How to Correct Fused Glass Dichroic on Dichroic Failures

HOW TO Correct Fused Dichroic on Dichroic Failures

Tips for successful use of Dichroic Glass.

Have you ever fired two pieces of Dichroic glass together and ended up with a very rough surface that just does not show off the brilliance of the glass and snags clothing?

Example Photo: (Top Left) 2 1 inch Dichroic hearts on black glass.

(Bottom Right / Corrected) Capped with a 1-1/4 inch clear heart and re-fired.

Is there a reason why you should not fire two piece of dichroic glass together?

Yes, but only if the two dichroic surfaces are facing each other or a metal inclusion. Why, because Dichroic is basically a fine layer of metal and chemicals and trying to bond two layers of metals does not usually work, bonding a layer of glass and metal will work. The exception would be the use of a Dicro Slide Decal product over Dichroic glass surface but the results can be somewhat unpredictable and works only because Dicro Slide is such a thin layer of metals which creates less tension between the two metals.

If you put two metal surfaces together and fire them, the reaction will vary:

• They may not bond together.
• The top layer of glass may slide off.
• Other undesirable results can occur.

This incompatibility is not much different then if you tried to fire COE 90 and COE 96 or Float glass together...never recommended and always unpredictable.

How can you layer Dichroic Glass?

As long as there is a layer of glass in-between the dichroic layers, then they will fire together with more predicatible results when you are performing a slump or full fuse. Note: They may not bond using a tac fuse.

Note: The layers do not have to be the same size pieces of glass, as long as the base glass is larger.

On Clear Dichroic Glass how can I tell what layer has Dichroic treatment?

Hold the glass in front of a light source and look thru the edge, side of the glass. You will see the clear glass on one surface and most of the time the Dichroic side of the glass has some texture to it, not smooth.

How can I correct my fused glass if the dichroic ended up on the top surface?

Cap you fused glass dichroic on dichroic glass layers with a clear glass but make sure it is slightly larger than the based glass. If you made the mistake of stacking two pieces of dichroic on black glass, you will only see the edge of the base layer. If you cap the entire piece with a slightly larger clear glass cap and refire to a full fuse, as the clear glass melts and moves you will all some of the base layer to start to blend and surface as the clear glass melt down over the glass and pulls out the base dichroic glass and the results are fabulous (as in our example above).