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Simultaneous Tack Fusing and Drop Ring
Slumping
Click here to go
to a tip that discusses drop ring basics.
Here’s a novel approach to the drop ring that takes
advantage of the fact that tack fusing and drop ring slumping
can both take place at approximately the same temperature. In this
variation, you’ll tack fuse
and slump simultaneously, saving yourself a firing and leaving a
heavily textured final appearance.
Start with a
circle of glass the size of your drop ring mold. You may need
two (or even three) layers of glass circles, depending on the
depth of your slump. Now sprinkle frit, powders, stringer, and
small pieces of glass onto the top surface. Choose any pattern
you wish, then carefully transfer the piece to your kiln and
place it on top of the mold, which has already been prepared as
in the standard drop ring firing.
The combined tack
fuse/drop ring slump firing differs from the basic firing in one
key respect. Because you want to ensure that the loose bits of
frit and glass tack fuse firmly to the bottom layers, you’ll
need to soak for a prolonged period at a lower temperature prior
to starting the soak for the drop ring slump.
Click here to go the second part of this
tip, which discusses the complete firing schedule for simultaneously tack
fusing and slumping a drop ring. ----------------
Copyright 2006 Brad Walker. All rights
reserved.
Parts of this discussion
have been previously published in Glass Craftsman
magazine. Other drop ring techniques will be discussed
in future daily tips.
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