Frit-Happens !

Fusing and Stained Glass Tips and FAQ's => Fusing Tips and FAQ's => Float Glass => Topic started by: yahoo on February 23, 2010, 04:06:16 PM

Title: float glass
Post by: yahoo on February 23, 2010, 04:06:16 PM
I have noticed that float glass is way cheaper than clear glass from spectrum...I can't seem to find the coe number of float glass...would it be compatible with spectrum glass and/or frit and would I set the kiln for the float or the spectrum?  Hope this makes sense, I am very much following the learning curve at the moment!!
Title: Re: float glass
Post by: LittleHen on February 23, 2010, 05:16:35 PM
I'm not a fuser but I do know that you can buy coloured float glass to fuse with standard clear glass. I did buy loads of it as the place that sells it is just in Leeds about 10 minutes from my house! It's called PVS they're really friendly but weren't very web savy a few years back when I bought it all!
I must get round to sorting it all out and selling it as I can't ever see me fusing glass again.
The other thing is to find the tinned side of float glass as this can react with the things you put into the glass.
Sorry I can't be of much more help Jessie
Title: Re: float glass
Post by: Pat from Canvey on February 23, 2010, 07:42:29 PM
Spectrum is mostly 96 COE while float is nearer to the COE of bottle glass between 85-87. Have a look at
http://www.glass-fusing-made-easy.com/bottle-glass.html if you want to try some cheap fusing. There is a range of frit compatible with float glass but I think it might be sold by the kilo. I have a jar of yellow and one of blue which I've used to make beads with float glass as an experiment. Spectrum waterglass ( clear sheet) is fantastic for working with the Val Cox frits and Jolene's ones.As they are totally compatible, you can use as much frit as you want to get really deep colours.
Title: Re: float glass
Post by: Flyingcheesetoastie on February 23, 2010, 07:43:36 PM
The problem with float is that even float is not 100% compatible from sheet to sheet!  It's not designed to be!  I do use float and optul float compatible frits etc from Pearsons but it depends what your doing as to whether float will work out for you.

A very seldom used glass are the offcuts from English Antique Glass who are the only company left in the UK that blows flat glass still.  They have these gorgeous colours, all compatible with themselves and cheap cheap cheap.  Problem is you need to go get it yourself....