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Fusing in a Microwave Kiln
Submitted by KathC on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:25.
Hi. I have just bought a Paragon microwave kiln and am completely new to glass fusing. I find the instruction book that came with the kiln is not extensive and I have many questions. One is 'Where am I going wrong in keeping the sides of a square cut glass pendant straight? When I remove the kiln from the microwave and check the piece after the required time, I find that the sides of the piece have kind of bowed. I have lovely rounded corners but curves instead of straight sides. HELP!'
Microwave kiln
Are you using two layers of glass? You usually get the bowed sides when you either fire too hot or only use one layer of glass.
KathC Hi. Thanks for coming
KathC
Hi. Thanks for coming back to me. Yes, I am using two layers of glass. I got some fusible glass mini packs when I bought the kiln, but am wondering if the top clear layer should be a thinner glass. I have more success when making oval and circular shapes.
RE: Fusing in a Microwave Kiln
The nature of glass in its liquid form is to round out. If you think about a drop of water sitting on a flat surface, you can try all you want but you are not going to be able to coax that liquid into a square:) Its natural tendency is to form a round drop -- glass is the same.
You can try reducing the firing time, but glass fusing really works best with careful monitoring during firing. That's not something you can achieve with a microwave kiln, unfortunately.
Regards,
Dana W.
www.jestersbaubles.etsy.com
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