WarmGlass.com

I guess we're a bit off topic discussing warm working mirror instead of cold working, but it's all relevant to our trade. I did google toxicity of aluminum and there is some evidence it may be harmful but the jury is still out on this. However, I suspect many substrates we apply to glass then fire m...

Safe? I'm more concerned about all the aluminum used in most deoderants, or cooking in aluminum pans than backs of mirrors!

FYI, scratching out a design on the backside of a mirror then slumping into shape produces interesting results. Often the paint comes off leaving the silver layer intact (my favorite tool for this is a razor blade). Modern day electro-plated mirrors react differently than old-time poured silver w/ b...

I've found a few scattered 50 amp. 220 volt outlets really come in handy to provide choices for growing (having two kilns on at the same time), multitasking (using the welder while fusing), or remodeling later on.

I think a whole house fan installed in a window at the end of your bench is important. Especially if you're working a lot with frit, you should create cross-ventilation with air exhausting and blowing across your work area. This is really important to keep your health!

I use 17 gauge kanthal wire and have excellant results when the ends of each leg meet together inside the glass, like in a circle or oval.

In my opinion, your best bet is to make your own kiln. It's not rocket science, just an insulated box with elements (Durolite). The key is controlling the heat with a good digital controller, which you buy anyway. This approach allows much more size for much less money.

I've found the best use of a controller happens when it's designed to be portable - in it's own box. Get one with the most amps to be versatile in the future. My controller services 4 different kilns.

Slumping pieces into a true circle shape is important - however that's too hard using only two pieces (semi-circle) because you get a flat spot - so I use a few more. Any diameter can be bent then combined to form a true circle - don't even worry about how many pieces it takes to get it right. Pay a...

That's the idea.

Window (float) glass has different properties than regular fusing glass. One of these charactoristics is how tough the glass is, even at high fusing temps (1485 degrees F.)). It doesn't like to flow much, or even round edges. We take advantage of this by easily fusing/slumping in one firing. Colors ...

I've made colored rims another way, using 1/4" strips cut from sheet. I first lay them onto a proper size semi-circle form and slump them. Now you combine these bent colors to form the outside circle & begin adding material for the main area inside. This works really well after you've worke...

I fire two layers of 1/4" plate glass, with paint in between layers to 1485 degrees F. on a deep parabola shaped mold. For fun, I put low-fire paint along side high-fire, and am surprised to find it works! I also get great results mixing together low-fire color powder with a high-fire white to ...

I use fused tiles in these black metal trivets purchased from Ed Hoy, and the size for a nice fit is 4 1/4" sq. People stopping by our gallery find these to be a good bargain because they actually serve a purpose - folks here are so darn practical!

I read the book, Kiln-fired Glass by Harriette Anderson and started fusing in 1976. Went to the West Coast on a buying trip with a local supplier & remember visiting Bullseye Glass when secrective rumblings about compatible glass was getting tested (but they didn't want to talk about it). My kil...

Appears my photos are invalid, and not able to be viewed here without some form of surgery. Pm with your email and I'll oblige.

That was the point. I can send pictures if you need further stoking.

I make bowls and platters from mirrors and regular window glass. You do not always know exactly how it will look due to a variety of materials and methods of manufacturing - a fact I do not mind (Mother Nature having a hand in your work) since I have more fun not in total control. Choose an image (o...

Plus it helps to back the glass away from the walls when loading, so the molten glass oozes up against the fiber on it's own.

It has a dated shelf life which had expired (which is why I got it super cheap). It costs so much to buy that the supplier has to pay attention to the shelf life date so as not to deliver bad stock to his regular customers. It does however last much longer that the stated shelf life so they peddle i...