Dichroic Gems - Blue Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Blue Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Light Blue Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Light Blue Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Green Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Green Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Red Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Red Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Purple Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Purple Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Gold Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Gold Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Pink Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Pink Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Silver Medium - 12mm to 16mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Silver Medium - 12mm to 16mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Silver Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Silver Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Blue Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Blue Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Purple Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Purple Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Lite Blue Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Lite Blue Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Red Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Red Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Gold Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Gold Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Pink Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Pink Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Green Small - 6mm to 10mm Pkg/5
Dichroic Gems - Green Small - 6mm to 10mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Blue Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Blue Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Gold Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Gold Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Green Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Green Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Pink Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Pink Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Purple Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Purple Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Red Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Red Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Silver Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Silver Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
Dichroic Gems - Light Blue Large - 16mm to 20mm Pkg/3
Dichroic Gems - Light Blue Large - 16mm to 20mm
You'll receive a range of sizes, shapes and colors from our stock of vibrant dichroic glass.
How to Create a Setting
Our dichroic glass cabs are made from COE 90 glass and are quite easy to fire in place.
You’ll need to first make a “seat” for the glass. Whatever your design, you’ll need to make sure the glass is trapped in place so it cannot fall out of it’s setting after firing. During firing, the clay will shrink around the gem and trap it in place. One way to do this is to place the glass on the wet clay and trace around it with a needle tool, then remove the excess clay below the cab and set the cab in the resulting hole. When you cut out around the cab, hold the needle tool straight up and down so you have a little extra space around it to account for shrinkage of the clay. By giving a little extra space, you’ll relieve the stress that can break the glass or tear the metal clay as it shrinks.
Depending on the size of the cab and the thickness of the clay, this may be all you need. However, if you cab is large, or to add visual interest, you might want to add a rope of clay or syringe around the stone to form a “bezel” or set the stone in a bezel made from bezel wire or metal clay.
How to Fire Your Glass in Place
Our Dichroic Mini Gems can be fired directly in place with silver clay. Fire silver clay on either an untreated hard ceramic shelf or a ceramic fiber shelf. Sit each item with glass on a piece of ceramic fiber paper cut to size. If you want your glass cab to remain completely unchanged while it is fired, meaning it does not melt at all and does not change shape, fire your piece at 1300F for 30 minutes and then anneal using the no-peek method.
If you want the glass to fuse to the metal clay, fire at 1450F for 30 minutes, then crash cool and anneal using the crash-cool method.
How to Anneal Your Glass
Annealing is a critical step. Don’t confuse glass annealing with metal annealing…they are 2 different processes to achieve 2 different outcomes. Glass annealing, as fancy as it sounds, is simply a controlled cooling. Glass expands as it is heated and contracts as it cools. If glass is cooled too quickly, it will thermally shock and crack. The way you will anneal depends on the temperature you have fired at.
Crash-Cool Annealing
If you have brought your glass to the melting point (full fuse temperature, 1450F or higher), you’ll need to crash cool the kiln. Crash cooling brings the interior temperature down quickly so the glass stops moving.
To crash cool, simply open the kiln door about 2 inches and watch as the temperature falls. When it reaches 1100F, close the door. The temperature will now begin to creep back up. When the temperature stops rising, open the door again and allow the temperature to fall to 1100F. Repeat this until the kiln stays right about 1100F. Then do not open the door again until the temperature is below 200F.
No-Peek Annealing
If you have fired to 1400F or less, just leave the kiln undisturbed (that means don’t open the door!) until the interior temperature is below 200F. That’s your entire annealing process. It couldn’t be easier.
Kiln Shelves and Kiln Wash
Kiln shelves sometimes need a special treatment depending on what is being fired. Glass, glazes and enamel contacting an untreated kiln shelf will fuse to the surface and ruin the shelf. Ceramic shelves are expensive, so care should be taken to protect them. A mixture of kaolin and alumina hydrate (called kiln wash) is applied to a hard ceramic kiln shelf and baked on to create a durable, non-stick glass fusing surface. Kiln wash is only used on hard ceramic shelves, not ceramic fiber shelves, and should be reserved for glass fusing, glazing or enameling use. Metal clay does not need a kiln-washed surface.
To co-fire glass with silver clay, use a ceramic fiber shelf or an untreated hard ceramic shelf. Use ceramic fiber paper below the glass items. Follow the instructions above for firing.
