Frit-Happens !

Fusing and Stained Glass Tips and FAQ's => Fusing Tips and FAQ's => Topic started by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 02:13:45 PM

Title: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 02:13:45 PM
Helene asked for some float pictures. This is the only one I have at the mo but I'll add more when I've done my float tests over the weekend.

This was a project called 'kiln carving' using a square of 6mm fibre paper and cutting into it with a scalpel to achieve reliefed effects. I was v pleased with the results. This photo shows the 4 different tiles stacked up. I need to take one of all four individually...

(http://www.handmadeheaven.biz/USERIMAGES/kilncarvingstack.jpg)

I'll dig out my float schedule and put it with the others for bullseye but I'm waiting on the updated schedule if someone has that?

Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Caroline on January 05, 2007, 02:21:26 PM
*drool*

anyone got a tissue?

those are fantastic Steph
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: BeadyBugs on January 05, 2007, 02:22:46 PM
Ooo they're lovely Steph. :) ?I had a root around for the float schedule, but no avail. :( ?I've got a few other ones, but not that one, soz.

HP x
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 02:30:37 PM
thanks girls. i was surprised at how a plain bit of window glass can be transformed! it's just a single 6mm sheet. i will write a tute for this one day.

HP - who was it who told us?
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: BeadyBugs on January 05, 2007, 02:41:59 PM
The ones I found were by Beck (Chameleon), she was fount of knowledge for all things float.  I don't know if Debbie (Silver Zebra) might know too?

HP x
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Helene on January 05, 2007, 02:46:38 PM
Steph they are stunning.....im gonna have a go now for sure  :D thanks for posting the pictures.....I love pics me xx ....What else can you stick in there with the float glass?...copper, silver? anything else??
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 02:47:14 PM
ah yes, it was Beck. will nag her about it as i think she's here now
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 02:48:56 PM
Quote from: Helene on January 05, 2007, 02:46:38 PM
Steph they are stunning.....im gonna have a go now for sure :D thanks for posting the pictures.....I love pics me xx ....What else can you stick in there with the float glass?...copper, silver? anything else??
float is a new thing for me. i'll let you know how it goes as i'm trying copper over the w/e. i think you can use the same metals as for art glass but they may react with the tin side of the glass
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: littlegiggles on January 05, 2007, 02:49:23 PM
 :o :o :o ?They is fab
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Su on January 05, 2007, 02:52:22 PM
Those are gorgeous, Steph! 

I'm amazed at what glass can do if asked to nicely.  I definitely want to try fusing now!

-Su
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 02:53:27 PM
i knew i'd break you Su ;) muhahaha!
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Su on January 05, 2007, 02:59:45 PM
You fiend!  I'm waiting for Mike to go away for the weekend and the studio will be MINE, all MINE!

Actually I have a huge bag of very cool pieces of leftover cane from a paperweight artist, they're sitting in the studio waiting for me to do something with them, and I wanted to try fusing them into little patterns. No idea what the glass is so that means testing them first. 

I'm hoping I can get kiln time when Mike's not annealing, we have a Paragon Caldera with a bead door but it shuts completely and seals well so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

-Su
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 03:02:47 PM
good luck! photos of results a must :P

if you want to check glass compatability you'll need polarising filters
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 05, 2007, 03:11:30 PM
for anyone who doesn't know what compatability filters are, they look like this (2nd page).... http://www.bullseyeglass.com/pdfs/catalog4/bullseye_cat4_36-37.pdf
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: xtweeksx on January 06, 2007, 11:33:32 AM
Ah now thats something like Ive wanted to try..... saw it in a workshop/studio I visited in Australia. He made some amazing things using that technique (or something very similar)....

Looks brill...... give the glass a totally different look, love the though of using different textures on glass.

Look forward to seeing more in this area...

Jenx
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Chameleon on January 06, 2007, 06:25:30 PM
hellos all :) i made it here  ;D Steph, your kiln carvings are gorgeous !!

there is a bullseye tip sheet for it if anyone is interested in having a go (its lots of fun)

http://www.bullseyeglass.com/pdfs/technotes_tipsheets/TipSheet_01.pdf

as far as other inclusions you can use all sorts of stuff, metal leaf, thin metal wire (altho you may get air bubbles) i have managed to use some of my thompson enamels (yes the 104 coe compatible ones) altho only a thin layer not sure if it would work with a thicker layer. i have put small quantities of effetre frit in between layers too :D best thing is to do small test bits of lots of things all at once and see what works :)
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Chameleon on January 06, 2007, 06:39:57 PM
have just taken some pics of some tests and bits i have done will put them on here when i can find the lead to attach to the pc !! (technically challenged isnt in it)
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Josephine on January 07, 2007, 05:12:17 PM
Those are lovely Steph.

