Fusing at home. Crafts made from colored glass

Fusing is not an easy task and requires minimal skill in working with glass. However, if you learn this art of creating stained glass products, then in the future you can independently make forms and crafts from glass of incredible beauty. This article provides a master class on fusing, thanks to which you will become thoroughly familiar with this technique.

Fusing is an alloy of glass parts different colors or single-color materials into a single composition. It has been known since school that glass heats up at very high temperatures. high temperatures– 800-900 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the fusing technique simply requires a furnace or a special device that can be used at home.

In this article we will look at a master class on creating fusing-style products at home using a microwave oven and a mini-oven for baking glass.

Tools and materials

First of all, as already mentioned, you will need a stove. There are mini-ovens with temperature and time indicators. They run on electricity and don't take up much space. It is better to use such equipment when the master plans to work on fusing more than once and create three-dimensional compositions - plates, small vases or decorative panels.

For more small parts– an oven that operates in a microwave will help you make crafts or glass jewelry. It's not big, but it's perfect for small parts. In addition, such a stove does not require special care and does not take up much space.

Glass for fusing must be selected very carefully. The fact is that each glass has an individual melting point, and crafts made from different types of glass may simply not work. Therefore, it is better to work with trusted manufacturers and choose materials with the same heat resistance index. Fortunately, now in craft stores you can buy anything you want, including glass for fusing in different colors.

Tools for working with glass – glass cutter, grinder, zag-zag, etc. They can be used to cut glass into necessary elements, sand the edges and shape

Paper, markers, pencils, glue for preparing templates or layouts.
Heat-resistant paper on which the mold is laid out and then sent to the oven for sintering.
Heat-resistant paints are useful for creating drawings on glass. Such paints do not spread and are not burned in the oven.

This is a basic set that is suitable for both beginner fusing masters and professionals.

Glass souvenirs

We’ll start the fusing master class with making small souvenirs – colorful kittens.

In addition to all the above materials and tools, it is necessary to prepare additional glass elements for fusing - sticks (stringers) and droplets (millifiori). All this can be purchased from fusing glass manufacturers.

We will prepare 2 templates from paper - a large and a small cat.

Using tools, we cut out shapes from glass according to templates. There are several cutting techniques - using a dry glass cutter and using water. In this case, we use a glass cutter along the glass according to the template, carefully bite off the excess with tongs and grind the edges.

We draw the cats' faces using heat-resistant paints.

Let the paints dry.

You can make a composition - a mother cat with a kitten - just put a small figurine on a large one. We decorate the rest of the products with glass rods and drops. We fix all the parts with glue so that they do not move out or accidentally break. It will evaporate in the oven.

Place the products in the oven for approximately 12 hours. If we use a microwave oven, we follow the instructions. Usually the heating process does not exceed 6 minutes, but then the products in a closed oven should also cool for about 10-12 hours.

After the molds have cooled, you can take out the finished animals.

They turned out incredibly cute and beautiful.

Such products can be used as an accessory or pendant, for which you need to carefully make a hole with a thin drill and insert a cord.

You can also stick magnetic strips on the back of the products and the gift magnets are ready.

Unusual plate

As you know, the plate has a curved shape, which requires a special heat-resistant device for ovens to create. If this is not available, you can make a backing for the plate with your own hands from plaster.

Pour in a heap of plaster.

We make a hole in it.

We make a side around the edges for the future plate.

If you need a smooth and even product, then it is better to align the edges, and if the design of the plate requires unevenness, then we leave it as is.

We apply a design to thermal paper that will be located in the center of the plate. In this case, it will be a fish skeleton.

Cut it out and place it on the bottom of the plate mat.

We measure the shape and cut out a circle of the specified size from glass.

Glass fusing is a method of baking and manufacturing pieces of glass arranged in a special pattern in certain ovens at high temperature. The method appeared in Germany in the 90s, so this technique can be considered young. Fusing is based on another old glass processing technique - the hot enamel technique.

Fusing technique omits application metal connections in stained glass, which affects the appearance of the product, it becomes more interesting. Thanks to this technique, relief multilayer materials are produced. The absence of a seam hints that the product is not afraid of water. The images on the glass are not heavy and airy, they are somewhat reminiscent of watercolors.

