stained glass fusing with a propane torch

Andy Cottrell

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Jun 19, 2002, 2:57:47 PM6/19/02

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I know that you can make beads with a propane torch. But can you fuse
regular stained glass pieces with a torch? What I want to do is take
stained glass scraps and arrange them in a design and then fuse them
with a torch. Can this be done? If so what could I do it on? I was
thinking about an industrial type cooke sheet but I am worried that
the glass would stick to it. Is there something I could coat it with
to keep it from sticking? I am not finding much info out on the web
about this. If someone could point me in the right direction to find
this info out I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
Andy

Marjean Cline

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Jun 19, 2002, 3:24:11 PM6/19/02

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I wouldn't recommend it. Fusing requires a kiln to be properly done because the glass needs to be annealed after bringing up to
whatever fusing temperature you're using (slump, tack or full fuse). If you don't properly anneal the glass, it can shatter for no
apparent reason at a later date or even while you're working on the item. You can't keep all the glass at the proper temperature
with a propane torch and some will suffer thermal shock and could break while you're working on it. You don't want to be around
glass when it shatters from stress unless the idea of glass slivers delivered at a high rate of speed into your anatomy sounds like
fun. In other words, this method would be dangerous!

If you're determined to try it, you'll need something that will take coats of kiln wash to keep the glass from sticking, like a kiln
shelf from your local pottery making store, as well as safety glasses. You might be able to melt frit (chunks of glass) INTO a base
piece, but you won't be able to melt edges so that different pieces stick together. Also, fusing, like bead making, requires you to
use glass that has the same co-efficient of expansion (COE) so that stress is reduced as the glass is heated, cooled and annealed.
Regular stained glass scrap, unless it's from the same manufacturer and has been indicated for fusing as well as stained glass work,
is useless for quality work.

Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but this sounds a bit too dangerous to play with!

Mj

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RVNSBRK

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Jun 19, 2002, 3:40:18 PM6/19/02

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Andy,

I'm not sure I would try this approach. Sheet glass is pretty susceptible to
shattering when heated. I've been fusing for years and used to work in a
stained glass studio, so I can speak from experience here. I think if you
heated the pieces with a torch, even slowly they would explode. Even if you did
get them to stick together, they would have to be annealed to prevent thermal
shock as they cooled down. I've had pieces that were kiln fused for hours, that
cracked apart when cooled even after annealing.

I don't meant ot disappoint you, but there are a lot of things about the torch
approach that would scare me.

Juanita

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Frosting on my windowglass
Reflecting light inside.
In myriads of sparkling madness,
No shadows, no darkness,
No place to hide.

J. Floyd

Little_Bit

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Jun 19, 2002, 6:05:36 PM6/19/02

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I'm glad you guys posted this and Andy I sure hope you read these post
before you get to mine. Sorry in advance. But the first thing I thought of
when he asked about coating was PAM. Sorry it was funny at the time.
Leslie

--
Therefore be at peace with your god, whatever you conceive him to be, and
whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life. Keep
peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is
still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
-- Max Ehr

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Marjean Cline

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Jun 19, 2002, 8:07:05 PM6/19/02

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PAM?!?!?!?!? LOL!! I wish it would be so easy!! But now I have visions of my stacks of glass sliding across the kiln shelves
because the kiln isn't *exactly* level...

Still LMBO!

Mj

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Steve & Susan Wright

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Jun 19, 2002, 11:09:13 PM6/19/02

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Two problems/ One use a kiln. Two use only tested compatable glass and
your regular stained glass scrapps are not. If you mix COE, it will shatter
sometime, somewhere. Go towww. warmglass and learn some.

Susan

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Andy Cottrell

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Jun 19, 2002, 11:28:47 PM6/19/02

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I am glad I posted before trying it. It would have been a bummer to
have glass blow up on me. I don't think my HMO would have covered it.
=P Thanks for the advice. I guess I will be getting a kiln and
trying it that way.

Peace,
Andy

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Kate Childers

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Jun 19, 2002, 11:44:04 PM6/19/02

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Well the problem with stained glass scraps is that they have all kinds
of different COE ratings. You can fuse scrapes to other pieces of the
same scrap, but likely you will find that if you try to fuse together
random glass, it will crack on you.

This is why they sell special 'fusable' glass that has a consistent
COE rating.

One thing stained glass scrap is very very good for is mosaics. No
kiln needed for that :)

Kate

On 19 Jun 2002 20:28:47 -0700, cotan...@yahoo.com (Andy Cottrell)
wrote: