Hearts Earring Pod Mould - Help please

[anditsinthefish]

Does anyone have this mould - http://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/prod/hearts-earring-pod-mould

I used it for the first time the other night on full fuse... I have since found a different program, however I have found that the glass has just become balls.



Does anyone have any tips? Am I doing something wrong?

[flame n fuse]

I'm stumped! that's what small amounts of glass tend to do - perhaps try heaping the frit up in the molds?

[Nicknack]

For these casting moulds you need to fire cooler.  Here is a firing schedule from Warm Glass

Phase    Rate (C/hr)    Temp.    Hold (mins)
1           176C            676C           10             
2           999                   775C     10-20     
3           999                   515C    30-60
4            30                   370C            -
5           999                   40C       -

You will need to tweak this to suit your kiln etc.

HTH.

Nick

[Moira HFG]

Ah yes, I've been there and done that!

As Nicknack says, don't fire too hot: I only go to 760º for pate de verre firings.
And if you want to end up with the 6mm thickness that glass likes to be; be generous with the frit, to allow for 'shrinkage' as the air escapes. Cynthia Morgan has an excellent piece about this on her blog:

http://www.morganica.com/bloggery/2012/latest/methods-frit-volume/

[anditsinthefish]

Thank you everyone! I tried to pack as much in to allow for shrinkage and I pile it towards to middle to avoid any sharp edges.

Round two on a cooler heat here we go