Glass Fusing

Almost everyone is shocked when I say I make the beads myself. Then they ask, “How do you do it?” Well I use two different glass techniques, glass fusing and glass lamp-working.

Fused glass is a term used to describe glass that has been fired (heat-processed) in a kiln at a range of high temperatures from 593 °C (1,099 °F) to 816 °C (1,501 °F). There are 3 main distinctions for temperature application and the resulting effect on the glass.

Firing in the lower ranges of these temperatures 593–677 °C (1099–1251 °F) is called slumping.
Firing in the middle ranges of these temperatures 677–732 °C (1251–1350 °F) is considered tack fusing.
Firing the glass at the higher spectrum of this range 732–816 °C (1350–1501 °F) is a full fuse.

Most of my jewelry is done with tack fusing and full fusing. Slumping, for the most part, is for more sculptural work such as vases and dishes etc.

I start by layering several sheets of glass, often using different colors to create patterns or simple images. The stack is then placed inside my glass kiln and then heated through a series of ramps (rapid heating cycles) and soaks (holding the temperature at a specific point) until the separate pieces bond together. The longer the kiln is held at the high temperatures the more thoroughly the stack will fuse, eventually softening and rounding the edges of the original shape. Once the desired effect has been achieved, the kiln temperature will be brought down quickly in order to avoid devitrification. It is then allowed to cool slowly over a specified time, soaking at specified temperature ranges which are essential to the annealing process. This prevents uneven cooling and breakage and produces a strong finished product.