I had a go at making pattern bars this week. Thought I'd post a series of pictures of the process.
First I cut strips of glass and stack in whatever pattern you like....they have to be dammed up to keep them from spreading during fusing.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image003.jpg)
Then they are taken to full fuse in the kiln...a very lengthy firing schedule due to the thickness of the bars (about 1")
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image013.jpg)
Next the pattern bars are sliced into thin strips on a wet tile saw...I cut them about 3/16" thick and then finished them on a flat lap grinder to true up the surfaces.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image021.jpg)
looks really interesting Jim... cant wait to see how it develops
Next I use the slices of the pattern bars in the design of a plate. I full fuse the plate and then slump on a mold. This picture is of three plates I built yesterday and fused last night. I have one of the plates back in the kiln this morning slumping. I added one other process to the one in the kiln today...I sand blasted it prior to slumping to take the high gloss off of it. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image033.jpg)
Whhoooaaaahhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are amazing Jim !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D :D :D
Thanks...they've been quite fun to do so far. The most fun is slicing into the bars to see what cool pattterns were made. We made about a dozen bars last Monday and I have only sliced 3 of them up so far. Will keep ya'll posted on the results here.
Cool :)
Way cool!!
I'll add another cool.Incredible stuff,I love it.
excellent work jim :D i love pattern bars. on the 'to do' list! the black and white one is so effective :) what about bubbles between the layers? is there no chance of that due to the long schedule? cut up more - want to see!!!
Jim, thankyou so much for sharing this, pattern bars are so clever and its such a privilege to see them through the process
Quote from: handmadeheaven.biz on May 06, 2007, 05:39:52 PM
excellent work jim :D i love pattern bars. on the 'to do' list! the black and white one is so effective :) what about bubbles between the layers? is there no chance of that due to the long schedule? cut up more - want to see!!!
Steph...not much problem with bubbles because of the short length of the strips and the long firing schedule. We did have a few bubbles where too much glue was used when building the bars.
Here's a better picture of some of the slices of the pattern bars.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image035.jpg)
And here's the finished black and white plate. I had wanted the black to stay more matt after the sandblasting but the slump firing was a bit too hot and polish fired the black back to a semi gloss finish. I'm backing down the temp on the next one to avoid that.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image039.jpg)
That's gorgeous Jim :)
Les xxx
Thats lovely Jim, its so great to see the whole process, I love these pattern bars ;D
I really love the black and white dish as well - you are so skillful.
Thats amazing Jim
great pics.Stunning
oh wow Jim, i love the finished dish, it's stuning and it's so nice to see the different stages of the process
Stunning Jim!
Michelle.x
Fabulous work Jim :)
Thanks ladies!
wow!! that's beautiful Jim!
Here's the Blue and Green one I had in the kiln last night. Thanks for all the nice comments.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r64/Bluemoonglass/Image042.jpg)
Jim,they are stunning and such a great procedure to get to an end product, which one do you like best and do you think they were worth the extra work?
I have to say the pattern bars really make the pieces ;D
I love the transparent nature of the piece... its a really beautiful bowl
Thanks Julie & Tan.
Tan....I think my fav is the black and white one so far. I've still got 10 pattern bars to slice into though ;D
I think it's worth the effort if you make a lot of them at one time. Probably wouldn't be if I only made one bar at a time.
I'm hoping to pick up some tips on this at Bullseye School next week.
Wow! Wonderful pieces Jim. Fantastic seeing it through from start to finish :)
I love the black and white one too Jim!!
Although I wouldn't kick the blue one out of bed!!
Quote from: tanok on May 07, 2007, 02:41:03 PM
Although I wouldn't kick the blue one out of bed!!
ooohh...no
think of all those glass splinters on the floor and maybe in your slippers ::)
How lovely, I think I might have to come out there for a wee lesson or two Jim :)
Gosh they're fabulous Jim! Ta for all the piccies. ;D
HP x
Wow Jim, they say "blue & green should never be seen" I think you've proved that superstition wrong!! ;D ;D
Michelle.x
Quote from: BlueMoon on May 07, 2007, 02:39:29 PMI'm hoping to pick up some tips on this at Bullseye School next week.
had to drop that one in eh! :P *sulk* lol!! bet u have a fab time :)
Oooo Ive read about this technique........amazing to see it the process and end results! Great stuff!!
look look everyone its Jen ;D
Quote from: tanok on May 16, 2007, 03:48:41 PM
look look everyone its Jen ;D
Hehe ya mad woman.... now I know why I missed you xx
;) :-*