Frit-Happens !

Fusing and Stained Glass Tips and FAQ's => Fusing Tips and FAQ's => Float Glass => Topic started by: crakkers on April 03, 2010, 01:27:03 PM

Title: Float Glass Fusing
Post by: crakkers on April 03, 2010, 01:27:03 PM
Hi

I have a Paragon SC2 kiln and have fused bullseye with some good success. I am now trying to fuse 3mm window / float glass but dont appear to be getting things right. The glass comes out cloudy and I appear to need to use much higher temperatures.

can anyone give me any tips and a firing shedule?

Crakkers
Title: Re: Float Glass Fusing
Post by: Zeldazog on April 03, 2010, 02:04:58 PM
Float glass fires about 30-40 degrees C higher than Bullseye - I do a full fuse at about 835 in my kiln.

The cloudiness is most probably tin bloom, or it could be de-vitrification if you have been in the devit zone for a long time (depends on what firing schedule you used, why don't you tell us what that was?)

You also need to be scrupulous about cleaning float glass, it doesn't let you get away with anything!

You'll find  fusing schedules in this section of the forum:

http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=12.0 (http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=12.0)

As well as information about float glass within this section of the board that you have posted in.

HTH
Title: Re: Float Glass Fusing
Post by: crakkers on April 04, 2010, 08:02:42 PM
thanks,

i have now tried the shedule as ststed as per your suggestion. Unless i programmed my sc2 wrongly the shedule took over 7 hours! and did not give quite a full fuse!

I'd like to know do i up the temp or lengthen the soak time?

No cloudyness however!!

Cheers :-\
Title: Re: Float Glass Fusing
Post by: Zeldazog on April 04, 2010, 10:01:36 PM
Do mean over 7 hours including the cool down?  If so, that's bloomin quick!  Mine takes about 12 hours from start to finish!  Mind you to be honest, I don't heat up as fast as that.  I also anneal cool down at only 83dph.

To be honest, I full fuse float glass in my kiln at 835 C - but as I keep saying time after time (and this is not aimed at you Crakkers, but the question is asked so often!) EACH KILN IS DIFFERENT (even the same model) and you need to know how yours will work best.

So try one with a longer soak.  Try one at a higher temperature.  Do both - until you get the optimum program for you as you need to find what works best in YOUR kiln.

Don't forget to keep a firing log, with the results noted, or photographed so that when you do get the finish you want, you can do it again!