Well, it appears that I have misled everyone. Moria gave me a brief lecture on the technique before we got together Saturday. This is not beadmaking, as I said earlier. This is a process known as glass fusing, which is stacking two or more layers of dichroic glass and heating it in a kiln until it blends into one unit, or cabochon.
Dichroic is a special coating placed on glass which was originally produced for the aerospace industry, and there are very few suppliers of this glass. It was discovered for use in jewelry because it has a transmitted color, and a completely different reflective color. Different effects are achieved depending on the temperature and length of time the glass is in the kiln.
Fusing glass comes in two types of COEs (coefficients of expansion): COE 90 and COE 96. These two types can never be mixed. It comes in standard thickness (1/8"), or thin (1/16") and can be purchased in 12" square "hobby sheets". There are a vast amount of colors and textures to choose from, and can be transparent, opalescent, or iridescent.
So, there is some background on the material. Here is a website that gives you an idea of what the glass looks like.
http://www.coe90.com/glass-packs-dichromagic-dichroic-glass-packs-c-130_147.html
The pictures don't really do justice to it. I will bring some in on the last class, as well as some of the finished jewelry.
Vegas with kids
16 years ago
2 comments:
Wow
I just did a search on dichoic beads! They are sooo pretty, and different than what I originally thought! I can't wait to see what you accomplish!
This is sounding more and more fascinating! The photography may be challenging... all those close-ups of shiny, reflective glass.
While it's not exactly the same, I really love the photos on Candy Blog, but I don't have those still-life photography skills... --ELC
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