I've just bought some dichro strips from warm glass, thinking that to use I should make a small base bead, heat up dichro strip on uncoated side in the upper part of an oxygen rich flame, then apply and try to work as little as possible BUT have read some stuff about putting them in the kiln first to fuse them. So, here is my list of many questions....
should I fuse first, if so, how?
When you wrap the bead with the dichro, do you simply flame cut the strip when it's gone all the way round? Does it matter if there is a small overlap? or is it better to cut a bit off beforehand?
How does the base colour and casing colour effect the dichro sparkle? Should I be looking for a contrasting colour, or tonal difference to get the most out of it?
Is it best to encase the whole bead after the dichro is on?
I think that's all my questions. Cant wait to have a go, but want to feel reasonalbly confident first.
Hi there
What dichroic glass did you buy from Warm glass - is it the bullseye strips? If so these are usually already "fused" or fired - which means that the sides are rounded. This makes it easier to apply in the flame and helps to reduce the risk of scumming.
If it is bullseye then you will need to used it with coe90 glass.
I tend to warm it in the back of the flame first - attach to my bead give it a good press - gently wrap round (I tend to "support" the dichro as I wrap round so that it sits better on and doesn't get the stretched look) and you can flame cut, but I tend to bring it out of the flame and cut with rod nippers and put back in the flame and push the end bit on with a marver.
For these beads I didn't encase - but then they were only heated enough to attach the dichroic - they weren't given a serious blasting.
If you need to encase I would gently encase each side of the dichroic strip - patting gently to make sure it is sealed - then encase as normal.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/4100388752_bf73661365_m.jpg) (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/4100388752_bf73661365_m.jpg)
Hope that helps!
Thanks Trudi, the strips I have are 104coe and the edges are sharp, so I'm assuming I need to put them in the kiln for a bit? Would that be at annealing temp? Love your beads by the way.
Thanks!
I've only fused a little glass - so I'm not the best person to ask really. But you will need kiln wash or some fibre paper to stop it sticking.
I've fired little bits - and fused glass tends to like to go to be 6mm - so when I put a little square in - the edges rounded up and it ended up round. I think a strip would act better - but perhaps someone who fuses more may give better advice ............ Dawn where are you?
They can be used as they are but definitely benefit from being kiln-fired first. Use thinfire or shelf primer to protect them from sticking to the shelf and take them up to around 700 degrees C and then let them cool down; this will take any stress out of them.
Good Luck - any problems, give us a shout.
Pippa
Thanks for that, but sorry to be a bit of a fikkie, but I never batch anneal, so do I need to slowly increase the heat to 700C? and slowly cool?
You can take it up at around 316 degrees C/hour and then when it reaches the top temp, just switch off.
Pippa
many thanks