In this fused glass tutorial, we’ll be making a pattern bar. I have a project in mind and for that, I need a pattern bar for the feature. In glass fusing, you’re often looking for a feature central to the project, and pattern bars provide a great solution. This one will be green in theme and with a random pattern.
The Video
In the video description, you will find links to related videos, a chapters list with time stamps, and links to more resources.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Project Information
All of the glass, I’m using is Bullseye 90 COE. I use Thinfire fiber paper on my shelves. In this project, I also used 3 mm fiber paper.
The colour theme I used was specific to a project I had in mind, as I expect will be yours. But keep in mind that you can use every type of glass including stringers, frit, and confetti. It really is up to what you want to achieve. If you’re creating a piece that needs to allow light through, just be sure to use more transparent than opal.
Because pattern bars are typically much thicker than the usual 6 mm piece, pay particular attention to your ramp hold and your annealing period. Consult the recommended times from the Bullseye documentation.
Because you’re stacking a lot of pieces together there is the potential for bubbles to be trapped. A good bubble squeeze hold is recommended. For the Bullseye COE 90, I hold at 670 C.
Be very careful when handling the final finished bar as there may be very sharp spikes from the fiber paper. This is normal, but just take care and remove them as soon as possible.
When cutting the bar take your time. It does depend on the diamond saw you’re using, but a general rule is to let the blade do the work with just enough pressure to keep feeding the glass. You may notice I had a lot of problems with my tile saw due to a blunt blade. I persevered to try and complete the video but had to admit defeat and go to the ring saw. Even with that, I was at the limit of what I could cut.
Pattern bars are fantastic for adding a very unique feature to your pieces. Have fun with making one, if you can I’d love to see a photo of your work. You can upload a photo to me using our Contact Us page.
Full Fuse Firing Schedule
- #1 – 222 C (432 F) up to 535 C (995 F), hold 60 minutes
- #2 – 333 C (632 F) up to 670 C (1238 F), hold 60 minutes
- #3 – Full up to 805 C (1481 F), hold 30 minutes
- #4 – Full down to 482 C (900 F), hold 240 minutes
- #5 – 7 C ( 45 F) down to 425 C (797 F), no hold
- #6 – 27 C ( 80 F) down to 371 C (700 F), no hold
- #7 – 132 C (270 F) down to room temp.