Fused Glass Cabochons Can Be Made
In A Variety Of Styles

Dichroic glass cabochons are an important part of fused art glass jewelry making.

Dichroic cabochons are widely used in fused glass earrings, fused art glass pendants, bracelets, and necklaces.

Fused glass cabochons takes on another dimension with the inclusion of fused dichroic pieces.

Making cabs is not difficult, as one item only requires a piece of dichroic and a clear glass cap.

After you have mastered this you may wish to experiment by using layers of dichroic and fusing them together.

Finished dichroic pieces may also be used in precious metal clay jewelry as well as with chain maille.

Materials:

Kiln Wash or shelf paper

Manual or programmable kiln capable of reaching 1500 F (815 C).

Dichroic on clear or black glass cut slightly smaller than the cab size.

Clear glass cap cut 1/8” to 1/4” larger than the dichroic. Many people prefer to use thin clear glass.

Step 1.

Place the paper on the kiln shelf and assemble your glass pieces with the glass cap placed evenly on top of the dichroic with the dichroic layer facing up.

The clear cap needs to be larger than the base as the dichroic layer can sometimes seep out under the clear glass.

Ripple dichroic may require a larger cap as the clear glass will sink down into the ripples.

Step 2.

These instructions are for Bullseye glass.

As most cabs are less than 2’’ all round use the following firing details.

If using a manual kiln set temperature to medium for about 15 minutes.

Bring up to 1500 F (815 C) per hour and hold for 10 minutes.

If using a programmable kiln ramp your temperature up to 1500 F per hour and hold for 10 minutes.

Check that your cabs have fully fused. If not let the temperature return to 1500 F and hold for another 5 minutes.

Step 3.

Once the glass has fully fused turn the kiln off and open the door until the temperature reaches 1000 F (540c). Close the door. Repeat until the temperature is stable at the 1000 F.

Step 4.

Allow the temperature to slowly drop to 978 F (525 C). Turn the kiln back on and hold at this temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.

This is the annealing temperature, which helps reduce the stresses, and strains that build up in the glass during fusing.

After annealing the glass turn the kiln off and wait until the glass is fully cooled before removing.

For programmable kilns you will be able to include these steps in your firing schedule.

Problem Solving

If the dichroic seeps out from under the clear cap, although you have a larger cap, this may be due to the clear glass not fusing to the dichroic layer.

Prior to fusing remove some of the dichroic layer on the edge of the glass, which will allow the cap to fuse to the base layer before it begins to spread.

Air bubbles can sometimes be trapped between a ripple dichroic layer and the clear glass.

Some users pre-fire the dichroic with the ripple side down. Generally they use a tack fusing firing schedule for this. Others fire to 1400 F for ten minutes.

You need to monitor this carefully to ensure you don’t over fire.

I prefer to pour clear medium frit into the ripples and then fit the cap and fuse.

I find this works very well.