Kilncasting
 How do I prevent sharp edges in castings?Often sharp edges are a result of the glass scraping down the side of the mold during firing. To minimize sharp spots set up your glass and mold up so that as the glass softens it flows out to meet the walls of the mold rather than scraping read more What's the specific gravity of Bullseye?The specific gravity of Bullseye glass is 2.5. read more Can I use a ceramic kiln for glass?Yes as long as it's programmable. read more Can I make a reusable kilncasting mold?Yes if you use the appropriate investment mix. The commercially available product Castalot is one example of a good reusable mix for glass slumping fusing or kilncasting. Note Castalot will not work if your model has undercuts. read more What's the difference between kilncasting and a hot pour?Kilncasting involves casting glass into a mold that's in a kiln. A hot pour involves ladling molten glass from a furnace and pouring it into a mold that may or may not be in a kiln. read more Can I cast glass together with clay?Ceramic clay and glass are not compatible materials. Theoretically it may be possible to devise a clay that is compatible with Bullseye glass but at this time we don't know of anyone who's achieved such a clay. Some ceramicists do incorporate read more  Recommended Annealing Cycle for Bullseye GlassSave time and energy. Anneal thick slabs at 900 degrees. As of June 2009' Bullseye has changed its chart for annealing thick slabs. Specifically' the recommended anneal soak temperature has been lowered from 960°F/516°C to…  Mold Tips: Pyramid CastingOverview While the Pyramid Casting Mold is easy to work with' it does require some understanding of mold preparation' glass loading' and firing schedules. To help those who want to get started' Bullseye R&E teachers… Frit TintingOverview Frit tinting is a method that allows one to create specific color blends for kilncasting and pâte de verre. The process involves “tinting” or coloring clear glass by adhering colored powder (-0008) to… Annealing Thick SlabsOverview This annealing chart has been formulated for use with Bullseye clear glass. It is based on a flat slab of uniform thickness that is set up in such a fashion that it can cool equally from top and bottom. Download the…  TipSheet 3: Working DeepOverview This TipSheet will introduce you to ways to float imagery and color within thick blocks of clear glass. Thick glass castings have resulted historically from pours of furnace glass or by kiln-melting glass chunks or… TipSheet 5: Bullseye Box CastingOverview This method of kilncasting developed as an outgrowth of an artist exchange project in our Research & Education department with Mexican artist Rafael Cauduro. Cauduro had originally come to the factory to work in… TipSheet 8: Basic Lost Wax KilncastingOverview This TipSheet will illustrate how to make a fully sculptural cast glass object using the lost wax process. You will see how to make a two-layer refractory mold of a wax original' safely steam the wax out' calculate…  Kilnformed ContainerThis lesson provides basic instructions for making a thick-walled kilnformed glass container. You will explore the materials, tools and techniques involved, and learn how to fire sheet glass that’s arranged around an investment core,…  What is Bullseye's glass coding system?Bullseye Glass Coding System PDF Is Bullseye glass COE 90?Glass users who ask this question usually want to know if they can successfully fuse Bullseye with another manufacturer's glasses. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not simple. Our short response is this: Matching… What are "striking" glass colors?A small number of Bullseye glasses appear pale or colorless in the cold sheet, but "strike" or mature to target color when fired. The images of striking glasses in our online store and product catalog show how colors appear before and… Is Bullseye glass compatible in all conditions?Bullseye glasses are well known for reliable compatibility. But understanding the conditions of our factory testing is important, especially for anyone firing glass under unusual or extreme conditions. To learn about our compatibility… What should I know about studio safety?Our short article, Safety in the Kiln-glass Studio, covers the basics and recommends other resources for learning. What is kilncasting?Kilncasting is creating a glass object within a kiln by heating glass above or inside of a refractory mold until it flows to fill the void. Glass can be cast into two kinds of molds: open-faced or closed/semi-closed. Using open-faced… What is firepolishing?Firepolishing is the process of heating a glass object in a kiln to a temperature high enough to impart some level of gloss to the surface. Besides sandblasting, how can I remove devit?If your glass is flat, you can sift a very thin layer of Clear powder (2 grains thick) over the entire piece and fire it to 1425°F (774°C) - 1450°F (788°C) for about ten minutes, depending on your kiln. This method only works if… Can I make my project at Bullseye studios?Once you've taken at least one kilnforming class at Bullseye, you're welcome to assemble and fire projects during our Open Studio sessions. Can I make my own stringers?Yes, you can hand-pull your own stringers using a Vitrigraph kiln. To read about the process and equipment needed, see TechNote 2: The Vitrigraph Kiln. Our online education program includes a lesson on the Vitrigraph kiln, and we… |
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