letters with fusing

This is the main board for discussing general techniques, tools, and processes for fusing, slumping, and related kiln-forming activities.

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mikefromitaly
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2003 7:47 am
Location: italy-sicily
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letters with fusing

Post by mikefromitaly »

hello friends .
i need a suggest.
how are made letters on fusing glass as that printet by a printer?
helps mike.
Ron Coleman
Posts: 468
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2003 3:20 pm
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA

Post by Ron Coleman »

Silk screen printing is a good way to print on glass. You can use your computer to make the image and make a silk screen to apply glass paints.

Some pictures of how I do it. These letters are Chinese but regular letters work too. :wink:

http://mrcol.freeyellow.com/screen-printing/

http://www.warmglass.org/mag2003_pictures/99.jpg

The red glass is about 5 x 5 cm.

Ron
mikefromitaly
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Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2003 7:47 am
Location: italy-sicily
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fusing letters

Post by mikefromitaly »

thanks for reply.
i have a cutting plotter where i can cut letters...could i use it for this?
what kind of Silk screen can i buy...
but after this procedure,might place it in kils?
help.mike :roll:
quill
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Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2003 10:35 am
Location: BC
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Post by quill »

I am not sure if this will be useful for you or not but... if you don't need different colors you can get great letters by using silver foil & craft punches. They come in all different sizes as well as upper & lower case.
Barbara Muth
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Re: fusing letters

Post by Barbara Muth »

mike77 wrote:thanks for reply.
i have a cutting plotter where i can cut letters...could i use it for this?
what kind of Silk screen can i buy...
but after this procedure,might place it in kils?
help.mike :roll:
If you have a plotter then I recommend the mica or irid techniques where you sandblast off the fused on mica or the iridized surface using a resist you plotted and then fire the piece.

barbara
Barbara
Check out the glass manufacturer's recommended firing schedules...
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PaulS
Posts: 155
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:45 pm
Location: Belize
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Re: fusing letters

Post by PaulS »

mike77 wrote:thanks for reply.
i have a cutting plotter where i can cut letters...could i use it for this?
what kind of Silk screen can i buy...
but after this procedure,might place it in kils?
help.mike :roll:
Airbrush the firing paint onto the plain (flat) glass and fire it on.

Cut your stencil with your plotter and apply to the painted surface of the glass.

Sandblast through the open areas of the stencil, remove the stencil.

Paul
It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at!
Ralph
Posts: 34
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 8:12 pm
Location: Australia

Post by Ralph »

Airbrush the firing paint onto the plain (flat) glass and fire it on.

Cut your stencil with your plotter and apply to the painted surface of the glass.

Sandblast through the open areas of the stencil, remove the stencil.
Another way (no blasting necessary) is to apply your cut vinyl to the base glass (temporary-sign vinyl is easier to remove later).

Airbrush (or paint, or sponge, etc) your glass enamel, paint, frit powder in CMC (whatever you're using) direct to glass, over and/or through the vinyl mask.

For better edges to your design, remove vinyl carefully before the paint/enamel hardens completely. Fire when dry.

You can apply different colors, either in multiple firings or in a single firing.

If you want to turn this into a production method, apply your plotter-cut vinyl direct to a suitable silkscreen. Squeegee blockout over the vinyl, allow to harden before stripping out the vinyl. You now have a long-wearing screen to print your design direct to glass without going through all the usual stages of applying and exposing photo-sensitive materials.

Using either method you'll have to work out your positive/negative design elements thoroughly.

Ralph
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