Using raw oxides to color glass

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chelseasouthard
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Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2025 9:46 pm
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Using raw oxides to color glass

Post by chelseasouthard »

Hello All!
Recently, I moved somewhere where it is very hard and expensive to get frits delivered but it is very easy to get raw oxides and chemicals like, pure cobalt, copper oxide, rutilo, chrome oxide, potassium permanganate etc and I have a stock pile of bottle and window glass.

At the same time, I was given a bunch of these chemicals from a local retired glass artist who now does not remember exact how she used them to add to her bottle and window glass to color them. She mentioned something about vaguely remembering the use of frit 3419 as the base then adding the oxides to that to produce many different types of colors. However it seems you cannot get Ferro Frit 3419 anymore so I am looking for a new solution.

I have attached an image of the documentation she has regarding how much of each oxide she used with 30grams of frita (frit en español) along with the sample plate with the results. So this does work, she did do it but I cannot seem to find any information online about the details of how its done at full fuse temperatures. I know about making furnace color batches in a hot shop, adding oxides to the color mix from a source like Spruce Pine https://www.sprucepinebatch.com/glass-batch/ and heating up to 2250-2400°F during charging, but that is not what I'm trying to do here.

If you have any ideas:
1. Suggestions for a new type of base frit that I can order in a large bulk quantity that will be capable of accepting these oxides and making colored glass with float and window glass.
2. A way to make a base frit or something to add to the oxides that is capable of doing the above.
3. Any other ideas about how to accomplish this.

Please don't just tell me to go order bullseye frit and be done, I understand there are many variables and it will be difficult.
But I want to figure out how to make this work.
I love experimentation and it is a important part of my process to explore these kinds of challenges.

Thank you!
Chelsea
Attachments
GlassTests.png
VeroColors_Labeled.jpg
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