Query about Mini Kiln/ Kitiki for glass fusing/ tacking

[nsnowehill]

Hi all, I have purchased a Mini Kiln recently and have tried fusing glass in it a few times, although I am getting results I am quite new to this and they are not quite 100% what I am after, I wondered if anyone here who has one of these kilns could tell me their firing schedule or suggest some temps for fusing fully and also tacking. I am using glass from Warm glass both same coe and also some offcuts of dichroic until I get the hang of it and would like to perfect things before I buy any expensive dichroic adn attempt to make pendants etc.. Any help would be welcome!

Thanks
Nadine

[Aviya Glass]

You haven't said which aspects are not pleasing so I am unable to give more directive advice. I cant help where your kiln is concerned and you need to 'know' your kiln to get whatever results you are looking for.
I was painfully reminded of this when I wanted to fire some larger items and borrowed time in a kiln! They didn't know a schedule and I took a guess, it didn't go so well. But I learned from it and won't make the same mistakes again that's really important too.

Anyway I have a small kiln and full fuse at 825 deg C, usually hold for 15mins. Tack fuse at 780 - 800 or take it up to 820 for about 5 mins and switch off.
Warm glass has great 'students' packs of bullseye which is cheap for learning. Thin fire paper is much better IMO than wash. If you would like to ask a more specific question I am happy to offer advice. Enjoy the learning curve!

[nsnowehill]

Thanks Terry,

I am finding that the dichroic glass which is a darkish blue on black, goes very dark indeed. I have bought the 11.99 pack of dichroic glass from warm glass and some plain clear and also black bullseye for experimenting.. I think perhaps more than anything ( and this is probably the name of the game anyhow)my problem comes from not knowing what dichroic glass will give me what colour.. say for instance I would want a certain colour adn am not sure which one to buy for what colour and because the blue one I have went so very dark I thought I was perhaps firing too long in the kiln making it go too dark.??

Don't get me wrong I have gotten things to full fuse no problems and no cracks etc.. so that is good. I think I need to speak to someone that has this particular kiln to see if they suggest temps that I have tried.. I tried 870 first.. hold for like 10 mins then shut off, then 825 and also 778. I am using the paper you mentioned and not kiln wash..

Perhaps I need to be braver and experiment a bit more with small pieces of dichroic..

thanks for your advice and let me know your thoughts..?

[annnoble]

Hi, I can't help with the kiln as I have a Scutt.
Although I do recomend doing experiments with the dichroic and maybe even make up a board showing the unfired piece then the fused piece, this is what I did when I first started.
I have come across some lovely unfired bits which then go muddy brown and completely different.

[Aviya Glass]

I have some blue glass, looks lovely, but never fired it successfully perhaps its the one you are referring to. I sometimes use it as a base glass and put other dichro over the top, making sure the coated sides are not touching or are separated by glass.
It really is the only one I have not had success with. The colour blue has a short wavelength (this is why you can store much more on a Blu Ray disc than on DVD which uses red laser)so perhaps the wavelengths are not reaching the surface and therefore is not visible? :confused:

As for other colours it is trial and error in some cases but once you buy sheets then the names will show which colours they transmit or reflect depending on base glass.
Coatings can behave differently depending on temp. Red dichro normally 'burns out' to orange.
Half the fun is the variables in dichroic glass - I would hate to have everything all defined and predictable! :sm::p:sm: