If you've ever been enchanted by the mesmerizing beauty of fused glass artworks and wondered, "What do I need to start glass fusing?" you've come to the right place. At Fuse Muse Fused Glass, we're passionate about empowering aspiring fusers with the knowledge and tools to kickstart their creative endeavors. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to expand your glass fusing skills, we're here to guide you every step of the way. As a trusted source for fusing supplies, we offer an extensive selection of silk screens and precision waterjet cut glass shapes in COE 90 and COE 96, ensuring that you have everything you need to bring your artistic visions to life. So, let's dive in and discover the essentials of glass fusing together!
If you're interested in creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of art using fusible stained glass, you'll need to gather some essential materials and tools. Here's what you'll need to get started with this fun and fulfilling hobby:
Glass
The most important material for fusing glass is, of course, the glass itself. You can use clear or colored glass to create your designs. You can purchase glass sheets from a stained glass store or a hobby store that sells fusing glass. We also supply both COE 90 Glass shapes and COE 96 glass Shapes so you can be sure to get what ever you need to add to your project.
One thing you must remember is the golden rule of fusing - Do not mix COE's. I suggest purchasing glass that is either COE 96 or COE 90 to start. That way you know that you are only getting one COE and mixing won't occur. See my blog post here if you need further explanation of what COE is in relation to fusing glass.
A Kiln
A kiln is a type of oven that is specifically designed for fusing glass. It heats the glass to high temperatures (usually between 1200-1700 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to melt and fuse the glass pieces together. You can purchase a kiln or rent time in a community kiln if you don't want to invest in one for yourself. Due to the cost of kilns, many stained glass shops have kiln space you can rent or have them fire your project for you, which is a great option to start.
If you are looking to purchase a kiln, there are many different brands, options and sizes you can choose from. My first kiln was a Paragon 16. This is a top loading kiln, with about 16" square space inside. It arrived with a kiln shelf and small stilts to place my shelf upon. It came with a 3 button controller, which I got to learn how to set from the instructions that came with it.
Don't be afraid to use you Kiln
I have seen many comments about how people are afraid to use their kiln for the first time. Don't be! Give it a try! Put in a couple small pieces of glass (on kiln paper or once kiln washed) and set it to see what comes out. You will find that opening a kiln is like Christmas morning. It is like unwrapping a present to see what you have got. In the beginning when you open it, you will pray the kiln gods were in a favorable mood. Eventually, once you get to know your kiln, you will find that they rarely have off days. So don't be afraid! Go for it!
Glass Fusing Supplies
In addition to glass and a kiln, you'll need some other supplies to create your fused glass pieces. This includes things like kiln wash or separator sheets (to prevent the glass from sticking to the kiln shelf), and frit (crushed glass that can be used to add texture or color to your designs).
Hand Tools
There are a few tools that will be helpful when creating your fused glass pieces. This includes cutting tools (like a glass cutter and breaking pliers) to cut the glass into the shapes you need, a ruler to ensure straight cuts, and occasionally tweezers to pick up small pieces of glass or frit. To start, only a glass cutter is essential. You won't need all of the tools below but if you intend to kick your glass fusing up a notch, you may need to invest in some or all of the following.
Get started Fusing Glass
With these materials and tools, you'll be well-equipped to start creating your own fused glass art. It's a fun and rewarding hobby that allows you to create beautiful and unique pieces of art that you (and your customers) can enjoy for years to come.
As we conclude our exploration into the essentials of glass fusing, we hope this blog post has provided you with valuable insights and inspiration to begin or continue your fusing journey. At Fuse Muse Fused Glass, we take immense pride in being your go-to destination for all things glass fusing. We invite you to explore our website and join our vibrant community of artists. Happy fusing!
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Glass fusing is all the buzz in the art education world these days. It’s an engaging process, connected to STEAM, with a bit of danger mixed in. It can seem complicated and overwhelming, and with all the things art teachers have to do, how do you get started?
First things first: Once you’ve decided to budget for a glass-fusing curriculum, your next step is figuring out what to buy. There are lots of bells and whistles out there for glass artists, but what do you really need and want in the art room?
You can’t fuse with any old glass shards. If you are mixing and matching different types of glass, every single project is destined to fail. When buying fusible glass, you have to choose between 90 and 96 Coefficient of Expansion (COE). They don’t expand at the same rate (read: cracking) and it’s impossible to tell them apart. So once you make the choice for your art room–either 90 or 96–stick with it!
I’ve read a lot of opinions about which COE is better, but at the end of the day, they are pretty much the same. The only difference I’ve found that really matters to me as an art teacher is art education catalogs tend to sell COE 90 and companies specializing in glass sell both 90 and 96 COE.
When ordering glass, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the choices. First, you need to prioritize- convenience or budget. If you are looking for convenience, you can buy pre-cut chips along with pebbles, stringers, and pre-cut clear bases. You’ll end up paying more for time saved, but hey, time is money, right?
If you prioritize budget over convenience and are okay taking some time to cut up your own glass, buy glass packs with glass sheets as big as 12” x12” of 3mm thick glass and cut it up yourself. It’s easier than you think! You’ll need to purchase a glass scorer (or cutter), running pliers, and pair of mosaic cutters or nippers. I keep a couple handheld dustpans around to sweep up glass shards that are left after cutting.
Glass will stick to your kiln shelves the same way glaze will, so you MUST kiln wash your kiln shelves. Kiln wash is a powdered mix (or you can buy it pre-mixed) that gets brushed onto your shelves until it is solid.
You’ll also want to buy kiln paper, which I use 2 or 3 times before dumping in the trash. Kiln paper is a powdery paper that will completely prevent glass from sticking to your shelves. I like to buy a large roll and cut it up on my own to save money.
Yup. It’s that easy. To attach glass pieces of glass together you use small dabs of Elmer’s glue, which burns off in the kiln during firing. To prevent students from overdoing it, I provide them with small jars and toothpicks.
Metallic Sharpie doesn’t burn off in the kiln the way regular Sharpie does. Have students write their initials and room code in metallic Sharpie on the bottom of their base before starting.
Now that you have a list of essential materials and tools for trying glass fusing, it’s time to take the plunge! You can see some project ideas and resources here and here, and this kiln firing guide from Skutt will also help you get started.
It can be fun and exciting to delve into new materials right along side your students. It’s the difference between being the lifeguard in your classroom or diving right into the pool!
If you teach glass fusing, what are your go-to materials or tools?
Have you thought about introducing glass fusing? What’s holding you back?
If you would like to see more awesome ideas from Kelly, she will be presenting at the Art Ed Now 2017 Winter Online Conference. Her presentation will include ways she infuses STEAM ideas throughout her TAB classroom. You can read more about it and see all of the presentations right here!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.