Stargazing

[Kev]

This is a piece I am trying for the new large round mold I bought. I measures 18.5 inches across. I plan on doing a complete fuse with this to get it as smooth as possible, although I could change my mind as I get further into the firing. I'm thinking of using it as a coffee table tray so  I'll be putting cups on it and the smooth surface might be more functional. I've not done a piece like with with opal frit before, so it will be interesting to see how t all melts together.

The center is a piece of black iridized glass sand blasted to leave only an aurora like pattern against the black sky and full moon.

[ct4mom]

This looks like another winner in the end Kev....Oh to be able to use a 18.5 mold!!!

[Kev]

We will see how it goes. I have never fused anything that large before, so I adjusted the firing schedule from the 3/8" spectrum schedule.

200/ hr - 1100
50/hr - 1250, hold 40 minutes
1000/hr - 1465 - hold 30 minutes (allowing for extra time if needed -  will probably be cut shorter)
AFAP - 1000, hold 10 minutes
200/hr - 950, hold 1 hour
150/hr - 800
300/hr - 120

[Kev]

I was thinking I might sand blast a quote on the border.

[Judy K]

I think that schedule may be made for a 12" diameter. I would slow the 1000rt to 1465, maybe to 400rt. It is just such a big piece of glass and you want it to be as eaqual as possible all over. I think I would give it a longer anneal for the same reason. Richard can probaly give you exact numbers, I am flying by the seat of my pants here.

[Judy K]

Oh yeah, This is Awesome. I can't wait to see it finished.

[Stephen Richard]

We will see how it goes. I have never fused anything that large before, so I adjusted the firing schedule from the 3/8" spectrum schedule.

200/ hr - 1100
50/hr - 1250, hold 40 minutes
1000/hr - 1465 - hold 30 minutes (allowing for extra time if needed -  will probably be cut shorter)
AFAP - 1000, hold 10 minutes
200/hr - 950, hold 1 hour
150/hr - 800
300/hr - 120

Hope you don't mind me butting in here.  You are being careful up to the bubble squeeze, but then you abandon caution.  600F/hr would be absolute maximum speed for me - my normal rate is 250C/hr for two layers, the top completely covering the base.  I assume it is two layers with frits on top of that (?).  The very fast rate is liable to give bubbles, especially if it is not 2 layers plus frit.

I'm glad you will be observing at the top temperature, as it may not take very long - 10-15mins - to achieve a flat surface.  The way the light reflects will indicate how flat it is.

[Becki]

I don't believe there is any "exact" number but I agree with Steve...you need to back down the ramp to your process temp, 600F or lower, and definitely watch when it gets there.

Slow and steady wins the race!

[Marsha]

beautiful!!   Can't wait to see the finished piece!

[Kev]

Thanks for the feedback...but.....it's done already...lol. Funny...as I was programming it, I was going to use 500/hr from 1250 up to 1465..but was not sure what to do with that segment so I went with the 1000.

It was not 2 complete layers with the frit on top. It was comprised of a bottom layer with clear ring cap and frit was filled in between the sky section and the ring. I held it at processing temp for 15 minutes.

It fired fine, but it is butt ugly...LOL. ..onward to damage control. Now I need to figure out how to salvage something out of it. This may end up in the Upcycling board yet...lol. My moon ran a little, so I have to fix that, and I'm debating if I should add paint to it or carve it.

One thing I am pleased to see is the blasted iridized area turned out great with the irid side up, and the black is nice and shiny....good to know for future reference.

I was thinking I could just cut a larger moon and tack fire it over the existing one.

[Judy K]

Sorry it did not come out pleasing you. Good luck with it

[Kev]

I kind of like working with what I consider failures..the creativity comes out again to transform ugly to less ugly...lol.

[Lou Ann]

try again with blue instead of green -- the green is what is turning me off...

can't wait to see how you "fix" it

[Audrey]

You'll find something to do with it. You always manage to pull it out. Anyway, as you said, that is what the new board is for.

[ct4mom]

I agree with Lou Ann about the green looks more like fallen leaves on grass.....but I think the whole idea is cool and the center looks great even with the melting moon.

[Judy K]

I did not see the picture before. I think it still has huge potential.

COnsider this:

Light dusting around the moon of white or light blue powder frit. Give the baby a glow to distract from the lack of round. A little atmosphere.

Dark green small frit over the tops of the trees to push them up to the sky, small frit, give you some distance.

Very tiny amount of even smaller yellow and lt green frit just at the tips of the trees where the moon light is shining through them. Tiny bit will do it.

Some small to medium transparent browns and blues over the GREEN at the bottom to give them some shadowing.

Maybe clear cap your aurora with thin clear to protect it an push it back. Let sit at top temp to flatten out.

I think this is cool. I love the aurora!!!!! and the tiny bits of dr green leaves over the top of it.

[Kev]

All good ideas!...but I am seeing them after I have already painted it and put it back in the kiln. I did actually consider using cobalt iridized for the sky at one point but decided on the black to correspond with the black border.

I poured black frit on it and was pushing it around with no idea what to do with it, and was afraid it might add too much dimension bringing the black closer when it should be pushed back further. I ended up deciding to add black paint to it to add a lot of shadowing and recut another moon with the intention of doing a dimensional fuse over top of the original one. I added a light bit of shading to the moon, though not sure if it will burn off or not. What you see as gray now will be black once fired. I think it will make the trees stand out more and give more of a sense of continuity to the piece overall. Time will tell. I can always fire it again if I have to.

I've got to say..I do love these Gump pieces (as in Forrest)...."You just never knew what your gonna get"...

[Lou Ann]

I like this better than all that green

[Kev]

Me too!

[Anne]

a sense of Vivaldi.  Now you're talking!