Glass fusing is a captivating art form that involves melting pieces of glass together at high temperatures to create beautiful, cohesive designs. To get exact and amazing outcomes from this creative effort, a variety of particular tools and supplies are needed. For those just starting out in the trade, knowing the several materials utilized in glass fusing can seem overwhelming. Finding high-quality fusing supplies ensures successful glass fusing projects with precise results and long-lasting durability in your creations. The basic tools and supplies are broken out below; each one is quite important for the fusing process.
1. Running pliers and glass cutters
Cutting the glass into the needed forms comes first in glass fusing. Usually furnished with a tungsten carbide or diamond wheel, a glass cutter scores the glass along a designated line. Precision breaking the scored glass along the appropriate line is then accomplished with running pliers. These instruments are absolutely essential for forming your glass pieces and enabling artists to create complex shapes.
2. Kiln & Kiln Shelf
The glass fusing process centers on the kiln, where magic of fusing occurs. Glass fusing kilns with different diameters each include digital electronics to precisely control the heating and cooling cycles. A kiln shelf inside the kiln provides a stage on which glass pieces rest during the fusing process. Usually covered in shelf paper or kiln wash, the shelf keeps the glass from clinging to it as it melts.
3. Shelf paper and Kiln Wash
Protection of the kiln shelf and your glass items depends critically on kiln wash and shelf paper. Applied on the kiln shelf, kiln wash is a liquid coating meant to form a protective barrier keeping melted glass from sticking to the surface. Shelf paper performs a similar function—a disposable, heat-resistant barrier between the kiln shelf and the glass. Both materials serve to provide a seamless finish on fused glass items’ underside.
4. Fusing and Molds
Glass is shaped into particular forms during the slumping or casting phases of fusing using molds. These versatile forms and sizes let one build everything from bowls to intricate sculptural pieces with these molds. Proper coverage of molds with kiln wash or mold release spray guarantees that the glass does not stick during the fire process.
5. Frits, Stringers, and Confetti Glass
Ornamental accents used to provide color, texture, and design to fused glass objects are frits, stringers, and confetti glass. While stringers are thin, spaghetti-like glass rods, frits are little, crushed particles of glass in a range from powder to coarse chunks. Shapes of thin, uneven glass make up confetti glass. To produce complex patterns and effects, these elements can be layered, fused, or buried within a design.
Reliable fusing supplies are essential for achieving consistent results in glass fusing, enhancing both craftsmanship and artistic expression.
