First trial pieces

[gws732]

Here are the first 3 trial pieces that I made.  Nothing special but at least it got me comfortable with using the new kiln. This is just standard art glass, one layer.
 

[Kev]

You did great! These look fantastic!

[Pea Swee]

wow....how pretty....

[Joe]

Very nice. The look amazing!

[kimb]

I think they are great!!!

[Anne]

wow, good for you.  Great mold and a great drop! You'll be able to do some really neat stuff with that mold!

[ct4mom]

These are great I love the glass you used too.

[Becki]

Nicely slumped!  Is this your first kiln?

[Audrey]

Looks like you're already used to the new kiln.

[Elizabeth]

Very pretty.  Love the glass!

[Marsha]

Very nice!

[JoanFrances]

very pretty

[AglassAct]

Very nice...

[Linde]

I don't believe that my first trial pieces came out looking like that! Great job!!!

[gws732]

Thanks all for the nice comments...
This is my first kiln and I really was happy with the results. The glass choices were made because I have 2 grandchildren getting married this summer and the colors go with the weddings. I also love the waffle mold and it was one of those sale ones that I decided to buy. Think I only gave like $8.00 for it and I think I will be using it a lot.
This forum helped me so much with info to get me started. Thanks again to all!!!

[Kev]

Gee...it's so nice to see that we can all learn from each others experiences and talents.

Way to go! I really like that mold too.

[Marsha]

Did you have any devit problems with the art glass?

[gws732]

I did not have any devit problems. I have the HotStart Pro kiln and here is the firing schedule I ued for the one layer art glass. 450dph to 1050 hold 20...900dph to 1300 hold 20...afap to1010 hold 60...450dph to 600 then with my kiln I turn off at that point. On the blue one it slumped more than the pink. I think because of the colo,r maybe.? Then with the last one it was with a round mold and I really did not like it as well.

[Kev]

I'm so glad you first pieces were successful for you. That's always a boost to want to try more...addictive isn't it...LOL

I looked at your schedule...it seems somewhat off. Though you did use single layer glass, the schedule would still be similar in regards to the annealing point, which it looks like you bypassed completely in the above schedule. Without the glass annealing properly, there is a risk of it cracking at any time, even a year down the road. Where did you find this schedule? Typically, the annealing point for Spectrum or Bullseye glass is around 950-960 degrees depending on the brand used. Once at the annealing point, it usually is held there for about 1 hour before dropping again.

A typical Spectrum slumping schedule would be as follows:

300 degrees -> 1150 degrees (hold 30 mins)
200 degrees -> 1230 degrees (max is 1250) (hold till desired results)
9999 degrees -> 950 degrees (annealing point) (hold 60 mins)
150 degrees -> 800 degrees (hold 10 mins)
300 degrees -> 600 degrees (turn off kiln and allow to cool to room temp)

Of course this is only one of many schedules and you have to adjust it to your own kiln learned from experimenting, but you can see the annealing point and stress zone run from 950 degrees down through to 800 degrees. This allows all the molecules in the glass to get realigned back into their proper fashion, and thus reduces stress on the glass.

What brand of glass was it that you used?

The blue one may have slumped more as you say related to the color as it is darker and would absorb more heat. If is was thicker than the pink one, that too could result in the better slump as well.

Have fun..and .....experiment experiment experiment.

[gws732]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you Kev.  I am out of town a lot and have no internet service where I am at the lake.
I got the schedule off of the glass campus site and thought since using single layer Spectrum art glass the added 50 degrees was the way to go.

 Please take a look maybe I should use the normal schedule they mentioned. My kiln does not cool as fast, 400dph, the last segment so I thought perhaps  the 450 to 600 then off would do just fine. It was listed under draping or slumping single layer glass. I would so hate for them to fall apart on me at any given time.

Thanks for your schedule and I will try that the next time and see what happens. I knew about the annealing stage but thought this would perhaps do it. Please let me know what you think after reading on glass campus.