Different Glass Art Techniques
We often get asked by several customers how our products are made. In this blog we will take a quick look at some of the techniques used to create our beautiful, one-of-a-kind products.
First up, we have glass carving, which is a type of technique used to create a three dimensional carving. Skill and patience are key when it comes to this technique but the end result is worth it! Hand carving technique can be used for any glass art work we offer.
Another popular technique is sandblasting. This technique is done by using compressed air to power a rough media through a hose connected to a starter tank. A nozzle at the end of the hose and adjustments on the air compressor control the blasting pressure and blasting rate. To increase the rate of material removal while decreasing the area being blasted, one has to move the nozzle closer.
Slumping glass technique is a highly technical process that is subject to many variations. When an item is being slumped in a kiln (which is the mold over which the item is being formed), it must be coated with a discharge agent that will stop the molten glass from sticking to the mold. Kiln can be made of either ceramic, sand or metal. Before the Kiln is heated it is important to cut the glass to the shape of the mold and to be placed on top of it. The stages of the firing can be wide-ranging but typically start to climb at quite a fast rate until the heat makes the glass “orange” i.e., flexible. At this point, gravity will allow the glass to slump into the mold. The temperature the glass is held at is constant for a period that is known as the “soak”.
Glass fusing is the technique used to join glass pieces together by partly melting the glass at high temperature. The heating is usually commenced in an electric kiln. Instead of fitting glass together using a direct solder, two or more pieces of glass are put on top of each other and are fired at temperatures anywhere from 1100 to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit (750 to 850 degrees Celsius).
The last technique we will look into is glass casting. That is the method in which glass items are cast by directing molten glass into a mould where it hardens. This technique has been used since the Egyptian period. Modern cast glass is formed by many different processes such as kiln casting, metal moulds, casting into sand, or graphite.
These are some of the techniques used to create our art work. For more examples you can take a look at our glass art techniques. Glass art is a very unique way to decorate your home or office and with this many techniques being used we can really help you make your project your own.