Tips & Techniques

Based on your second description it sounds like it is too hot, single layers shrinking trying to get to a 1/4" thick. The temperature doesn t sound too hot though. The first one may have worked out ok because it was larger but really if the smaller pieces shrunk, the first one should have also. I don t know what the wrinkling on the surface is. Maybe the paint was thicker on the second firing? If the second fire was too hot maybe the shrinking caused the wrinkling around the paint?

@krisd This question is subjective and depends on the size of the project, the type of glass being used, what kiln is being used, etc. When I fuse I typically ramp up all projects except my jewelry cabochons at 200* F an hour. Whichout knowing what your kiln settings are for Fast, Medium and Slow that is harder to answer. The other part of this is that the end temperature is what really helps define the end results. A basic tack fuse is around 1340* F again, depending on your kiln it might be a bit lower or higher, it will take some trial and error to find the perfect temperature for each kiln.