Sunday, January 7, 2007

Glass Fused Snowflake

Overview

This blog describes how to make a simple glass fused snowflake.

Components

Cut several strips of clear glass about 1/4" wide. Approximately three feet is needed for one snowflake.

Cut Strips

Break on score

Strips

From the clear strips, cut the follow:
  • Six pieces 2 1/2" long
  • Twelve pieces 1" long
  • Twelve pieces 3/4" long

Cut six squares approximately 1/2" wide from green transparent glass. Remove the corners to form crude circles. Save the chips (corners) for later use.

1/2" squares

Squares, corners removed


In a similar fashion, cut one 1/2" circle from clear glass.

The picture below shows the components necessary to create one snowflake:


Parts


Assembly


1. Arrange in star pattern

2. Cap with clear circle

3. Add inner leaves

Closeup
  1. Assemble the six 2 1/2" clear strips into a six-pointed star.
  2. Place the clear circle over the center of the six strips. Secure with fusing glue.
  3. Form inner leaves. Place two 3/4" strips on each snowflake arm about 1" from the center. One end should rest upon the arm, and the other on the kiln shelf. Secure with fusing glue.

4. Add outer leaves

5. Add green circles

6. Add green chips

Closeup
  1. Using the 1" strips, assemble outer leaves. Secure with fusing glue.
  2. Place one green circle onto the end of each arm of the snowflake.
  3. Accent each inner leaf with a green chip (saved corner of squares). Place a small drop of fusing glue, and then a green chip on the end of each inner leaf.

Fusing

Place the snowflake into the kiln, and fuse at 1465oF for 5 minutes. Anneal for 20 minutes at 960oF. Flash cooling (crashing the kiln) is not necessary.

Finished Snowflake


Snowflake

Snowflake

6 comments:

  1. I just got a kiln and am just starting the learning process. I have not fired a single thing yet, tomorrow will be my first attempt! Next I want to try your snowflakes! Can you tell me more about the fusing...you say 1465 degrees for 5 minutes. Anneal for 20 at 960...my question (again totally new at this) did you ramp as fast as possible to 1465? or did you do so many degrees per hour?

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  2. Thank you for doing this way back in 2007 - it has become a staple among many glass artists who wants to make snowflakes. Your post is clear and concise and snowflakes in glass can be come an obsession.... Are you doing glass anymore? Consider blogging again :-) Have a great holiday season!

    -Phyllis pkw@wendelboe.com

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  4. I am 79 and recently retired from teaching Ceramics for thirty five years. I would love to make this Snowflake in my new Skutt 14 Firebox kiln, can you give me more details on heatwork and rate of climb etc thank you VR

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    Replies
    1. The standard program that came with my kiln looks like this:

      300F at 500F/hour, hold 5 minutes
      1465F at 800F/hour, hold 5 minutes
      950F at maximum rate, hold 30 minutes
      800F at 175F/hour, hold 10 minutes

      See: http://www.skutt.com/pdf/HotStart/HotStartManual_PR.pdf

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    2. This is an old thread but a timeless project. I've just got a new 6.4.2.CE Designs kiln and the suggested schedules which came with it are for float glass, so the temps are slightly out for 90 COE. However, for small/single thickness items the schedule says to ramp up as fast as possible to the chosen firing temp for all types of fuse. I was surprised and a bit apprehensive, but it works perfectly. As long as the ramp down is slow as normal, it works perfectly. Saves loads of time too!

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