A Work in Progress

Step One: Four layers of float glass layered with powdered enamels ready to be fired. For the first firing the glass is slowly taken up to a *full fusing temperature of approximately 1500 degrees. This process may take hours depending on the size and thickness of the piece. It is then *annealed at a temperature of approximately 950 degrees. Step Two: The fully fused piece. Step Three: A stainless steel mold ( a Martha Stewart waste basket in this case J ) is coated with a spray form of Boron Nitride as a release agent. And placed in the center of the kiln. Step Four: The disc is placed on top of the mold and ready to be fired a second time. Step Five: The disc is slowly fired to a temperature of approximately 1200 degrees where the glass begins to get soft and gravity takes over. The piece is watched very carefully at this stage until the desired effect is achieved. It is then cooled to room temperature and un-molded. The Completed Slump. * full fuse …The process of joining pieces of glass together by melting them into one solid glass sheet with no texture. * annealing…A soaking phase where the fused glass is tempered by being held at a certain temperature. This allows the temperature to equalize throughout reducing stress in the glass …which can cause a piece to break.