About glass

I primarily work with Bullseye glass, which is a quality product. It comes in many variations; transparent, opaque (colored), iridescent (pearly), dichroic (coated with metal oxides) and collagen (inset with small pieces and rods). Many types of glass changes color when burned. The glass can be supplemented with Fritts, powders, confetti, stringers, rods and various metals, which can give a very special effect.

Manufacture of glass art can be a lengthy process that can take many hours. There are several ways to heat the glass, depending on the effect which it is desired to obtain. There is a distinction between "tack fusing" and "full-fusing." Full fusing is when the glass is melted completely, and tack fusing is where structures easily seen in the glass.

The following is the process of producing glass in brief:
The cold glass is cut, sawed and sanded, followed by heating (called fusing) in a special oven. By fusing heated oven for approx. 750-800 degrees Celsius. Depending on the glass, etc., and the result aimed, a subsequent cooling cycle. Such a process usually takes 14 to 16 hours. If you want subsequent example to prepare a dish, the glass must be heated up again, to achieve the desired shape. This process is called slumping. By slumping the glass is heated only up to approx. 720 degrees.

Glass changes shape depending on the thickness and size in a complex interaction relative to heating rate, temperature, holding time and cooling rate. It is always exciting to open the kiln after firing! One thing is to cut, grind and assemble glass, another thing to see the finished product, where shape and color has changed after firing and glazing type.Therefore each piece of glass is unique in itself .......................