90 COE & System 96 ??

Kim Reed · Post by **Kim Reed** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:54 pm

Sorry for the question, but I am very new to fusing and am trying to figure it out. So, what will happen if you mix COE 90 and 96 glass together? Someone told me that it would explode and ruin your kiln. Is this true? Any info appreciated. TIA

Amy on Salt Spring · Post by **Amy on Salt Spring** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:27 pm

COE stands for coefficient of expansion. 90 and 96 mean that those two types of glass expand and contract at different rates. Therefore if you mix the two when they are cooling they will contract differently and break apart. It may not "explode" or hurt your kiln but you cannot make something that will stay in one piece from two different COE glasses.
Amy

Stuart Clayman · Post by **Stuart Clayman** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:27 pm

Explode is a term we like to use.. but crack is probally a better term.. and I doubt it will hurt the kiln unless the kiln has feelings and it will get upset that it produces cracked unusable pieces.

Look in the tutorial for a topic on compatable glass and or COE.

Nancy Juhasz · Post by **Nancy Juhasz** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:45 pm

What everyone before me has said. Now do yourself a big big favor and buy Brad's book Contempory Warm Glass. It is offered on this site and at some of the sponsors of the list. It is the best beginners book I have read. Still teething on warm glass I have read several and Brad's book is the best first book. I keep it about 4 steps from my kiln and work area at all times. There are other books that you should read after this one but they aren't as easy to understand until you have fused a little while. Nanc

Tim Swann · Post by **Tim Swann** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:57 pm

Mostly it just causes bad things to your piece.

Tim

AVLucky · Post by **AVLucky** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:09 pm

Check out this recent thread:

http://www.warmglass.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4111