Lynn Haunstein - 40 Great Glass Fusing Projects

Copyright 2014 by Stackpole Books

Published by
STACKPOLE BOOKS
5067 Ritter Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
www.stackpolebooks.com

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055.

The contents of this book are for personal use only. Patterns contained herein may be reproduced in limited quantities for such use. Any large-scale commercial reproduction is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First edition

Cover design by Tessa J. Sweigert

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Haunstein, Lynn.
40 great glass fusing projects / Lynn Haunstein ; photographs by Alan Wycheck. pages cm
ISBN 978-0-8117-1234-7
1.Glass fusing.I.Title.II.Title: Forty great glass fusing projects. TT298.H38552014
738.5dc23
2013041549

eBook ISBN 978-0-8117-5875-8

Introduction

O ver the years, we have watched as different fields of arts and crafts have gained popularity. As a new craft emerges, those once-popular crafts may fade away. This simply is not true with glass. An art form that began hundreds of years ago, stained glass continues to grow and evolve. While fused glass is just one facet of the glass arts, it continues to develop with new materials and techniques.

Whether you are new to glass fusing or a veteran glass crafter, the goal of this book is to present some fresh ideas for you to explore. Information on fusing glass compatibility, firing schedules, and fusing materials is presented for fusers with minimal experience. More advanced techniques and components are included for fusers who wish to add extra depth to their work.

Within the forty projects you will find a variety of skill levels. From making a simple tile to creating an intricate pendant light, there are ways to challenge your abilities and create something unique.

Each project begins with a list of the materials you will need. In many cases, we have listed the particular glass used in our design. Feel free to use colors and styles of glass that reflect your tastes. Complete instructions are included for you to construct each project. And there are photographs to guide you step by step through each process.

Whether you are making gifts for your family and friends, or are looking for an art piece to enhance your home dcor, we hope you enjoy these 40 Great Glass Fusing Projects. Feel free to email photos of the projects you made from this book to our website, www.rainbowvisionsg.com. Wed love to see how you have personalized the designs.

F used glass has become a very popular art form over recent years. From making simple glass jewelry to creating an intricate design for a bowl, using a kiln to bond glass together can be an exciting process.

Understanding glass compatibility is the most important factor in a successful fusing program. Almost any piece of glass can be fired in the kiln by itself. However, when two or more pieces of glass are combined to be fired together, you must use glass and components that are compatible. This means the glasses will expand at the same rate when heated and contract at the same rate when cooled. While that may seem confusing, the glass manufacturers have taken the guesswork out of compatibility for us. They have tested their fusing glass and assigned the appropriate number for the expansion and contraction properties of their products. This number is called the Coefficient of Expansion, or COE. Glass and accent pieces with the same COE number are considered compatible.

When creating a fusing project, make sure that all glass and components you are using have the same COE number. In your studio, remember to keep your fusing glass and accent pieces separate from any traditional stained glass you may have. And if you choose to work with more than one COE number, keep those products separate as well. A good labeling system will be necessary.

Fusing glass is offered in a range of COE numbers; the most common are 84, 90, 96, and 104. You will find that the lower the COE number, the more time and temperature it will take to obtain the desired results from a firing.

We have chosen to make nearly all of the projects in this book from System 96 glassa line of COE 96 glass manufactured by the Spectrum Glass Company and Uroboros Glass Company since June 2000. We find the glass easy to cut, and it is available in a wide variety of colors and styles. When fired, the glass retains a beautiful gloss, giving our finished work a professional look.

Note: If youre making a project from a glass not manufactured as a fusing glass, there is a risk of devitrification. This is a crystalline growth that can form on the glass surface, causing a cloudy finish. To prevent a project from developing devitrification, an overglaze can be sprayed or brushed onto the glass before firing. We used an overglaze in both to keep the glass glossy.

Fusing Glass

Clear glass is often used as a base or a top layer for a fused project. Below you can see a difference in the thickness of different clear glasses. On the left is -inch thick clear glass. This would be best used as a base for a large bowl or vessel. The center glass is 18 inch thick. This is the standard thickness of fusing glass and would be useful as a base or top layer in most projects. The glass on the right is 2mm thin clear glass. It is great for making jewelry pieces to keep them lightweight.

This is a sample of cathedral fusing glass, which is transparent and comes in a wonderful array of colors and shades.

These glass samples are opal glass. They are opaque, although some light may be transmitted through the glass.

Black glass and white glass are great neutral shades. Both colors are useful in a wide variety of projects as a base glass or accent color. Thin black glass or thin white glass is also great to use in jewelry applications to keep the weight of the finished pieces as light as possible.

These glass samples have an iridized surface. While not as dazzling as dichroic glass, it still adds a lovely shimmer to your work.