Making A Low Fire Decal
Fused Glass Pendant

The glass is first fully fused to make a pendant with softly rounded edges. The decal is then applied and the glass is re-fired at a lower temperature.

Low fire decals are fired at below fusing temperature to prevent the decal burning off the glass as no capping glass covers the decal.

These decals come in black and white and colored versions, many of the decals used on ceramics are suitable for glass fusing.

It can be a matter of trialling different decals to ensure they do not burn during the firing process.

Due to the transparency of the decals, it must be applied to a light colored glass such as white. You can experiment with this as some colors may enhance the decal colors.

Dark glass is generally not suitable as all the decal details will be lost in the dark background. As a contrast, you can fuse a dark color base to a light color layer and apply the decal to the light glass.

This pendant has a black base fused to a white upper layer.

For the project, a colored butterfly decal has been selected.

You will require the following items for the pendant.

Two pieces of fusing glass, black and white, about 1"x 11/4".

Thin fire paper or kiln washed shelf.

Glass cutter.

Low fire decal.

Glass fusing kiln.

To make the pendant proceed as follows:

Step 1. Select decal and measure, do not cut from sheet.

Step 2. Transfer measurement to the glass and cut two pieces slightly smaller.

Step 3. Wash and dry glass thoroughly.

Step 4. Using kiln washed shelf or thin fire paper stack the white glass on top of the black on the kiln shelf. Put shelf into glass fusing kiln.

Step 5. Bring temperature up gradually to about 1490° F (810° C). If using thin fire paper keep kiln vented until the binders burn off and then close vent.

Hold at around 1490 F temperature and watch for edges to soften and become rounded. You may need to adjust the glass kiln temperature to achieve the desired outcome.

Step 6. Switch glass kiln off, vent kiln and allow temperature to drop to about 1000° F (540° C). Close glass kiln and cool to room temperature.

Step 7. When kiln has cooled remove fused glass pendant from glass kiln.

Measure glass again, it may have spread slightly. Cut decal from sheet and trim to size. Follow the decal instructions and apply to the glass.

Step 8. Leave decal to dry for 24 hours.

Step 9. Put low fire decal pendant on prepared kiln shelf and place in glass fusing kiln.

Step 10. Bring temperature up gradually to about 1300° F (700° C) hold for 10 to 15 minutes. Check decal during this time, when edges of decal have disappeared the fusing is complete.

Step 11. Turn glass kiln off and let it to cool to room temperature.

Use sandpaper to roughen rear of pendant, apply bail to the glass with two-part epoxy.