Fused Glass Process

Glass Touch
Fused Art Glass by Nicole Vachier Lozano

All functional and jewelry items are made using compatible opalescent, translucent and clear glass. Some

pieces

also include

. Each piece goes through a series of steps including design, kiln firing(s) and

cold work,

for specific results. No two pieces are the same.

The design phase involves planning for the desired end result including: color, pattern, size/thickness, and

utility.

Both inspiration and planning must occur to ensure the results are aesthetically pleasing and of high

quality. I

select the appropriate glass (i.e. sheet, frit, powder, stringer, rods, shards, etc.), plan for a specific

mold, cut and

layout my pieces and prepare a schedule for the initial firing.

The piece is then fired to temperatures between 1200-1700° Fahrenheit. The pieces must be heated and cooled

at a

rate appropriate for the size and thickness to ensure the results are one solid durable piece of glass. This

process

can take anywhere from five hours to multiple days, depending on the volume of glass being fired.

On average,

the pieces I make take one day to fire and two to three firings to complete.

Between firings each piece is meticulously cold worked. In this step, the glass is cut using a wet saw with a

diamond blade, sanded with diamond pads both by hand and with the assistance of a lapidary wheel, sand

blasted and finally cleaned.

The piece is then

given

its final shape. This is done by heating the glass in the kiln to between 1100-

1300º

Fahrenheit so the softened glass falls into, or drapes over a mold. Just as in the initial firing, the

appropriate

steps

must be taken to heat and cool the glass in a manner that limits stress to the piece.

Fused glass can be cleaned with room temperature water and dish soap and/or wiped down with a spray of

isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Window cleaners can leave a film that detracts from the glass’ shine.

The Fused Glass Process

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