fuse on the kiln floor?

[dvora]

I have a hexagonal kiln, dimensions 15″x6″.  My kiln shelf is 12 ” round.  I have a nice little mold about 12″x6.”  SO…now I have a really nice textured piece all cut and ready to tack fuse and I am realizing I cannot lay it on the kiln shelf to tack-fuse flat first (I would usually fuse then slump in 2 firings) because the corners of the glass (rectangular) will hang over the edge of the round shelf! 

SO what do you think?

Should I just tack fuse and slump at the same time? (The edges of the glass will pull into the mold like they do for bowls while it slumps.)   OR should I tack fuse as planned, but do it on shelf paper directly on the kiln floor (plenty of room but not elevated for airflow)? 

I would really appreciate advice.  I have no local resources. 

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I don’t have an answer you are going to like

You should never fuse on the kiln floor – among other things it makes heating the glass evenly very difficult.

Slumping and tack fusing is also inadvisable since tack fusing occurs higher than slumping and (probably the bigger issue) the two pieces of glass are likely to bend at different rates so when you do get to tack fuse temperature there’s a good chance you’ll trap a lot of air in the gap between the layers.

If you can get a 1/2″ thick piece of fiber board (Duraboard) then you can cut a bigger “shelf” and lay it on the existing ceramic shelf.  Just make sure to use fiber paper between the glass and fiber board.

---

Paul
FusedGlass.Org
Helios Kiln Glass Studio
PaulTarlow.com

 

[Author]

Posts