Want to start glass fusing... a question about my kiln???

[Vicki.White]

I would really like to look into starting a bit of glass fusing... I was thinking small to start of with... pendants, cuflinks... tiny bit of fused glass not like bowls or anything...

The kiln I have is a bead cube... my question is am I going to be able to use it to do fusing?
and also can anyone recommend a good beginners book please.

Thank you, Vicki x

[Zeldazog]

Yes, you should be able to fuse in the Bead Cube, I can't remember how high it goes, but I am sure its hot enough (I fuse at 804 C in mine at the moment, Bullseye usually 795 - 814).

To be perfectly honest Vicki, I wouldn't bother buying a book!  I think there was a fusing project recently in the Making Jewellery Magazine (or whichever one it was, I don't have it but I seem to remember hearing it was in a mag and its the only one I can think of!)

Most of the books I have seen have plenty of projects in them, but they're often for larger items such as plates and so on.

I have Brad Walkers book, but a lot of what is in there is also here:

http://www.warmtips.com/Cat1.htm

Also, Bullseye supply plenty of tech sheets, will come back with address.

http://www.bullseyeglass.com/education/#technotes

And Dennis Brady posts us regular links to fusing projects here:

http://www.glasscampus.com/

There's tutorials on here, and if there's anything you don't understand, there's a few of us fusers to talk you through.


I mean, you might want to buy a book anyway, but you will find that you will be very limited by how many projects you can do out of it, simply because of the size of your kiln.

[Vicki.White]

wow, thanks Dawn!!! I have looked at the links you have sent (only very quickly) but I have no idea where to start, I was looking for a beginners section but couldn't seen anything. I'm so mind boggled and really don't know where to start? 
I don't want to be a pain but please would there be any way you could point me in the right direction of the beginners information please 
xxx

[Zeldazog]

Have you looked through the tutorials on the forum here:

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

Have a browse through, there's firing schedules, and tool tutorials and all sorts.

Sorry. Bit late for me to go through and see which are suitable.  I am fairly sure there's a pendant tutorial in there somewhere.


This particular tip sheet explains the different types of processes, and what happens at what temperature etc.

http://www.bullseyeglass.com/pdf/technotes_tipsheets/TechNotes_04.pdf

IIRC it includes a firing schedule for a plate - you can use this for pendants too, with fusing, you can use a schedule for a larger piece on a smaller pendant, it's just usually slower, but won't do any harm (the larger you go, the slower the schedule).

But do remember, any Bullseye tips will refer to Bullseye only.

[Trudi]

Vicki

I found a 1 day beginners course by searching on google and while it was basic it was really good to getme started. The one I did was in Oxford and wasn't expensive. Why not try a search!

[Warm Glass UK]

Have you seen these? http://www.warm-glass.co.uk/Shop/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=2465 and http://www.warm-glass.co.uk/Shop/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=2425

[Zeldazog]

Vicki

I found a 1 day beginners course by searching on google and while it was basic it was really good to getme started. The one I did was in Oxford and wasn't expensive. Why not try a search!

I also run one day sessions, but so far I haven't got a date for the next one as the Art Room has moved.  But it's a bit of a way from you, in the East Midlands!

[dinah46]

The tutorial on this site is where I started several years ago
http://www.warmglass.com/basic.htm

It's actually taken from Brad Walker's book.

[BeadyBugs]

Hi Vicki,

There's a beginner's fusing tutorial on my site if you fancy a go.  It was written for an SC2 but I'm sure it would help.  Feel free to have a nosy.

HP x

[clasicat]

Hi Vicki
This lady is offering a introductory course in Sept plus I think she is going to do others too . I met Sue at at the craft event I did over the weekend and she is lovely, I am actually thinking about doing the course myself and she is only in the Preston area so not too far from you
http://www.sla-glass.co.uk/news.php

[Vicki.White]

Wow, thank you everyone!!! that is all so so helpful, Helen, that tips sheet you have done is great!!!! Gunna be reading that a few times over, anc Claire... it looks brilliant and not tooooooo expensive, I think I should do a course before I buy anything!!! Just to make sure that I enjoy it... though It's glass so I KNOW I will!!! I think I'm gunna save up... I don't think I will have the money before September... but it is definatly something to aim for as your right Preston is only a train journey away from me! Gunna keep looking through and reading up stuff about it, but thank you so so much. The next step is learning how to use my kiln.. litterally all I know how to do is, select porgramme 1 and start! lol!!!

xxx

[Zeldazog]

Glad you posted that tutorial from Warm Glass, Diane, I knew I had seen it somewhere!

Helen, thanks for the direct link to your tutorial, I knew someone had done one, but I couldn't remember where it was within the tutorials.


Vicki, there's not a huge a amount of stuff you need to get started, you have the biggest item you need - the kiln!

An oil filled cutter (Warm Glass sell them for around £15), a few bits of sheet glass (you can even start with float glass - ordinary window glass - to practice cutting, it's not compatible with Bullseye, but you can fuse it to itself, and buy coloured float and frits - and you can usually get it for free!).

I use a carpet sample as my cutting mat.  A bit of kiln wash and a shelf - not what you get with the Cube?

A course is always good though, as a tutor can help you directly.



Safety glasses.

[Vicki.White]

Oooow, I'm gettin very excited about all this. Oh dear... I feel this is going to become another glass obsession, hehe.
I think I will keep reading stuff and gradually buy a few thing to get going... Now, a shelf... I have some sort of shelf which does go in the kiln, but I had no idea what it was for... have just had a look on warm glass, and I undestand alot more what I need to get started!!! Cheers Dawn, really really appreciate the help!!!!

xxx

[Zeldazog]

Vicki

I have been looking at the Bead Cube myself, when I can afford it, as the kiln I have is only suitable for batch annealing beads - and if (ok, when, specially if my 11 year old has anything to say), I get a torch, I will want to anneal as I go, because I KNOW I will want to do big beads!

Also, I like the idea of portability, so I can do classes anywhere, and of course, enamelling and PMC are on the to do list.

So I was fairly sure that it already has the right shelf, and having just checked Kiln Care website, it does indeed have a refractory shelf and stilt.  You'll need to raise the shelf on the little stilt for fusing to allow air flow and help even out the heat.

Perhaps we should get Lee to ship the Bead Cube with a fusing schedule already programmed in too!

[Vicki.White]

Do you no what... I was just thinking of dropping him an email to find out how to do just that!!! I love my bead cube its great!!!