If you use dichroic glass in any of your fused glass projects, you’ll probably have a lot of little scraps. They’re like gold! Expensive stuff dichroic glass.
In this video, I’m trying something new to reuse that dichroic glass scrap and make something that could be used for cabochons or as a feature in a project.
The Video
In the video description, you will find links to related videos, a chapter list with time stamps, and links to more resources.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Project Information
The goal here is simple. To create a slab of dichroic glass that can be used, much like a part sheet or pattern bar, as a feature in another fused glass project. Or you could cut it up and fuse the pieces, or hand-cut the pieces, into cabochons.
For all of the glass, I’m using Bullseye 90 COE.
The slab was restrained from spreading when fused with dams around the sides. The dams and the shelf are lined with Thinfire paper.
Some Thoughts
If you use scrap that has been ground on the edge, or cut with a saw, be aware that you may end up with veils in the finished slab. I tried to stop this by filling in with fine black glass frit, hoping this would hide the veils. As I hadn’t tried this before it was a test. I found that the veils still appeared. I would suggest don’t use that scrap for this.
I was a bit light on the black frit and as you saw from the back there were holes. Be generous with the frit, but be sure to wipe it off the top of the dichroic glass. If you don’t the dichro will be hidden.
I don’t know that the clear dichroic chips on top added much. In the next slab, I would probably just use clear glass.
You will note that in the firing schedule I included a bubble squeeze at 670 C. This was to give the glass time to slowly settle and give the bubbles time to work their way out.
I hope this gives you some inspiration to experiment.
Full Fuse Firing Schedule – Slab
- #1 – 222 C (432 F) up to 535 C (995 F), hold 30 minutes
- #2 – 333 C (632 F) up to 670 C (1238 F), hold 30 minutes
- #3 – Full up to 805 C (1481 F), hold 5 minutes
- #4 – Full down to 482 C (900 F), hold 60 minutes
- #5 – 65 C (149 F) down to 425 C (797 F), no hold
- #6 – 132 C (270 F) down to 371 C (700 F), no hold