Window Glass and Bottle Basics

Learn the basics of working with window ("float") glass and recycled bottles in this two hour class that includes slides, demonstration, lecture, and handouts.

There are so many good reasons to learn how to apply kilnforming to window glass, bottles, and other "non-compatible" types of glass:

• Many of these glass options have their own wonderful and unique characteristics. Wine bottles, for example, can be turned into original, project-sized sheets of glass with beautiful, undulating surfaces reminiscent of antique, blown sheet glass.
• Material is readily available and costs a fraction of what "tested compatible" glass costs (and can often be had for free).
• Recycling glass into art is a great way to show Mother Earth a little love.
• Art made from recycled material can have meaning that art built from freshly-manufactured material simply cannot match. The recycled material's "story" contributes to the artwork's meaning.

Here's what we will cover:

• Basic Properties of Float and Bottle Glass: Learn about the unique characteristics of "non-fusible" glass including cutting properties, detecting the "tin" side, melting temperatures and more.
• Float and Bottle Glass Firing Schedules: Likelihood of thermal shock, melting temperatures, and annealing all change with float and bottle glass. This workshop will show you how to adapt any firing schedule to working with these materials.
• Problem Solving: Spectrum, Uroboros, and Bullseye all work hard to manufacturer glass that won't devitrify. That's not the case with float and bottle manufactuers so we'll cover multiple problem soving strategies for devitrification and more.
• Testing for Compatibility: You'll learn several ways to test glass compatibility so that you can mix glass from different sources without the risk of breakage due to differing expansion rates.
• Survey of Decorating Options: Enamels, kiln-carving, and metal inclusions are just a few of the many options for decorating float and bottle glass. Whe'll take a quick look at what's out there - and provide you with a step-by-step project sheet to get you started.

This two hour workshop is just $30 and includes handouts.