arrowsprings
2005-07-13, 11:58am
Using Pixie Dust
Use Pixie Dust to create a sparkle or pearl luster color inside glass or on its surface.
To use, form glass to its final shape. Allow the glass to harden, but still remain hot. Quickly heat the surface of the glass until molten. Avoid allowing the inside of the glass to become molten or it will probably loose its shape during some of the following application methods. Any of the following methods can be used to apply Pixie Dust powder.
Pile Pixie Dust onto a metal or graphite work surface. Dip the glass into the powder and rotate it around until the glass is covered. The glass will coat with a thick layer of powder, but only the layer of powder that is in actual contact with the molten glass will adhere. The powder will only permanently adhere to molten glass. If you find that the powder did not adhere to the glass, it was not hot enough. The rest will be loose. Put the glass back into the flame to flame anneal it. Only use the cool end of the flame or the powder will burn onto the surface of the glass and the item will probably be ruined.
Another application method is to place the powder into a small metal bowl or cup. Apply the powder by inserting the glass into the bowl. Pixie Dust is made of mica, and therefore is an excellent insulator. While the glass is engulfed in the powder, it performs a pseudo kind of flame annealing.
You can also apply the powder by sprinkling or sifting it onto the glass. An enamel sifter works well. Sprinkling or sifting is the best method when you only have a small amount of powder to work with.
Pixie Dust that is encased is protected from the flame and will not burn. The color of the glass that the Pixie Dust is applied to affects the final look. You can do a quick color test by simply coating the end of a glass rod. You can wipe off the excessive layers of powder to see if the application was successful.
Wipe off excess layers of powder before encasing glass that has just been coated. Use a dry cotton cloth and wipe with a quick motion. Be careful with how you handle the cloth and where you put it, because it will get very hot and may catch fire. If you attempt to apply glass on top of the powder without wiping off the excess layers, the glass will just fall off, because it will only have stuck to the outside layer.
You can also make a glass rod with Pixie Dust dispersed throughout it. Heat up a quantity of glass until molten. Mash it flat. In the center of the flattened glass, place a small amount of Pixie Dust. Without spilling the Pixie Dust, heat the opposite side of the glass in the flame until it becomes soft and pliable. Carefully fold the glass, trapping the Pixie Dust and sealing it in and away from possible direct contact with the flame. Do this while forcing out as much air as possible. Using the glass rod that the original flattened glass came from as a punty, and another glass rod, mix the glass in the flame until well blended. Pull out into a rod.
Glossary
Punty: A temporary handle attached to a glass object to facilitate working with it in the flame.
Annealing: Heating glass to a certain temperature either in the kiln or in the torch flame to relieve internal stress..
Arrow Springs - Everything You Need For Flameworking
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Flameworking Tools, Glass, Ovens, Supplies, Books, Videos and all the help you need.
Use Pixie Dust to create a sparkle or pearl luster color inside glass or on its surface.
To use, form glass to its final shape. Allow the glass to harden, but still remain hot. Quickly heat the surface of the glass until molten. Avoid allowing the inside of the glass to become molten or it will probably loose its shape during some of the following application methods. Any of the following methods can be used to apply Pixie Dust powder.
Pile Pixie Dust onto a metal or graphite work surface. Dip the glass into the powder and rotate it around until the glass is covered. The glass will coat with a thick layer of powder, but only the layer of powder that is in actual contact with the molten glass will adhere. The powder will only permanently adhere to molten glass. If you find that the powder did not adhere to the glass, it was not hot enough. The rest will be loose. Put the glass back into the flame to flame anneal it. Only use the cool end of the flame or the powder will burn onto the surface of the glass and the item will probably be ruined.
Another application method is to place the powder into a small metal bowl or cup. Apply the powder by inserting the glass into the bowl. Pixie Dust is made of mica, and therefore is an excellent insulator. While the glass is engulfed in the powder, it performs a pseudo kind of flame annealing.
You can also apply the powder by sprinkling or sifting it onto the glass. An enamel sifter works well. Sprinkling or sifting is the best method when you only have a small amount of powder to work with.
Pixie Dust that is encased is protected from the flame and will not burn. The color of the glass that the Pixie Dust is applied to affects the final look. You can do a quick color test by simply coating the end of a glass rod. You can wipe off the excessive layers of powder to see if the application was successful.
Wipe off excess layers of powder before encasing glass that has just been coated. Use a dry cotton cloth and wipe with a quick motion. Be careful with how you handle the cloth and where you put it, because it will get very hot and may catch fire. If you attempt to apply glass on top of the powder without wiping off the excess layers, the glass will just fall off, because it will only have stuck to the outside layer.
You can also make a glass rod with Pixie Dust dispersed throughout it. Heat up a quantity of glass until molten. Mash it flat. In the center of the flattened glass, place a small amount of Pixie Dust. Without spilling the Pixie Dust, heat the opposite side of the glass in the flame until it becomes soft and pliable. Carefully fold the glass, trapping the Pixie Dust and sealing it in and away from possible direct contact with the flame. Do this while forcing out as much air as possible. Using the glass rod that the original flattened glass came from as a punty, and another glass rod, mix the glass in the flame until well blended. Pull out into a rod.
Glossary
Punty: A temporary handle attached to a glass object to facilitate working with it in the flame.
Annealing: Heating glass to a certain temperature either in the kiln or in the torch flame to relieve internal stress..
Arrow Springs - Everything You Need For Flameworking
www.arrowsprings.com (http://www.arrowsprings.com)
Flameworking Tools, Glass, Ovens, Supplies, Books, Videos and all the help you need.