The technique of baking products is one of the excellent methods production of decorative parts for an apartment: stained glass windows and screens, wall inserts, tabletops, mirror frames, lampshades, watch dials, as well as various crafts.

This technique consists of five main steps, each of which affects appearance products and on its quality.

Selecting and preparing the product for the work process is heating. The temperature will depend on the type of procedure and can vary from 650 to 920 degrees. Glass, when heated to a certain melting point, changes shape and color range from red to yellow. It ready for the hanging process, when the edges of the workpieces are connected to each other and merging begins. Real fusing occurs only at 800 degrees.
The stage of languor (or, more simply, endurance). Glass, heated to maximum in the furnace, must maintain one temperature for a certain time. How smooth the part becomes will depend on the holding stage.
Cooling stage. The temperature of the glasses is quickly reduced to a point slightly higher than the annealing temperature. To do this, the created red color must be preserved. Delay in this stage leads to the fact that the glass again will get a natural white tint, and then it will turn black.
Annealing is a large furnace process necessary for to relieve tension. Taking shape, glass retains its hardness.
Cooling occurs at normal temperature, you just need to monitor the stove.

Gallery: fusing (25 photos)

Fusing techniques master class

There are currently three methods fusing dichroic glasses. The best, most complex and interesting glass compositions can be made using fusing-forming techniques.

“Hot” products are used in stoves at temperatures above 1000 degrees.
“Warm” products - from 600 to 900 degrees.
"Cold" products - at normal temperature.

The “bending” method, with the help of which a shape, tension, and bowl are created on a previously fused piece of glass. Let's heat the workpiece again.

“Fire polishing” is used when parts need to be made smooth and shiny. Place the glass in the oven.

“Combined carding” - creating a product using tools while the glass is still hot. We heat the workpiece and processed manually with tools.

DIY fusing at home

We lay out a specific pattern on the material from different colored glasses. We heat the laid out stained glass window in the oven, sintering the cut pieces into a layer.

Fusing at home x becomes popular and often this hobby helps to earn money.

By changing the temperature you can do different drawings and the images are convex and large, with a clear outline color range and mixed, spreading and unchanging. The type of product is also quite important; we select our own temperature for each.

Fusing a home is quite possible, but it won’t be possible to do it in a simple oven. We heat furnaces for fusing to 1100 degrees, and they require 220 V for power. Microwave fusing is considered the easiest and safest method at home. But this does not mean that you can put glass in the microwave. They install it in it special simplified stove for a microwave oven, which is heated by microwaves. Along with professional equipment, “home” equipment is also created.

This method is not suitable for large products, but for small products, for example, jewelry, it is quite suitable. Fusing in the microwave using a stove is carried out with different types glass: frosted, transparent, millefiori, multi-colored frits. For this type of work, you need to take a microwave oven with a power of 800 W or more. The creators recommend using 90 CFU glass.

Before starting the work process, remove the plate from the microwave or turn it upside down so that it does not rotate. Before using the oven for the first time, you need to warm it up in the microwave completely according to our instructions.

Materials and tools for fusing at home

What materials are needed to bake glass?

Stove.
Microwave.
Colored glass (take with the same COE);
Special gloves.
Glass cutter, but not oil cutter.
Safety glasses.
Durable paper.
Filler.

If you fully understand this interesting technology, it will be possible create real masterpieces and make money. On at the moment Fusing flowers is in fashion; they are created to decorate the kitchen or living room. Beautiful flowers are loved by most people on this planet, so it will always be a trend in interior design. Due to the complexity of the work process, the prices for such products are quite high, so it is better to learn how to make such crafts yourself! I hope you found the answers you need to your questions in this article, be careful and good luck in your work!

Glass fusing is a technology that allows you to make stained glass windows and interesting glass products. You can do this at home with professional equipment or using its analogues. Glass fusing is a fairly young technology.

The first mentions of it were found in the 90s, in Germany. Despite the similarity with stained glass, it is worth noting the difference, because the stained glass technique is more reminiscent of laying mosaics, while fusing involves the use of multilayer glass.

Is it possible to do fusing at home?

If your home arsenal has a special oven that heats up to temperatures above 1000 degrees, then, of course, you can. Glass processing and creating original things with your own hands is increasingly gaining popularity, so purchasing a special furnace can be a good foundation for starting creative activities.