Talking of kiln carving, I saw a lovely platter that must have been done into a (plaster of paris??) mold made using sea shells. It had been sand blasted too. It was really beautiful.
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 08, 2007, 10:44:26 AM
i have new pictures to add later after last night's float test. some interesting outcomes :) i was paranoid that it wouldnt work at all but thankfully all 5 test pieces went okay. watch this space....!
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Helene on January 08, 2007, 10:47:54 AM
oooooooo cant wait  ;D
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 08, 2007, 02:05:46 PM
here are the photos of last night's float glass experiments (9 x 9cm) showing some pre-fired and fired pieces...

Large Heart
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatlargeheartprefire.jpg)(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatlargeheart.jpg)

Large Double Heart
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatlgcopperheartprefire.jpg)(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatlargedoubleheart.jpg)
this piece had the copper too close to the edge and you can see how it has burned and distorted... (http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatlargedoubleheartdetail.jpg)

Snowballs
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatsnowballs.jpg)

Autumnal (my fave)
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatautumnalprefire.jpg)(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatautumnal.jpg)
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatautumnaldetail.jpg)(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/floatautumnalangle.jpg)
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Chameleon on January 08, 2007, 02:33:18 PM
love those leaves Steph they have come out gorgeous !!! :)

i have now found my lead for the card reader to attach to the pc (like ive been looking for it for the last hour) so one i have sorted the uni pics will load some pics of float tests i did. they are no pretty like yours tho steph !! they are just basic what happens if tests :)
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Chameleon on January 08, 2007, 04:52:14 PM
ok not going quite to plan as have had to do pics on old pc and email them to new one (dont ask) but i have the first couple, these are float and enamels, before and after sandblasting
ok struggling to upload second pic. will have to add it to photobucket or something !! and try that !!
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: xtweeksx on January 08, 2007, 06:44:42 PM
Ohhhh I love Autumn..... my fav  colours and I think youve hit the spot beautifully.

chameleon is the pic an after one???  :)Im a newbie to fusing an cant tell.....sorry!

Jenny
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on January 09, 2007, 06:59:20 AM
Quote from: xtweeksx on January 08, 2007, 06:44:42 PM
Ohhhh I love Autumn..... my fav  colours and I think youve hit the spot beautifully.

chameleon is the pic an after one???  :)Im a newbie to fusing an cant tell.....sorry!

Jenny
yeah, jenny, it's 'after'. the tip is look at the corners - see they are rounded? if it were pre-fired it would be layered sheets of glass (see my prefire photos above) with normal 90degree corners
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Helene on January 10, 2007, 04:44:39 PM
Lovely Steph.....they are stunners  :o  thanks for all your help everyone x
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on January 14, 2007, 06:19:27 PM
That Autumn one is really good, I think your onto something there!!
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: LittleHen on June 28, 2007, 01:53:16 PM
I've just been shopping for some float glass.  there's a whole range of coloured glass that is compatible with window glass so I thought I'd go down that route.  Apparently you can make stringer and twisties etc using a lampwork torch.
The woman at the shop is really friendly and the best thing is that they are only 20 minutes from my house (Bradford side of Leeds)!
No website yet but one on the way.  tel 01274 616 941 email sales@pvsuk.com
Got loads of different colours so will post some piccies when I get going next month.
PVS said they'd email me a firing schdule to get started.  Also you can hire their massive kiln (about the size of a double bed!) or a part of it for a reasonable cost.
Looking forward to getting stuck in, they've also got some dichroic and loads of other fancy stuff to add to it but I thought I'd just play with colours and copper first.
Jessie
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on June 28, 2007, 02:44:47 PM
What a find Jessie and it sounds like an absolute blast,,,,keep us posted and some pics when you get going, I would love to know how you find it ;D
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on June 28, 2007, 02:52:53 PM
i have their catalogues. they are great :D
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: beadammed on June 29, 2007, 08:56:59 PM
What we talking about here ???
What's float glass ??? ??? ??? ??? :-\
Geraldine
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: Stacy on June 29, 2007, 09:00:14 PM
Please someone correct me if I am wrong but I thought 'float glass' was plain window glass
Title: Re: Float glass pictures
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on June 29, 2007, 09:39:18 PM
it is! :D

they also make float-compatible glass to use with it