Striped Glass Pendant Made
From Strips Of Fusing Glass
How to make a striped glass pendant using separate fusing glass strips, fused and ground to final shape, and fused again with top and bottom surfaces now reversed.When fusing glass strips, the upper surface may become distorted and the kiln shelf side remain straight and even but without the gloss of the upper surface. This can be seen in the series of photos further below. This should be planned for by ensuring that the kiln shelf is nice and even. If kiln washed, smooth surface by gently rubbing with a pair of old panty hose or very soft cotton cloth. Thinfire paper can be applied after this if desired. Thinfire paper may also be used on a bare kiln shelf. The reason for trying to get a very smooth surface is to prevent the bottom side picking up unwanted marks from the shelf. During the first fusing, the sides of the pendant are held in place be two kiln washed kiln posts or ceramic strips. As part of the process the fused glass jewelry pendant will be ground to its final shape, then flipped and fire polished with the bottom surface uppermost. This should result in a shiny and even surface. The techniques used in dealing with the striped art glass pendant may be used when making larger fused glass items such as plates, etc. Bullseye glass has been used for this project; it can be made with Spectrum 96. The following items will be required for the pendant: Ten Bullseye colored glass strips 1/4 inch wide x 1 3/4" inches long. Glass Cutter. Kiln Wash and/or thin fire paper. Two kiln washed posts or kiln washed ceramic strips. Glass fusing kiln. Glass grinder. To make the striped glass pendant proceed as follows: Step 1. Cut glass to size. Step 2. Lay strips out on prepared kiln shelf. Place prepared kiln posts or ceramic strips down the sides of pendant to hold the strips in place.
Step 3. Bring fusing temperature up reasonably quickly to around 1500° F (815° C). Hold for ten minutes, check to see if ends have become rounded. If necessary hold longer, switch off and cool the fused glass art pendant to room temperature.Step 4. The top stripes will probably be distorted as per the following photo. The ends may need to be shaped and rounded on the glass grinder.
After grinding glass should be cleaned with small stiff brush and detergent to remove all grinding dust. Leave submerged in water until ready to use, dry thoroughly before fusing.Following photo shows reverse side of pendant with straight lines and rounded ends, ready to be re-fired in glass kiln.
Step 5. Place shaped pendant, bottom side up, on kiln shelf and put in glass fusing kiln. Bring temperature up reasonably quickly to fire polishing temperature about 1350° F (732° C), hold for ten minutes and check to ensure shoulders of pendant have rounded. Do not over heat or hold too long as the stripes will distort again. If satisfied switch off glass kiln, cool fused glass to room temperature.
The glass art work pendant should now have reasonably straight lines as the photo above, it is now ready to have a pendant bail glued to the back of the glass.
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