art glass on the kiln tray  You can vary the pieces in sizes but make sure the pieces don't fuse into each other - allow space.

Step 2: 

Place kiln tray in the kiln.  Example shown is a side fire pottery kiln.  Top fire kiln can also be used.

Step 3: 

This is an important part of making glass rounds - if the pices are under 1/2 inch you can fire (ramp) at full temperature.  If the pieces are larger than 1/2 inch, a lower temperature should be used to assure the glass is reaching temperature evenly throughout the glass.

Step 4: 

Reaching desired temperature.  Once the desired temperature has been reached - most glass has a surface tension that releases between 1475 to 1525 degrees - once the surface tension is rleased, allow glass to float or remain at this temperature with the kiln off for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Open kiln door and allow to temperature to crash (this is a fast reduction of temperature) to 1100 degrees.  Close the kiln and allow to cool down.

Annealing

1000 to 750 degrees is the annealing point - this is where your glass will go from being a liquid back to a solid.  It is very important not to open your kiln during this annealing process.  If you do the cold air will crack or craze the interior of your glass gems due to rapid cooling of the exterior while the interior will remain several hundred degrees hotter; creating interior stress.  Just be patient its worth the wait. 
 
 
 







Glass cabochons created on this page from colorful Oceana Glass Slag
 which is available from:
 
RecycledArtGlass.com 


Fused cabochons   Page 2   coefficiency
Plase read before doing fusion


colorful Glass cabochons can be created from wine
bottles most share the same coe