Fusing little dots
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Fusing little dots
Hi,
We were trying to make a lot of dots to then apply to some plates. We noticed when we do full fuse of a 3/4"x3/4" square black glass (stacked 3 high) it fuses into a nice round circle. But we noticed if we do identical setup for White or red it seems like they all get jagged edges around the circle, definitely not smooth round circles. Any thoughts? Would you maybe use more glass but smaller size or is it just always likely to happen with those sorts of colors? We notice same situation when we do small circles too using 1/2" x 1/2" stacked 2 high.
Thanks
Cherie
We were trying to make a lot of dots to then apply to some plates. We noticed when we do full fuse of a 3/4"x3/4" square black glass (stacked 3 high) it fuses into a nice round circle. But we noticed if we do identical setup for White or red it seems like they all get jagged edges around the circle, definitely not smooth round circles. Any thoughts? Would you maybe use more glass but smaller size or is it just always likely to happen with those sorts of colors? We notice same situation when we do small circles too using 1/2" x 1/2" stacked 2 high.
Thanks
Cherie
Re: Fusing little dots
Different colours have different hardnesses (for want of a better word) and may require more heat to break the surface tension and allow the glass to flow. Fire like colours together and watch until they round off. BTW, I would not call a stack of 3, 3/4" pieces a little dot. I would call 1, 1/4" piece a little dot. Opaque colours are always going to take more heat work than transparent, or clear.
Re: Fusing little dots
Black is a very "soft" glass, i.e., it softens and moves with less heatwork than other glasses, especially opaques and even more especially whites. More than likely your schedule is giving the black glass enough time to completely gather, but in other colors it's not enough time. In addition, opaques (light, especially) tend to drag a bit more and stick to the kilnwash, so that could also be affecting things.Cherie Knopf wrote:Hi,
We were trying to make a lot of dots to then apply to some plates. We noticed when we do full fuse of a 3/4"x3/4" square black glass (stacked 3 high) it fuses into a nice round circle. But we noticed if we do identical setup for White or red it seems like they all get jagged edges around the circle, definitely not smooth round circles. Any thoughts? Would you maybe use more glass but smaller size or is it just always likely to happen with those sorts of colors? We notice same situation when we do small circles too using 1/2" x 1/2" stacked 2 high.
Thanks
Cherie
The easiest way to test is to increase the time at process temps. It won't hurt the black, but it should make the other colors bead up properly.
(Edit: Sorry, Brock, didn't mean to duplicate--we must have posted about the same time)
Cynthia Morgan
Marketeer, Webbist, Glassist
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery
http://www.cynthiamorgan.com
"I wrote, therefore I was." (me)
Marketeer, Webbist, Glassist
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery
http://www.cynthiamorgan.com
"I wrote, therefore I was." (me)
Re: Fusing little dots
No problem, lots of information is a good thing.
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Re: Fusing little dots
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. We will work to change our length. We had a full shelf with about 30 of these dots all different colors. Our firing schedule had been:
Segment Rate Temp Soak (Hold)
1 500 1495 .15
2 AFAP 900 2.00
3 AFAP 100 2.00
Thanks.
Cherie
Segment Rate Temp Soak (Hold)
1 500 1495 .15
2 AFAP 900 2.00
3 AFAP 100 2.00
Thanks.
Cherie
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Re: Fusing little dots
Brock & Cynthia
Isn't a temp of 1495 hot enough for any colors?
This schedule seems off to me
Susan
Isn't a temp of 1495 hot enough for any colors?
This schedule seems off to me
Susan
Susan Buckler
Woodstock, NY
Woodstock, NY
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Re: Fusing little dots
There is no need to anneal these.......just turn the kiln off when you get the look you want.
Laurie Spray
New website!! Http://bonnydoonfusedglasstools.com
Maker of stainless steel rings,pattern bar formers, pot melt pots, and Bottomless Molds
glass: http://lauriespray.blogspot.com
New website!! Http://bonnydoonfusedglasstools.com
Maker of stainless steel rings,pattern bar formers, pot melt pots, and Bottomless Molds
glass: http://lauriespray.blogspot.com
Re: Fusing little dots
I take them to 1500 to be sure. Then I hold and look until done.Susanbuckler wrote:Brock & Cynthia
Isn't a temp of 1495 hot enough for any colors?
This schedule seems off to me
Susan
My schedule:
Full to 1500
Hold
Off
Re: Fusing little dots
It's not entirely the temp--it's also how long you're at that temp. If the glass isn't fully beaded-up then you stay there longer.
Cynthia Morgan
Marketeer, Webbist, Glassist
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery
http://www.cynthiamorgan.com
"I wrote, therefore I was." (me)
Marketeer, Webbist, Glassist
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery
http://www.cynthiamorgan.com
"I wrote, therefore I was." (me)
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Re: Fusing little dots
Too hot, too long with opals leads to KW stuck to the bottoms. It's a nuisance to get it off even with enough equipment.
Jim
Jim
"With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil—that takes religion. " Steven Weinberg
Re: Fusing little dots
that's where scrap thin fire comes in handy.The Hobbyist wrote:Too hot, too long with opals leads to KW stuck to the bottoms. It's a nuisance to get it off even with enough equipment.
Jim
Re: Fusing little dots
Irid with the coating against the shelf for the bottom layer of sticky colors helps with getting nice rounded dots without having kiln wash stuck to the bottom.
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Re: Fusing little dots
If you get kiln wash stuck on the bottoms, just throw the bunch into a basin of white vinegar for a few hours. It'll fall off. I've got a gallon of vinegar that I've been using and re-using for a few years now.
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Re: Fusing little dots
I'm with Andy.....we have a huge box of Bullseye scrap shelf paper someone gave us and it is perfect for these!!
Laurie Spray
New website!! Http://bonnydoonfusedglasstools.com
Maker of stainless steel rings,pattern bar formers, pot melt pots, and Bottomless Molds
glass: http://lauriespray.blogspot.com
New website!! Http://bonnydoonfusedglasstools.com
Maker of stainless steel rings,pattern bar formers, pot melt pots, and Bottomless Molds
glass: http://lauriespray.blogspot.com