DIY Network

Animal Print Dichroic Glass Pendants by Cathi Milligan Learn how to create animal inspired glass pendants. From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-601

Guest Cathi Milligan draws animal prints on dichroic glass.

Experience Level: Advanced

advertisement

Materials:

chain, silver cable, leather
2"x1" pieces of dichroic glass (2 per pendant)
2"x1" clear glass
etching resist
etching solution
fine silver bezel wire
thick fiber paper
thin fiber paper

Tools:

safety glasses
gloves
rapid fire kiln
2 small glass bowls

Animal Print Dichroic Glass Pendants

1. Fill half a glass bowl with etching solution (not cream), and another bowl half full with water.

Safety Note: It's a good idea to work near a sink in case you need to rinse solution off your hands or work surface. Be sure to read all instructions and safety precautions on the solution bottle.

2. Begin with a piece of 1" x 2" dichroic glass.

3. Using etching resist, draw your designs and patterns on the dichroic surface of the glass (figure A). Allow it to dry.

4. Using gloves, place the glass into the bowl of solution. The etching process will take about 10 minutes.

5. Remove the glass from the solution, and then place into the bowl of water (figure B) to stop the etching process.

6. Rinse off the glass to remove the resist material.

Caution: Don't allow the resist material to go down the drain—throw it away.

7. Dry off the glass and start the design process by assembling the pieces in stacks of three.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

8. On the base of the kiln, place a piece of fiber paper to prevent the hot glass from sticking to the floor. Arrange the stacks on the paper (figure C), keeping them far enough apart so they don't touch during the fusing process.

9. For the pendants that will have holes, take a small piece of fiber blanket cut down to 11/2" x 1/4" x 1/4". The fiber blanket should stick out of the ends of the glass. This will be sandwiched between the back two pieces of glass--it's best placed towards the top of the pendant. Another alternative means of hanging the pendant is to create a bale by making a loop from fine silver wire and sandwiching between the back two pieces. Place the glass towards the top of the pendant. This method fuses the metal into the glass and can sometimes discolor the glass leaving a mark on the floor of the kiln.

Safety Note: When using a kiln, wear long gloves and or long sleeves to protect your arms and hands from the heat.

10. Place the glass carefully onto the hood of the kiln over the base. Carefully lift the front of the kiln to make sure the pendants haven't shifted. Replace the hood.

11. Turn on the infinite controller on the kiln to 40 percent. Make sure the temperature heats up slowly to prevent breakage.

12. Once the temperature reaches 700 degrees, carefully lift the front of the kiln to vent the fumes from the fiber paper.

13. Replace the lid, and then increase the controller to 60 percent.

14. Lift the front of the lid once the temperature reaches 1500 degrees, and then carefully check the glass.

15. For a tack fuse, which attaches the glass and leaves definition where the glass meets, lift the front of the kiln to allow the temperature to drop to 1300 degrees. Close the lid.

16. For a full fuse, keep the lid down for a minute, and then lift to cool the glass stopping the fusing process.

17. Allow the kiln to cool down slowly to room temperature—about four hours.

18. Lift the lid. You'll find the fiber paper has changed texture and disintegrates when touched.

19. Rinse off the fiber paper, and clean out the holes in the pendants using a wire.

20. Dry everything off, and then string up the pendants as desired.

RESOURCES :

Beadbrains
Website: www.beadbrains.com

GUESTS :

Cathi Milligan
Bead Brains
Website: www.beadbrains.com