Inducing color reductions in kiln-formed glass?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Greg Heihn on August 3, 2009 at 4:10pm

OK Paul. I've given this some thought before. I'm an old glass blower and now a fuser so it comes as a natural question.
I was thinking that you could open up the kiln at a certain point and use a "pig burner" on the work. Lets be clear that this does not seem like a safe way to go. I've done some pretty unsafe things in my kiln while it hovers at 1500 degrees. Burnt eyebrows, lashes and shirt sleeves have caused me to make some rules about such things. I think you could take some safety measures and use a burner as described.
Make sure of course, that the glass in question WILL "flash" and that it is the exposed glass and not encased.
I think this is what you are talking about.

Permalink Reply by Martha Giberson on September 29, 2010 at 4:29pm

Reduction is the act of turning down the oxygen, at least at the torch. So it's kinda hard to see how you can do that in the kiln environment. Can you work the glass beforehand in a oxy/propane torch to experiment with the reduction technique then and see if it holds up through the kiln firing?

Permalink Reply by Paul Messink on September 29, 2010 at 11:44pm

yeah, I've kind of given up on the idea. The only solution I came across would be to introduce a gas flame into an electric kiln... an inherently dangerous proposition.

However, I did find a Bullseye glass (146 - Steel Blue) which when fired to the right temp turns a dull metalic silver color. Not quite the same, but good enough for what I was trying to do.

Thanks for responding!

Permalink Reply by Deborah Schran on November 8, 2010 at 8:18pm

Bullseye steel blue generally will have the dull metallic color when it is uncovered. It is one of those glass colors that you can love and hate at the same time. It seems to sneak in when you don't want it on your piece. Of course, there are artists out there that keep all glass correctly labled, all of the time. Not me of course.

Permalink Reply by Valarie Allen on October 20, 2011 at 1:48pm

That takes the fun out of it. I finally figured out which glass it was was turning to the silver color, was a bit surprised to find out it was the blue when uncapped.

 

Permalink Reply by Deborah Schran on October 20, 2011 at 5:35pm

Using reactive glass gives wonderful effects.

Debbie