An ordinary microwave oven can be an interesting and budget-friendly alternative to such professional ovens, although its power is still not enough for large products. But you can practice with small items, such as earrings, beads and other jewelry. But don’t think that if you put glass in a microwave oven, you will immediately get it melted. You will still need to use a fusing device, which will be heated inside by waves.

Instructions for fusing at home

It is necessary to check the presence of all components before starting work. This:

a fusing furnace is a special device that can heat up to temperatures above 1000 degrees;
a microwave will be needed if the fusing oven is powered by microwaves;
multi-colored glasses (any glass of different thicknesses will do);
a glass cutter with a good quality cutting wheel (disc), an oil-based one should absolutely not be used;
special gloves, through which it is impossible to get hurt or burned;
safety glasses – ordinary plastic or silicone;
filler – as an option, glass granules (they will imitate bubbles in the finished product);
heat resistant paper.

First you need to draw a sketch of the future product. If you are a beginner, you should try making small jewelry and then move on to larger pieces. When creating a sketch, consider the quality and quantity of source materials. Once you have completed your sketch, start cutting the glass, but remember to be safe and always protect your eyes and hands. by special means. To finished product was not only beautiful, but also durable, use glass with the same COE coefficient, that is, materials that heat and expand equally. The cut pieces of glass must be placed on a glass or thermal paper substrate, and its area should be slightly larger than the area of the product, since the glass will expand when heated. If you are working with a large product, you can fill the gaps between the glasses with granules or other decorative filler.

After all the elements are folded into in the necessary order, you can proceed to the last stage - sintering in the oven. To do this, you need to carefully transfer the pattern into the roasting pan and set the temperature and heating time. There are 2 types of sintering technology itself - full and incomplete fusing. The first produces a product of the same thickness and density, while the second allows you to preserve the original relief and heterogeneity of elements.

When determining the glass sintering time, you should follow the instructions that come with the furnace or your own experimental observations. Equipment that is used together with a microwave oven is strictly prohibited from heating for more than 6 minutes. All work with heating elements must be carried out with gloves. When the stove signals the end of heating, you cannot immediately take out the product, you need to wait until it cools down, sometimes this may take several hours. It is important not to open the stove until the product has hardened and cooled down also because it may collapse due to temperature changes.

Training in the art of fusing

If you are unsure about own strength, but if you have the desire to try the glass fusing technique, it is best to contact special studios where they teach this craft. Since the hobby of fusing is not a cheap activity, it is not widely used at home, but with a little practice, this hobby can be very useful. profitable business, if the products are truly high quality and original.

You can learn this technology without leaving home, just by reading our article and supplementing what you have read by watching thematic video lessons on the Internet. However, in this case, experience, constant improvement and the desire to learn are very important. Don't be afraid to try new things, it may become your passion for life!

Master class (Video)

Glass fusing- a method of baking glass pieces arranged in a specific pattern in special ovens at high temperatures. It appeared in Germany in the 1990s, so this technique can be called young. Fusing is based on the oldest glass processing technique - the hot enamel technique.
Glass began to be sintered into a composition back in Ancient Egypt(1st century BC - 1st century AD).

Fusing technology eliminates the use of metal compounds in stained glass, which affects the appearance of the product and makes it more aesthetically pleasing. Thanks to fusing, relief multilayer products are created. The absence of seams indicates that the product created using the fusing technique will not be afraid of water. Drawings on glass The results are light and airy, somewhat reminiscent of watercolor.

Baking glass technology is one of the most interesting ways to create decorative elements for the home: stained glass windows and screens, wall inserts, tabletops, mirror frames, lampshades, watch dials, as well as decorative ornaments.

How to make glass fusing

This technique consists of five main stages, each of which affects the appearance of the product and its quality.

1. Selecting and preparing the material directly for work is heating the glass. The temperature depends on the type of procedure and can vary from 650 to 920 degrees. Glass, when heated to the melting point, changes shape and color to red-yellow. It is ready for the hanging process when the edges of the blanks touch each other and the fusion begins. Full fusing occurs at 800 degrees.

2. Stage of languor (aging). The glass, when heated to the maxi value, must maintain the same temperature for some time. How smooth the fragment becomes depends on the stage of exposure.

3. Cooling stage. The temperature of the product is sharply reduced to a point slightly above the annealing temperature. This is necessary in order for the resulting red color to be preserved. Delay in this stage will result in the glass regaining its natural appearance. white, and then it will begin to turn black.

