How To Etch Dichroic Glass

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Want to create dichroic glass art? Well, creating one is easy using dichroic glass supplies. If you don’t know how to create one, here are some basics in glass fusing with dichroic.

Basic Glass Fusing With Dichroic

The first thing to remember when fusing dichroic glass is that, like all glass used in glass fusing, it must be compatible. Regular window or float glass is usually incompatible so should be avoided.

Have a look at some glass suppliers and browse through their selection of patterns. Alongside the description you’ll see that each piece of glass has a COE number, usually 104 or 90. You must fuse glass using glass of the same COE and must not cross these over. Mixing COE’s results in shattering as the glass expands and contracts during the firing process.

COE, or coefficient of expansion is simply a measurement of the degree of expansion the glass goes through as it’s being heated.

Dichroic glass can come on a clear or black base. On black can be used as a base. On clear is best used over a darker base as the coating can become almost invisible in sunlight.

If you’re using more than one layer of dichroic glass, you must remember that the coated sides must not touch each other. Remember that the coating is a metal oxide. Having two of these directly connected means that the glass cannot fuse correctly, resulting in either ruined patterns of misshapen glass.

This glass can be used as an inner layer or top layer, left uncapped. If it is left uncapped, the coating will give a metallic finish and is quite resistant to scratches. Unfired , the coating should be handled with care as prolonged exposure to water can ruin the coating and it is extremely susceptible to scratching.

The coating on the glass is more delicate than artglass although it is compatible with most. Generally speaking it shouldn’t be taken over temperatures of 810 degrees Celsius, although personally firing above 800 is considered risky. Temperatures can vary greatly from kiln to kiln however. Be careful when using glue with dichroic glass. Excessive use can result in the coating being spoilt as it burns off in the kiln.

Author: Phil Gillespie

http://www.dichroicglass.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Gillespie

Check here if you’re looking for supplies for glass etching. And visit here if you’re interested to find fusing glass supplies.

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