Glass Fusing Firing Notes

Firing Schedule NotesNotes! Notes! And more notes! I keep notes on everything I fire. Unfortunately I often jot my notes down hurriedly. Later I sometimes look at my notes and wonder what the heck I was trying to say. Today I finally sat down and transcribed all of my little sticky notes. Well, except the ones I couldn’t decipher.

When I fire a new piece I start with firing schedules I have used in the past and make adjustments based on the specifics of the new piece. How thick the piece is, how big, and the design itself may require tweaking of the firing schedule. As I deviate from the original firing schedule I write it down on a sticky note and attach it to the firing schedule I based it on. After the firing I go back to my sticky note and record the result. Well, at least that is the plan. Unfortunately sometimes I get sidetracked and forget to record the result.

This weekend I went back to all of my notes and organized them. I now have two binders. One binder holds all of the basic schedule information for full fuse, slump, drape, and fire polish. It also has a lot of the reference materials and guides that I have collected over the years. The second binder has all of the specific techniques or projects and the firing schedules I used with them. It has schedules for strip construction, stacked pieces, pot melts, pocket vases, etc.

I keep my firing schedules in an excel spreadsheet like the one below. I put formulas in the spreadsheet to calculate the approximate amount of time it will take for the kiln to reach process temperature. I like to take a peek and check on things at process temperature in case I need to adjust the hold time. I record the process temperature and hold time and also try to add a picture of the piece.

Keeping my firing schedules organized does not come naturally to me, but it is definitely worth the efforFire Shedule Spreadsheett.

 

2 thoughts on “Glass Fusing Firing Notes

  1. Lyndall Davies says:

    Margot, from a Google search http://fusedglass.org/node/1362 , I found that you own a Paragon Fusion 16 kiln. I am very new to fusing and slumping having taken one class through the Creative Glass Guild here in Brisbane, Australia. I wanted to use the firing schedules used at the Guild for Evenheat kilns but the ramp speed on the Fusion 16 is only 999 and does not reach the same speeds as these schedules. I found your blog about glass fusing firing notes and wonder whether the schedule you give above is a full fuse of 2-3 layers for the Paragon Fusion 16? I have done 2 test runs with devitrification and cracks both time. Any help would be great. If you were prepared to share the basic firing schedules for the Paragon 16 that would make my Christmas! I am not to certain where to turn as I am really quite the novice and have no idea what questions to ask. Thank you in anticipation. Lyndall

    • Margot says:

      Lyndall,

      What kind of glass are you using? I’d start with one of the recommended fire schedules from Bullseye or Spectrum? I use Spectrum 96 and follow their full fuse schedule pretty closely. You can find it here on their website: http://system96.com/resources/firing-schedules-info/ You have probably heard it before, and it is true, each kiln is unique. In my 16 I fire to 1460 for a full fuse. In my Pearl 21 I fire to 1470. Cracking is usually caused by either heating up too quickly, or cooling down too quickly after the anneal. Some glass is more prone to devit than others. The schedule on this post is for 2 layers. There are a lot of good books that Santa could bring you that would help you. I think I reviewed one or two on my blog. Also, if you look at the side bar on my blog, there should be a Bullseye Education Link. You can subscribe to their video lessons. Well worth it!

      I hope that helps some. It is a journey for sure!

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