4. Annealing, a process necessary to relieve stress. Having taken shape, the glass retains its strength.

5. Cooling. Occurs naturally at room temperature.

Fusing techniques

There are currently three glass fusing methods. The most beautiful, complex and high-quality glass compositions can be made using fusing-forming techniques.

« Hot» glass is used in furnaces at temperatures above 1100 degrees.

« Warm» glass - from 600 to 900 degrees.

« Cold» glass - at room temperature.

Method " bending", with the help of which a previously fused glass is given a shape, for example, a bowl. The workpiece is heated again.

« Polishing by fire» is used when the product needs to be given smoothness and shine. The product is placed in the oven.

« Combined carding» - shaping the product using tools while the glass is still hot. The workpiece is heated and processed manually with tools.

Fusing at home

The intended design is laid out on the glass using various colored glasses. The laid out stained glass window is heated in an oven, sintering the cut elements into a layer.

Fusing at home has become so popular that passion for it often becomes a source of excellent income.
Changing temperature regime, you can get different images - convex and three-dimensional, with a clear outline of colors and mixed, spreading and unchanged. Glass type is also important, each has its own temperature.

Fusing at home is quite possible, but it won’t be possible to do it in a conventional oven. Fusing furnaces heat up to 1100 degrees, and they only need 220 V to power them. The most harmless and most in a safe way at home is fusing in the microwave. But this does not mean that glass can be placed in a microwave oven. A special simplified microwave oven is installed in it, which is heated by microwaves. Along with industrial equipment, “home” equipment is also produced.

This method is not suitable for large products, but for small products, for example, jewelry, it is quite suitable.

Fusing in the microwave with the help of a stove is carried out with various types glass: frosted, transparent, millefiori, multi-colored frits.

For fusing in a microwave, you can use a microwave oven with a power of 800 W or more. Manufacturers recommend using 90 COE glass.

Before using, remove the plate from the microwave or turn it upside down to prevent it from rotating. Before using such an oven for the first time, you need to warm it up in the microwave strictly according to the instructions.

Materials and devices for fusing at home:

microwave oven, heated by microwaves;
multi-colored glass (use with the same COE);
gloves;
glass cutter (forget about an oil cutter, as the glass will burst from the heat);
safety glasses;
heat-resistant paper;
filler.

Consistency in work.

Having prepared all the materials, a sketch of the product is created. Cut small pieces of glass (3–5 mm thick) for sintering using a glass cutter.

When fusing, glass with the same COE is used - coefficient of thermal expansion, it shows how much the size of the glass will increase when heated.

Heat-resistant paper (backing) should be placed on the bottom of the stove, and a glass pattern should be folded on it. Cover the bottom with glass top part oven, close the microwave, set the power and microwave mode, time 2.5 minutes.

To protect your hands, put on gloves, open the lid of the microwave oven and check how the glass is sintered. If necessary, continue baking further, but remember that the heating time should not exceed 6 minutes.

Remove the oven from the microwave and place it on a surface (metal, ceramic tile). The glass should cool for about half an hour with the stove closed. If you take it out right away, the product will be fragile from the sudden change in temperature.

After cooling, the glass will return to its original color, with the exception of dichroic glass, which changes color and texture.

Attention! Take precautions.

There are many types of fusing: slumping, frits, casting, combing, polishing, draping, Pathé de Vere...

When engraving, glass is transformed by removing individual parts of the design.

Comb - a stained glass product is combed with special tools.

Pathé de Vere is a method of casting in special forms. When soda is added, the canvas becomes sintered and becomes covered with tiny droplets and bubbles.

Materials can be used to create products:

pebbles - glass drops, the size of which is from 3 to 30 mm, flat on one side;
frit - crushed glass;
rods and stringers - glass threads with a diameter of 13-15 mm;
blocks, confetti - plates up to 0.5 mm with a width of 20 mm;
foil - metal paper 0.001–0.5 mm.
noodles - glass strips 11 mm and 5 mm wide. They are glued to the product with a special organic-based glue.

A novelty in fusing is painting products with a mixture of glass powder and glue, which gives the glass a special texture.
Fusing is one of the ways glass decoration. Forgotten and newly revived technology allows you to obtain spectacular compositions, interior decor details and delightful decorations. Having understood what fusing is, we offer you a master class on creating a watch with bunches of rowan berries using the wonderful fusing technique.

