Just an Introduction and a HI!

[Laura Brito]

Hi, I am the new forum guide here and if there is anything I can do to make your visit better just ask. I am here to help. I will do my best to help if I can.

Anyway I just wanted to introduce myself and say hi.

My background is I have a Liberal Arts degree and home schooled my children. I am a practicing artist and work in Pastels, Oils, Acrylics, Collage, and Hot Glass, I also dabble in Photography.

[LarrySeiler]

Laura....thank you for volunteering selflessly to take on this position of guide. Appreciate your commitment to Wetcanvas and community.

Larry

[Alan Cross]

Congrats Laura,
Alan :)

[Mkent41616]

HI laura i actually do have a few questions. such as how simple or difficult it would be to do glass work with an elementary setting of 5th graders we have a kiln at the school. lol i've never done glass always been interested.

Hey she did say to ask:o)

[Alan Cross]

Does your Kiln have a digital control I am pretty sure you need that for glass..I have just started and it is a lot of fun but you are working with glass so cuts and burns seem to go with it....I think it would work if you have the right kiln I just got my glass kiln and have done several fusing projects....lots to learn with glass....you could let the kids do the cutting of the glass remember it has to all be the same kind of glass or it won't work. Then you would have to do the Kiln work....
Alan :)

[Mkent41616]

Does your Kiln have a digital control I am pretty sure you need that for glass..I have just started and it is a lot of fun but you are working with glass so cuts and burns seem to go with it....I think it would work if you have the right kiln I just got my glass kiln and have done several fusing projects....lots to learn with glass....you could let the kids do the cutting of the glass remember it has to all be the same kind of glass or it won't work. Then you would have to do the Kiln work....
Alan :)

we have an olympic kiln with a digital control. got it last year sigh problem is they aren't sure if i will be there next year or if i will share a school or what. sigh

[Alan Cross]

Well you can play for this year....I will give you some basic times and temps but you really have to play with it....for most fusing jobs you need two layers of glass....and they have to be the same....first task is a full fuse and that means you need to slowly take the glass up to 1,475 and hold it for about 10 minutes then do the cool down cycle . the glass should all melt together and be in one peice lol.....next you need to mould in on to something if you have moulds thats great if not you can make them with unglazed fired clay put the glass blank into the kiln washed mould again slowly take the temp up to 1,300 and hold for about 30 to 40 minutes and then again the cool down cycle and you need to make sure its has the annelling cycle so it holds at around 960 % for up to an hour before the finsh cooling cycle. Like I said its a lot of expermenting but even that is fun...good luck!
Alan :)