ThinFire Shelf Paper

For Best Results

• Store ThinFire in a dry place. Moisture from a basement or garage can affect performance even if the paper later dries.
• Place the rougher, printed side of ThinFire against the shelf and the smoother, plain side against the glass. Firing glass against the rougher side may result in residue clinging to the glass.
• To best protect your projects and kiln shelf, we recommend using ThinFire on a primed shelf. For a new kiln shelf, use Bullseye Shelf Primer as directed—apply five coats of primer, then kiln dry. This surface will help ensure that if ThinFire tears during the firing, the glass will release from the exposed kiln shelf. This base layer of primer will last for many firings and will not need to be re-applied unless it is worn or chipped away. Similarly, ThinFire may be used on a primed shelf that has been fired, provided that the primer layer is intact.

Not For Every Application

ThinFire has been used with excellent results in Bullseye’s Research and Education studios for many types of fusing applications. It does not work, however, in the following applications:

• Used in direct contact with iridized glass, ThinFire may cause a reaction resulting in surface pitting.
• When fitting a bunch of cut pieces together in a design down arrangement, unless those pieces fit together perfectly, using ThinFire can actually prevent the glass from fusing at the contact surface. If one proceeds with a slump firing, the areas where the glasses are not fused together will be prone to open up as the glass stretches.
• Avoid usage in projects with significant movement and/or pressure, such as with Under Pressure, sliders, and Flow projects.
• ThinFire can tear a small amount underneath glass during firing. This becomes especially likely under the corners of pieces with at least one dimension longer than 40.5 cm (16˝). In such cases, the glass will often pick up the subtle texture of the tearing.
• o create a reliably homogenous surface without potential texture from torn ThinFire, use dry or wet Bullseye Shelf Primer on ceramic fiber paper (such as Lytherm). Testing recommended.
• Remove shot (tiny glass beads) from fiber paper; gently rub surface with rubber dipped work glove, lift to vertical and tap off.
•  Primer Application Options 
• Dry: Sift shelf primer onto fiber, then lightly brush or knock off the excess. Generally effective with transparent or opalescent base sheet construction.
• Wet: Mix shelf primer 1 part primer to 3 parts water by volume. Brush on 2 coats, dry with a fan or kiln between coats. Kiln dry after final coat at 300 °F for 0:20. Dried primer can be buffed with paper towel or coffee filter or left as is. Effective for clear base sheet construction. May stick to other glass styles, transparent or opalescent.
• Without Primer: If firing with an iridescent base sheet, the coating may be fired in direct contact with unprimed fiber paper, shot removed. This tends to release cleanly, typically without pitting. Dry or wet techniques can be used to modify the texture of the fiber paper.

To create a reliably homogenous surface without potential texture from torn ThinFire, use dry or wet Bullseye Shelf Primer on ceramic fiber paper (such as Lytherm). Testing recommended.

Remove shot (tiny glass beads) from fiber paper; gently rub surface with rubber dipped work glove, lift to vertical and tap off.

Primer Application Options 

• Dry: Sift shelf primer onto fiber, then lightly brush or knock off the excess. Generally effective with transparent or opalescent base sheet construction.
• Wet: Mix shelf primer 1 part primer to 3 parts water by volume. Brush on 2 coats, dry with a fan or kiln between coats. Kiln dry after final coat at 300 °F for 0:20. Dried primer can be buffed with paper towel or coffee filter or left as is. Effective for clear base sheet construction. May stick to other glass styles, transparent or opalescent.
• Without Primer: If firing with an iridescent base sheet, the coating may be fired in direct contact with unprimed fiber paper, shot removed. This tends to release cleanly, typically without pitting. Dry or wet techniques can be used to modify the texture of the fiber paper.