Dichro Question

[Richard Carder]

I am just about to fuse some dichro glass cufflinks. One problem I always find is that once fired there is a black surround of the dichro glass when I am using dichro with a black base. Can anyone suggest either through firing sched or other ideas that I can have only dichro glass showing?

[Valerie Adams]

What you're seeing is the black glass that the dichro coating is applied to; the glass fuses, flattens and spreads, while the dichroic coating does not.

Either fuse your pieces so they're still tack-fused and the glass doesn't spread, or use clear backed dichro so the spread isn't as noticeable, or fire your pieces face down, which will result in crisp edges and seams.

[Morganica]

Or cut the dichro areas larger than you really want, fuse them, and then cut out the dichro piece to the real size and shape you want. At that point you can firepolish it and the edges won't show.

[Tony Smith]

Fuse single layer dichro and the dichroic coating will roll over the edge as the glass pulls in.

Tony