What happened with my glass?

[DragonflyAdornments]

I fused my glass pendants just as I usually do. Most of the pendants come out fine. There were four pendants that came out matte instead of shiny (all with the same color). I am not sure why. I use COE 90 and 96 but keep them separate. I have never mixed them up. If I use one, I stick to it. The only thing I can think that may have happened is I used a piece of 96 with the 90 I was working with. Does anyone have any idea what could have happened or confirm my suspicions? If it is in fact mixed COE’s is this a problem? Can I still used them? I actually like the matte look.

 

Thanks

Mara

[mpodolsky]

Do you think the four pieces have devitrifacation issues? If you like the look you can sandblast the pendants [unless they are dichroic] and refire to about 1260 degrees.  Marty

[Piranga]

It sounds like you may have gotten a piece of glass that was not actually fusible.  Every once in a while a sheet can get mislabelled as fusible when it is not.  Some non-compatible glasses will fuse slump and drape beautifully with themselves, but you can not combine them.  Others will get that matte finish, which is devitrification.  Fusible glass is made so that it is way less likely to devit during the fusing process.

Fuse Master makes several products that can allow you to get a nice finish even on “non-fusible” glass.  Back Magic matures at 975 F, Bending Glaze at 1100 F, Clear Coat from 1350 – 1550, and Super Spray from 1250 F (matte finish) or 1300 – 1700 F for a shiny – even incredibly shiny, surface.  These aren’t cheap, but a little goes a long way.

Theoretically, you could take a piece with devit, abrade it (silicon carbide belt or hand pads, diamond hand pads, sandblasting), use Back Magic, heat it to 975, anneal it and get a shiny piece.

Have fun!

Piranga

Fused Glass, Wood, Beads, PMC, Ceramics

Usable and Wearable Art

Art for the Sake of Art

[wordana]

I have also had one bad “run” of glass, that devited every time I fired it. I have a couple of other glasses that tend to cloud a little, and I usually make sure that I cap them rather than have them as the top surface. Of the two that I cap, one is a Uroborus dark purple, and another is a Spectrum 96 white that strikes to beige.

Dana W.

[Author]

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