Especially for the site Handicraft Lessons Galina Dukhnova.

Very interesting way creating decorative jewelry appeared just recently. Its use at home allows you to create truly unique things that can become not only a wonderful decoration for your home, but also good additional income or even starting your own business.

All this applies to glass baking technology called fusing. This technology Working with glass is used to create a wide variety of products that can even be used in jewelry.

Fusing technique: description and stages

If it is not possible to purchase a special oven for the fusing technique, use a simplified microwave oven, which allows you to use the fusing technique in the safest and most harmless way. This technique is designed specifically for beginners, teaching how to create small items, jewelry or pendants.
A microwave oven allows you to work with any type of glass: multi-colored frits, matte, millefiori, transparent. Manufacturers themselves recommend choosing 90 COE glass, but this recommendation is not mandatory, so to create products using the fusing technique, take any other type of glass. This microwave oven with a power of 800 W will allow you to learn how to work with glass without purchasing a special fusing oven.
Before using the microwave, it is recommended to remove the glass plate or turn it upside down to prevent it from rotating. Before using this oven for the first time, warm it up in the microwave following the instructions. After the oven has cooled down, you can start working.
For work, prepare a microwave, gloves, a glass cutter, safety glasses, a stove, glass, and heat-resistant paper specifically for fusing. Cut out small pieces of glass for sintering. Please note that it is necessary to use glass with the same COE to create products, since different indicator at the joints the product will be fragile.

Wear glasses when working with glass. You should not use oil-based glass cutters, otherwise the glass will burst during fusing.
Next, cut out a piece of heat-resistant paper; its size should be slightly larger than the future size of the finished product. Place the paper on the bottom of the stove, fold a pattern of glass on it, which you can place both in height and on top of each other. Once the pattern is ready, transfer it to the bottom of the oven in the microwave. There, cover the bottom with glass with the top of the stove, close the microwave, set the maximum power, microwave mode and time to 2.5 minutes.
After 2 min. When working, open the lid of the microwave oven slightly and see if the glass is sufficiently sintered. Don't forget to wear gloves when working with a special or simplified stove. If the glass is not sintered enough, continue fusing further, but the heating time should not exceed 6 minutes.
When the product is baked, remove the oven from the microwave and place it on a heat-resistant surface. It could be ceramic tiles or metal. Do not open the stove, but let the glass inside it cool for 30 minutes, which will avoid the fragility of the product.
Once the glass has cooled, it will become the same color as before fusing, with the exception of dichroic glass, which in its fused form differs from the original form.
To make a pendant, glue to back side cooled glass and pre-prepared fittings. You can simply wind a spiral from a thick spring. You can leave a hole in the glass pattern in advance, into which after fusing you can thread a chain or decorative cord.

Fusing: master class

When using the fusing technique in a more professional way, you will need a muffle furnace, a spatula and a special thermal panel. It is also worth preparing a strip of stainless steel, from which the mold is made. For the first time, you can try to make a heart from this strip. To do this, you need to take a strip and use pliers to form it into the required form. When the shape is created, the tendrils on it should be bent. This is necessary in order to close the mold with a lock when laying the glass.
The finished form is secured using a special lock, which is shaped like a ring. The mold is placed on a stainless steel sheet. And after that the form is filled with glass, for example with beads.
To make the product more interesting and unique, you can take a tablet with a design embedded in it, which professional glassblowers call millefiori. It is placed on top and pressed lightly. The product is now prepared for subsequent heat treatment.
It's time to open the oven and use a spatula to place the mold into the chamber. The temperature at which fusing occurs is 850 0 C. You need to wait a certain period of time for the beads to melt. Through the quartz glass installed on the furnace, you can clearly see what is happening inside. So you can observe all the fusing techniques with your own eyes.
When the glass melts, it must be poured into the mold. First, take it out, and then do it with tweezers, reporting one bead at a time. If you want to make the edging of the future product of a different color, you can fill the edging with beads of a different color.

As soon as the beads are added along with the millefiori tablet, the workpiece can be placed in the oven. When all the glass has melted, filling the mold completely, the oven must be turned off and the item allowed to cool, otherwise the finished product will crack.
When the product has cooled, first remove the lock and then the mold. Glass created using the fusing technique at home is ready.