Adding gold powder to fused glass

[rondee1374]

I’ve been working with fused glass off and on for about 2 yrs.  Last year my mother gave me some gold powder that my grandfather used in interior paint 75 years ago.  The gold is real but I don’t know the carat weight although I think it’s 24K.  I would like to use this in fused glass as you would glass powders.  I do not have my own kiln but the person who’s kiln I use is OK with anything I try.  I work with 90 COE.  Do you think this is possible?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

dee

[petra kaiser]

Deer Dee,

The best way to find out is to use some (you can mix it with clear glass fine frit or powder and aloe) place it on a small 2″ x 2″ glass – crystal clear would be your best bet – let it dry than cover it with a piece of clear and fire it at full fuse temp.

Glass and metals can react with each other – like red glass turns black where it is touching fine silver. I don’t know if this would be the case with gold and colored glass, this is why I suggested the crystal clear. Experimenting is the key of the game – with just small amounts of coarse.

have fun

petra kaiser – http://www.kaiserlee.com

 

[rondee1374]

Thanks Petra for you information and help.   I will try the combination you suggested.  Does the aloe have to be pure aloe or can it be the aloe gel that I have at home for sunburn with a few additives? 

Thanks again for all your help,

dee

[rondee1374]

I tried to make a coaster just to see what would happen with the gold powder.    I used different colored frit and added the powder to it between two 3″ clear glass circles.  The edges fused before the frit and powder melted and a gas occurred in the middle of the circles creating a bubble that is at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches across and 1/2 inch high.   The glass in the middle of the bubble didn’t melt but created a rattle.   I did find out that the “gold” powder is mostly copper.   I have a beautiful blue “blob” on one side and you can see copper splotches on the underside.  Although it really looks cool and I won’t be doing this again curiosity wants me to to see what I’d get next time. 

dee 

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