Search found 1077 matches

by Morganica
Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:37 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Best kiln
Replies: 12
Views: 19186

Re: Best kiln

Coffins are also called "bathtubs," so if you hear that term, that's what it means. For fusing, i.e., sticking sheet glass or frit into the kiln, firing it until it flows together or slumps into a mold/form, and cooling it, any kiln that will keep the elements at least a couple inches away...
by Morganica
Thu Dec 10, 2015 10:48 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Inconsistent Reaction Results: French Vanilla and Dense White
Replies: 9
Views: 13791

Re: Inconsistent Reaction Results: French Vanilla and Dense White

Reactions will intensify and eventually even out...to a point. Usually that's the point at which the reaction potential has been exhausted, or the crystal growth has maxed out, or the glass has just basically used up whatever it is that's causing the reaction in the first place. So your choice--if y...
by Morganica
Sun Nov 22, 2015 2:44 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Freemont Glass
Replies: 12
Views: 20868

Re: Freemont Glass

As has been mentioned here, there's more to it than just COE, or even just compatibility. Compatibility you can test for--if you're curious, I think Brad's book talks about how to test for compatibility, or any of Boyce Lundstrom's books will. You can also just google it--it's not difficult or expen...
by Morganica
Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:56 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: Clear Shield Gel
Replies: 9
Views: 33145

Re: Clear Shield Gel

First...the idea that patinas don't change over time is nonsense. Certainly the ones I own have changed,* as have paintings, pastel and graphite drawings, sterling, wood, and ceramic art...and even glass. Art evolves, that's part of its purpose. And Marty's right: Wherever did I equate Clear Shield ...
by Morganica
Sun Nov 15, 2015 9:58 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Slumping large pieces in Paragon Pearl 56
Replies: 3
Views: 8162

Re: Slumping large pieces in Paragon Pearl 56

As Val said, need schedule, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to either show a picture of the mold and the piece(s), or to at least describe the shape and the sizes/heights. Lots of possibilities here. Depending on the proximity of the glass to the elements as the glass starts to heat, there could be a ...
by Morganica
Thu Nov 05, 2015 1:01 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: relays for kilns
Replies: 28
Views: 56125

Re: relays for kilns

Had Skutt replace my original controller, too, went to the solid state on the GM1414 bathtub, didn't bother with the high limit. I ran mine almost constantly, doing everything from 1550F castings that lasted a couple of weeks or more to quickie flat fuses, for several years without a problem. I thin...
by Morganica
Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:46 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: bubbles
Replies: 10
Views: 15866

Re: bubbles

Thanks. First, are you putting the reeds (the raised lines) to the inside or the outside of the layup? BTW, there's an exceptional Bullseye tech note about just this subject that you should read: http://www.bullseyeglass.com/images/stories/bullseye/PDF/TechNotes/technotes_05.pdf I think that will gi...
by Morganica
Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:02 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: bubbles
Replies: 10
Views: 15866

Re: bubbles

And posting a picture of your layup before fusing, and the result after, will also help. There are MANY reasons for bubbles, and a few different types of bubble formation as well. There are also many ways to do a "bubble squeeze," so simply using the terms isn't really going to help us fig...
by Morganica
Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:02 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Hemp twine, cord as organic material for burnout?
Replies: 8
Views: 15605

Re: Hemp twine, cord as organic material for burnout?

I stand (very) corrected. Yes, petroleum products are hydrocarbons and therefore contain carbon and are therefore organic. Apparently I have overdone the hippie bit because I have forgotten my organic chemistry and have apparently started using the term "organics" to mean "anything th...
by Morganica
Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:09 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Hemp twine, cord as organic material for burnout?
Replies: 8
Views: 15605

Re: Hemp twine, cord as organic material for burnout?

Plastic is not the same as hempen twine. For one thing, most plastics aren't organic--many twines are--and if the plastic moose is solid it'd be rather dense and take awhile to burn out (assuming there's enough oxygen around for that). I could see a nice, long, oily petroleum fire, about like burnin...
by Morganica
Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:40 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Bullseye Rhubard Shift Tint
Replies: 2
Views: 5196

Re: Bullseye Rhubard Shift Tint

Bullseye Rhubarb is the color I love to love and hate and crave. It may be my all-time favorite most annoying color. ;-) Seriously...it goes with everything and nothing, just depends on the form factor of the glass (powder or billet), what glasses you're using with it, and how you light it. It may b...
by Morganica
Mon Oct 19, 2015 4:07 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment
Replies: 11
Views: 21868

Re: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment

#1 pottery plaster is almost always the easiest to find, and it's good, serviceable stuff--it's the basic plaster used in much of today's glass casting, especially beginning classes, and you can get it from just about any ceramic supply place. You can also buy "stones," i.e., dental plaste...
by Morganica
Sat Oct 17, 2015 1:51 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: melting frit to make a single piece of glass
Replies: 8
Views: 12910

Re: melting frit to make a single piece of glass

No is the easiest answer. Probably the most accurate is "it depends." If all the pieces of glass that you broke up to make the frit came from the same batch, i.e., they were all poured into sheets from the same melt, yes. If the pieces came from different batches but formulations and proce...
by Morganica
Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:38 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: grinding and other abrasions effect between 2 fused surfaces
Replies: 4
Views: 8488

Re: grinding and other abrasions effect between 2 fused surfaces

Mostly you just keep the ground surface wet until you can scrub off the swarf completely. If it dries into the pits and crevices of the rough surface, it's a lot harder to get out, even if you rehydrate. Grinding crud left on the surface is what leaves the cloudy, scummy appearance--it can provide &...
by Morganica
Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:31 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Can I use this kiln for glass?
Replies: 9
Views: 15578

Re: Can I use this kiln for glass?

I'm with Val; if you can use that kiln to control temperature precisely for any given period of time, you can fuse and slump and cast glass with it. There are some great online resources (this is one; head over to the Bullseye Glass website and subscribe to their video tutorials, too), and then star...
by Morganica
Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:28 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: impression tile and rimmed dish mold
Replies: 4
Views: 9251

Re: impression tile and rimmed dish mold

I'm not entirely clear what you were trying to do? What was the end result supposed to be?
by Morganica
Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:52 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Bohemia glass fused with garnets
Replies: 12
Views: 15602

Re: Bohemia glass fused with garnets

Nope, still can't see it...or is it just me?
by Morganica
Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:23 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: grinding and other abrasions effect between 2 fused surfaces
Replies: 4
Views: 8488

Re: grinding and other abrasions effect between 2 fused surfaces

That's a tough question to answer because it's going to depend on the heat the glass receives after it's been coldworked, and for how long. Obviously, if you nuke the heck out of the glass long enough, it'll turn into a puddle and you'll get a smooth, flat surface, and if you barely kiss the surface...
by Morganica
Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:11 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment
Replies: 11
Views: 21868

Re: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment

For all the precision I use in the rest of my mold mix calculations, I gotta admit I get all loosey-goosey on that one. It's literally as many handsful as I feel it needs to look right. :oops: Typically, though, it's just enough to cover the top of the mound I'm sifting into the water, so probably a...
by Morganica
Mon Sep 07, 2015 2:53 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Outbuilding as a kiln location
Replies: 16
Views: 24114

Re: Outbuilding as a kiln location

You don't say where you live (except that it's humid), but as someone who's going through rehab on a knee replacement and a quad injury setback right now (along with a couple years of wearing a leg brace), the delights of carrying work outside through a couple of doors in winter might not be much be...