Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Fusing Metal Glass

Fusing Metal Glass One of the most important items you need in glass fusing is to have the ability to know what the temperature of your glass is during the firing process. To read the temperature inside a kiln, you need a pyrometer. What is a pyrometer? A pyrometer tells you the temperature of the air inside the kiln. It does not touch the glass, so you can't read the temperature of the glass, but it does tell you the temperature of the air inside the kiln. This temperature gives you a general idea Fusing Metal Glass of the temperature of your glass. If you have are unable to tell what the temperature is inside the kiln, you will not know what is happening to your glass.
All kilns are diverse and unique. No two kilns will heat up or cool down the same. There are big differences when the kilns are different sizes. It might take one kiln forty-five minutes to reach 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, while another kiln might take an hour to reach this same exact temperature. Since this kiln did not come with a pyrometer, there was no way to tell what the temperature would be inside the kiln.



Fusing Metal Glass There was a peep hole on this kiln. Although it was located on top of the kiln. Since heat rises, it could be a hazard to try to peek inside the kiln through a peep hole located on top of the kiln. The temperature inside will reach well over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and the scalding heat could burn your skin.
There was no kiln shelf for this kiln. Now, a kiln shelf is not necessary to do glass fusing. But, in glass fusing, it is helpful to have air circulating around your fusing pieces. The circulating air heats up the glass at even temperatures. You can fuse on the kiln bottom, but it is usually suggested that you place your items on posts so that you achieve the needed air circulation.
Fusing Metal Glass A digital control knob adjusts the rate of electricity to heat up this kiln. Although there is nothing wrong with a digital know, you will have to be constantly observing your pieces to be sure to obtain the desired effect. Since she is teaching a classroom full of students, there would not be time to stand around and watch over a kiln.

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