fusing glass to copper

[clairepg]

Hope this hasn’t been covered before, but I’m a new member. I know you can use copper as an inclusion in fused glass. BUT what I am asking is if you can take a piece of already fused glass and fuse it onto a copper back sheet.

[bookie13]

Easy answer is no.

Far different COEs

 

Barry Kaiser

Web Site    http://www.kaiserglass.com

Glass Classes:   http://www.Kaiserglass.com/classes.html

Tutorials      http://www.kaiserglass.com/tutorials.html

[Stephen Richard]

But it can be done. The copper needs to be thin.  It works best if you clean the copper, and then coat it with borax.  It has to be done with a long soak to ensure the bottom of the glass is as soft as the top.  You have to protect your shelf from contamination by the copper sheet.  Not all attempts will be successful, showing that this is on the edge of acceptability.

It is easier simply to glue the copper to the back.

Stephen Richard

blogs at: http://www.verrier-glass.blogspot.com/ and  http://www.glasstips.blogspot.com/

[beaderydestash]

I would think that you can to a degree-if you can enamel (which is glass) copper , then you should be able to fuse a thin glass layer to copper. 

 

I have not tried, I have ony put copper into my glass.

 

http://www.beaderydestash.etsy.com

http://www.alexandersdesigns.com

 

[bookie13]

If you look at an enamel catalogue you will find different enamels for different substrates. The enamel for glass is dfferent than the enamel for copper. This difference is due to the significant differences in COEs. You may get away with fusing very small pieces of copper, but not with sheets.

I agree with Stephen, glue it.

Barry Kaiser

Web Site    http://www.kaiserglass.com

Glass Classes:   http://www.Kaiserglass.com/classes.html

Tutorials      http://www.kaiserglass.com/tutorials.html

[katkramer]

Even though you can fuse glass to copper by enameling…you usually must put a counter-enamel layer on the back side of the copper to counteract the forces of the enamel on the front.  Additionally, enamel is a very thin layer…if you were fusing a 1/8″ piece of glass (but I’m guessing it would be thicker than that!) to copper, it would most likely just break off once it cools because it is so thick and because of the expansion and contraction issues.  You’ll also have issues with firescale on the backside of the copper.

I agree that the glue-on solution is probably the best…

Kat
http://www.glasskatz.com

[mmtreska]

[terrapaxstudio]

I agree with everyone who commented. However, it is marginally possible to consider backing your already fused glass piece with copper FOIL sheet (very thin, like the foil used in stained glass construction, but in sheet form), and only taking it to a very low tack fuse …. around 1300 degrees. I know the foil is available in sheets with the adhesive on it, but not sure where to get it without adhesive. You could try disolving the adhesive and cleaning it well before the attempt.

Good luck.

Cynthia Ann Swan, Terra Pax Studio, Los Angeles, CA

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