Best clear glass.....

[Glamglass]

....to use for clear glass tiles. I use Tekta and it always ends up with seed bubbles and I really need to produce crystal clear glass tiles. Otherwise doe s anyone know of a UK supplier of these tiles?

Many thanks

[Dennis Brady]

....to use for clear glass tiles. I use Tekta and it always ends up with seed bubbles and I really need to produce crystal clear glass tiles. Otherwise doe s anyone know of a UK supplier of these tiles?

Many thanks

All Bullseye and all Spectrum clear will have some bubbles.  You can minimize but not eliminate.  If you want to create optically clear tiles, you have 2 options:

1.  Use clear float glass.
2.  Fire to 2000F with a long hold to boil out the bubbles.

[Glamglass]

Is normal float a bit green tinged?
I have not fired to that high as yet!! Would hate to burn down my studio!!

Thanks for the advice though

[Dennis Brady]

Is normal float a bit green tinged?

Yes, but that's only apparent when viewed on edge.

I have not fired to that high as yet!! Would hate to burn down my studio!!

Other then the small hobby and jewelry kilns, most glass kilns can safely fire to 2000F and ceramic kilns to 2400F. 

[Glamglass]

Thanks Dennis. I think I will give the high temperature a go as I tried to do a bubble squeeze with no luck.

I hate the green in the float!

[Zeldazog]

Try "Greenhouse" glass (I am sure there is another name for it, but it escapes me right now) - is almost same as float glass, but not made on molten tin, so doesn't tend to look so green.  I used some and it came out pure clear.

It was some stuff I got from my local glass merchants, who make their own.  There's a few out there who do it.

[Dizzy Di]

I found that if I cleaned green house glass and polished with paper it become really clear when firing. THEN DO NOT PUT FINGERS ON IT AS YOU WILL HAVE GREAT FINGER PRINTS IN WORK. like i did recently.LOL
Cut clean and decorate hold from the sides.
Green house glass for 2 foot square sheet is a fiver in my local glass shop, 
it is really good to experiment with just keep a kiln log of how long you fired and, how hot

Hope that helps.

Dianne
The best glass I have found is the Bullseye clear not the cheap one.

[Glamglass]

I did actually go to my local shop and found that it did not react hardly to a normal full fuse, so I guess it must need a higher temperature to get soft edges!!

Will see if they have any of the greenhouse stuff!!

Thanks

[Zeldazog]

I normally full fuse at around 840c, so a fair bit higher.

Are you using inclusions, or how are you decorating them?  If no inclusions, you could try wit 6mm glass, harder to cut, but you absolutely will NOT get bubbles then!

[Zeldazog]

I normally full fuse at around 840c, so a fair bit higher.

I did mean I fuse FLOAT glass that high!  About 40 degrees higher than Bullseye.

[Glamglass]

Thanks I just want them for clear glass tiles and I would like them to be as clear as possible. I will have a go at the higher temperature and see what happens!

[Glamglass]

I bought some Artista but I am still trying to get the full fuse temperature right! Does anyone have any firing schedules for this type of glass?

[Zeldazog]

Try a search of Warm Glass forums (the american site), you might find some info on there. 

[dinah46]

I fuse Artista to a temp hotter than bullseye but not as hot as float.  It's not as soft as BE, it seems a bit stiffer and doesn't move as much if you know what I mean

I'm a bit wary of giving out schedules as everyones kiln is different but I tend to hold Artista longer at the fusing temp eg 805C for 25 minutes for good rounded edges.

[Glamglass]

Thanks for that! I went hotter than that but for 10 mins and got more of tac fused edge, so I hav increased again to about 850 for 10 mins and will find out in the morning if it worked or not!!