FrogBlog
Smooth It Out
Bullseye Glass Quick Tip: In this quick tip, you will learn how to create a smooth, uniform surface on the shelf side of your fired work—not a brush stroke in sight! First, prepare a kiln shelf with kiln wash or Bullseye Shelf Primer. Once the shelf has cooled, gently buff the surface with a sheet of standard copy paper. Than, just tip the shelf upright with the primer side away from you and tap it lightly against a hard surface to knock off the loosened primer. This technique is ideal for works with a single base sheet or minimal seams. We are especially fond of the effect on iridized glass, though it’s equally effective on non-iridized opals & transparents. Also, please keep in mind that the buffed surface is delicate. Avoid sliding pieces of sheet glass across it, as primer can collect in the seams. For easy cleanup, we suggest tapping the shelf onto a piece of butcher paper. And, of course, this should be done with local ventilation, wearing a NIOSH approved respirator.
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Fine Lines
Bullseye Glass Quick Tip: Looking for a new way to use stringer? Try this Quick Tip for a Mid-Century modern inspired design... and it's so easy! Start by holding the stringer with thumbs and forefingers, place the spot you want to bend in the tip of a tea light candle flame. Apply a light pressure until you feel the glass soften. Lift the stringer out of the flame to cool and set the angle. Keep the stringer relatively flat as you move on to the next bend. Carbon will burn off in the kiln, so there’s no need to clean. Just a reminder to always wear eye protection as stringers are pretty delicate and can easily snap. Also, don't forget to allow the bent area to cool before touching. Talking from personal experience, sometimes it looks cool, but it's not! Check out some of our best-selling glass kilns: Jen-Ken AF3P 18-E 15 Glass Kiln Evenheat GTS 23
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The holidays are coming — break out the punch! (The paper punch, that is)
Bullseye Glass Quick Tip: In this Quick Tip, you will learn how to combine punched silver foil design elements with Tomato Red Opalescent for something truly festive just in time for the holidays! Silver, in the form of thin sheets, can be fired with glass in the kiln to produce a palette of effects, ranging from subtle to dramatic. We just love the variety of effects you can get! Keep in mind, when working with foil that sometimes it can be a real pain as it's super thin and likes to stick to everything. So, before punching out shapes or cutting them with scissors, take the extra time to sandwich the silver foil between sheets of paper. This creates a toothy structure that cuts cleanly and keeps the foil from tearing. Bullseye Kiln-glass Education Online also has a great video lesson if you want to learn more about Using Foils with Kiln-Glass. Enjoy the punch! Check out some of our best-selling glass kilns: Jen-Ken AF3P ProFusion Fiber 16 Paragon Fusion 17 (S1310 Trio) Olympic 186GFE
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