Glass fusing and stained glass making techniques
Starting off with glass fusing is a very simple process. The equipments needed for glass fusing are glass kilns, pyrometer, selves or moulds, glass separator and a few cutting and essential safety tools. They come in a wide variety and is the most important glass fusing tool. Kilns, which are manufactured specifically for firing glass, are the best. You can also use kilns engineered for ceramic. Kilns come in different sizes and capacities. Choose the one, which suits your requirement and budget.
Pyrometer is again one of the most crucial glass fusing supplies. It is an instrument, which can display and monitor the temperature inside the kiln. Pyrometer is a kind of thermometer, which also has a controller that helps in managing kiln firing. Apart from the kiln you also require a shelf or a stand to place the glass or a mold if you intend to do slumping. Shelves are normally made of light refractory material or clay. The moulds come in steel, clay or different forms of plaster mixtures or cements.
The nature of glass is also an important factor for successful glass fusing. Though you can use glass of any kind, but there are some types, which work better than the others. The simple window glass, which is commonly known as float among the professionals, can work wonders. The colored glass used in stained glass making is the most preferred type.
Like glass fusing, stained glass work is an equally popular and important form of art. The first step to start off with this art form is to create an inventory of the stained glass tools required and to know the procedure of using the tools to create a stained glass artwork. You require colored glass pieces, etching cream, glasscutter, paintbrushes of different thickness, lead came, cloth and a solder. You also require a pattern, which has to be traced on the glass. A special pen with which you can write on glass is also essential. After you draw the pattern of your choice on the glass then use stained glass saws to cut out the pattern.