Fusing Glass is a lengthy process which joins two or more layers of glass together by firing it at a high temperature in a kiln to form one piece.   Before we can fuse our artwork, we must be sure that our glass choices are compatible.  Unfortunately, we cannot simply take any glass and melt it together.  The glass must be of the same molecular composition in order for it to not crack, and in most cases, we have chosen to use Bullseye or Uroboros glass, manufactured in Portland, Oregon and CBS Dichroic glass, manufactured in Orange, California. 

 

We employ several techniques and varieties of beautiful glass in our creations. Our pieces consist of transparent glass (either colored or clear), opaque glass, iridized glass  (sprayed with a special solution, giving it a metallic sheen), dichroic glass (Originally developed for the U.S. space program to withstand extreme temperatures, dichroic glass has the unusual property of reflecting one color while it transmits another. This means that the different colors can be viewed by examining the glass at different angles), frit (crushed glass),  textured glass, and metal inclusions, such as copper, aluminum foil, or stainless steel.

 

After we have chosen our glass and pattern, we cut our pieces by hand or with a glass saw.  We can shape the glass, to a certain degree, with grinding tools, but ultimately the fusion process turns a solid into a molten liquid and back again.  Sometimes we are not exactly sure of what we're going to get!  We have also used frit painting, torch working, and kiln casting in our pieces.

 

Once we have chosen our colors and the shapes are cut, we prepare our kiln for firing and cross our fingers.  Most pieces are fired at least twice.  The first firing (usually 14+ hours) melts the different layers together.  Full fused pieces are fused at a minimum temperature of 1480 Fahrenheit.  A second firing allows us to make additions, if necessary, to our piece.  Generally, by the third firing we slump our piece into a mold specifically made for kiln firing temperatures.  This gives us the final shape of our artwork; be it a bowl, platter, candle holder, plate, etc.  

 

WHITESBROOK FUSION is a family operated business located in Port Angeles, Washington on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula.  We take great care and pride in each piece that we create and hope you enjoy it for years to come!

 

Kristi Boddy & Holli Hilt 

 

Please note:  Pieces with  dichroic are NOT FOOD or MICROWAVE SAFE!!!  And we recommend that all of our our pieces be washed by hand.

 

Thank you.