Fire polishing observation and question
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:23 am
I am making pendants (ranging in size from about 1.5 to 2 inches) from Bullseye frits and powders, no sheet glass at all. Some I fired following a basic full fusing schedule, and some I made in small plaster/silica molds and fired following a schedule I use for pate de verre. After grinding the edges and the backs of some pendants, I now am trying to fire polish them.
I did a test firing with interesting results. My schedule for fire polishing was 300 degrees to 1250, then 600 degrees to 1325 for 15 minutes, AFAP to 900, then slowly cooled.
1. On one of the pate de verre pieces I essentially did no coldworking. There was no change at all in the finish after fire polishing.
2. One of the pate de verre pieces I grounded the back using a flat lap. After fire polishing, the back was very smooth and shiny, with which I am pleased.
3. The edges of the fused pieces rounded slightly, but some rough spots remained.
So I want to adjust my schedule for the fused pieces and am wondering if I should increase heat or time at my processing temperature. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
I did a test firing with interesting results. My schedule for fire polishing was 300 degrees to 1250, then 600 degrees to 1325 for 15 minutes, AFAP to 900, then slowly cooled.
1. On one of the pate de verre pieces I essentially did no coldworking. There was no change at all in the finish after fire polishing.
2. One of the pate de verre pieces I grounded the back using a flat lap. After fire polishing, the back was very smooth and shiny, with which I am pleased.
3. The edges of the fused pieces rounded slightly, but some rough spots remained.
So I want to adjust my schedule for the fused pieces and am wondering if I should increase heat or time at my processing temperature. Any thoughts?
Thanks!