Glass Types Suitable For
Glass Jewelry Making
Different glass types are available for use in the glass fusing process.
Soda lime glass is the most common and popular for warm glass fusing. Many styles and colors of this glass are available with their own strengths and limitations.
Combined with coloring agents during the manufacturing process the glass artist has a wide choice of colors and styles.
Additional coloring can be applied by using glass powders, frit and glass enamel during the forming processs
This glass is well supported by makers with technical and firing information freely available.
Lead crystal is used in particular glass forming operations. This glass has an added sparkle and density and is widely used outside the glass fusing area.
Borosilicate glass often used to make baking dishes. This glass is a favorite of torch workers who use it for glass bead making, also used by some glass blowers.
Float glass also known, as window glass is an inexpensive alternative to normal kiln forming glass. The glass gets its name from the process used to make it.
The raw materials are melted in a glass furnace and a ribbon of glass then floats and spreads out on top of molten tin contained in a large bath. The glass is annealed as it leaves the bath and is then automatically cut into sheets. This process produces very clear sheets of glass.
Care needs to be exercised, as float glass from different makers may not be compatible. Always try to combine glass cut from the same sheet.
Colored float glass is now available.
Moretti glass is widely used by glass bead makers. A limited range of sheet glass is available. Compatibility issues have been reported with different batches of this glass.
Dichroic glass is the glass of choice for jewelry makers; with its brilliant colors dichroic is an ideal choice for art glass jewelry.
Dichoric has a special coating that changes color during the fusing process.
The color changes result in an original light catching color scheme.
It is most important that different glass types are not used together due to compatibility issues that may arise from combining different glasses.
See above link to compatibility issues page.
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