Dichro glass

[ccaronn]

Oh Ohh, I may be premature as a newbie still working on shapes and dots: I bought a small sample pack of dichro glass from Lori R. and I don't know how to use it. Is there a video someone can direct me to? Is it something I should not tackle until I get many more hours of torch practice in?
It just sounded so great and my purchase was right around $20, including shipping. TIA!

[Speedslug]

There are techniques for handling Dichro that will help keep you form burning it out before you get it into the kiln.

Do a search here in the tips and techniques section as well as the free tutorials section for the word dichro.

Even youtube will have Dichro instructions and google will lead you to blogs and web pages of folks sharing their knowledge of lampworking in the internet.

Remember that Dichro is a thin coating on one surface of glass and direct contact with the flame will send it up in smoke.


I have been playing with fire for half dozen years and I bought some Dichro as soon as I could afford it and 99% of it is still waiting for me to nail down the details of getting the best out of it.

But I am also a slow learner so don't let that deter you from hunting up the how to.

[ccaronn]

Phil, you're the best. Thanks!

[Katia]

Try dichro on transparent first, dichro side (coating) to the bead, glass to the flame as cool as you can. Preheat the glass far away from the tip, place on the bead and use whatever tool to push the glass down the bead.

Dichro on black is tricky - you need to face the coating towards the flame. It needs far better heat control.

If you can melt in avanturine, you will manage dichro, but try avanturine first, it is cheaper, the temperature of burning out is pretty close.

[ccaronn]

Thank you, Katia!

[m**2]

If you cut your dichro, the sharp edges will tend to bubble and will look very hazy.

You can avoid this by heating the dichro in your kiln just until the sharp edges round off a bit.

You will need a kiln shelf and kiln wash or kiln paper.

Don't stretch the dichro.

For dichro on black, you can add a very thin layer over the coated side which will protect the coating.

Patricia Frantz did a very good video on working with dichro.

[ccaronn]

Thank you very much, m**2!

[Katia]

Missed one more thing - if you add multiple pieces of dichro to a bead or want to layer dichro glass in bigger beads ensure, that coated sides of two pieces do not face each other without a layer of clear between them otherwise the pieces will not fuse. For example, if you put a piece pf dichro on black (coated side up) to the core of the bead and want to add a piece of dichro on transparent (coated side down, you may get very interesing look this way) - encase the first piece with a thin layer of clear to ensure the coating is covered and then you can add second layer if you want.

[ccaronn]

Will do, thank you, Katia!