Fusing - what is it? Fusing: master class, technique, price

Surely each of you paid attention to the bright glass compositions decorating the window openings of old temples or modern restaurants. By them one can not pass indifferently. Such beauty can be seen in the interior of apartments in a frame of mirrors, on glass partitions, baguettes for paintings, interior doors. Such decorative elements are called the mysterious word "fusing". What kind of a way to create glass images, we will try to find out later in the article.

The unique technique of creating a stained glass window

Stained-glass windows are transparent patterns, patterns, pictures that are made of fragments or on a glass surface. When creating classical stained-glass windows, an obligatory element is the metal profile. Colorful pieces of glass are connected together by means of thin broaches, which keep the entire composition intact. The centuries-old history of stained glass art has created many different ways of making original ornaments. Modern technologies for the creation of stained glass dozens.

Method of glass melting

Fusing - what is it? This is the name of one of the methods for processing glass for stained glass. The name of the technique came from English fusing (heating, melting, sintering) and reflects the essence of the process. Under the influence of high temperatures, several glass elements are able to firmly connect with each other in an unusual colorful composition. Such decorations were known to the ancient Egyptians as far back as the 1st century BC. But for many years this method of manufacture was almost not used in stained glass art.

The technique of fusing was developed and improved in the nineties of the last century. Then in Germany special furnaces for glass melting were created. In this country, the revived method was most widely used.

Technology fusing: stages and features

The production process consists of several steps, each of which we will consider in detail.

• Where to begin. In accordance with the chosen technique, a glass blank is made. The final result depends directly on the thoroughness and accuracy of the preparatory work. Then the glass fusing goes into the next stage. This is heat treatment.
• Heating. Prepared semifinished product is placed in a special oven, which is heated to the desired temperature. The glass gradually melts and acquires a red-orange shade. Softened pieces are first glued together, and then merge into a single whole.
• Languor. When the maximum temperature is reached, the glass product is kept for some time (2-4 hours). This is a very important stage, which is fusing. What does this mean for the future product? Long holding time for certain thermal parameters ensures the ideal smoothness and maximum plane of the baked fragment.
• Cooling. When the glass billet acquires the desired shape, the oven is switched off. The product is cooled to room temperature gradually, without removing it from the oven.

Methods of sintering

Fusing - what is it, how does it happen? The technology of glass processing by sintering is divided into three types:

• Full fusing - absolute reflow of glass under the influence of elevated temperatures (700-900 ^о С). With a strong heating, the upper layers of the material fall under the weight of their own weight and dissolve in the lower ones.
• Semi-fusing, or in-line sintering (500-550 ° C) is a partial reflow with a slight change in shape. Individual elements are connected together, preserving the bulk surface.
• Wicking - changing the shape of the glass under the influence of its own weight. At t 600-650 ^о С the material softens and takes the form of the surface on which it is located. Substrate are items from refractory materials (gypsum, clay).

Fusing Techniques

The most popular among designers is the use of flat sintering. A smooth monolithic product can act as a stained glass, decorative painting or original dishes (a dish, a tray). To create items from fusing glass, you will need a base and a set of individual elements. As a substrate, ordinary or colored glass with a thickness of 3 to 5 mm is used.

In the manufacture of parts of the future composition, various materials can be used: pieces of glass, frits, granules, etc. They are placed on the plane in accordance with the sketch of the drawing. To obtain the elements of the desired size and shape, use glass cutter and tongs.

The technique of fusing-forming allows to model volumetric products of various configurations. The required result can be achieved in several ways:

• Comb - "combing" the surface of heated glass with a special tool;
• Engraving - an additional decoration of individual elements of the image;
• Pate de vaire - casting products using special shapes;
• Painting - decoration with the help of glass powder, mixed with glue composition;
• Bending - the creation of curved shapes by reheating the fused glass.

This is just a small list of varieties of fusing. In practice, there are a great many.

Details for registration

A professional fusing master uses a large number of different glass-based materials to realize his creative intentions, among which the most common are:

• Frit - small pieces of crushed glass;
• Noodles - thin and narrow strips;
• Chips, or confetti - rounded plates with a thickness of no more than 0.5 mm;
• Rods - glass rods with a diameter of about 15 mm;
• Stringers - threads with a thickness of 5 to 8 mm;
• Pebble - teardrop-shaped glass particles on a flat base;
• Foil - the finest aluminum leaves for fusing into the surface.

To get not only beautiful, but also strong products, one should take into account the compatibility of the materials used.

Stoves for sintering of glass

To obtain high temperatures, special equipment is used. Control over the heating of the furnace is carried out using a special unit. Here you can adjust the power level, set the temperature step by step and activate the cycle by timer. Built-in programmable thermocontroller allows you to fully control the process of sintering glass.

Furnaces for fusing have different capacities and sizes. The choice of the required type depends on the purpose and scope of work. Modern models are characterized by low inertia and reliable thermal insulation, which has several obvious advantages:

• Minimum thickness - reduces the overall weight of the structure and increases the internal space of the furnace;
• Double layer - contributes to precise control of all processes;
• Low thermal conductivity - reduces power consumption, which makes it possible to use in domestic conditions.

The heating elements of the fusing furnace are placed in quartz insulators, which prevents the ingress of scale on the glass and facilitates the free passage of heat energy.

Cost of products

It is not easy to set a price for a finished product made of glass, because it does not have a fixed character. The final cost of fusing is influenced by many factors:

• Size and thickness of the finished product;
• Number of colors and shades used;
• Quality of materials and their purchase price;
• Complexity of the image;
• The need for assembly of the finished structure and transportation.

One of the important components of the cost of a finished creation is the development of a sketch, on which fusing was created. The price also includes labor costs. One square meter of stained glass, made in the technique of fusing, can cost from 30,000 rubles. The approximate time for executing such an order is one week.

Where to learn the art of fusing

The technology of production of glass images by the sintering method is a simple process. Even a minimal amount of knowledge will help you to make some simple fusing yourself. Master-class on the creation of various products can be obtained by studying a variety of literature and watching videos. But if you have the opportunity to attend an instructional lesson with an experienced specialist, then you should not miss it. In this case, you can not only observe the whole scenario of an unusual and exciting process with your own eyes, but also actively participate in it.

By producing with your own hands a colorful picture or a luxurious dish, you will feel the inexpressible joy of creation. The teacher will talk about all the subtleties and nuances of creative work, answer all questions that relate to the technique of fusing. A master class in live chat mode can give you much more than teaching articles and video tutorials.

If the knowledge you have gained makes you want to seriously engage in fusing, then you can do it at home without resorting to the services of masters.