Working with hot glass is a rewarding and profitable way to express yourself. With some practice and the right tools you can make your own beads, jewelry, glass tiles, sculptural forms, window ornaments and more.

Fusion Headquarters, Inc. specializes in hard to find hot glass working supplies. We focus primarily on Kilns and Fire Buckets. Each tool can be used by itself or integrated with the other to produce an endless variety of glass objects that reflect the artistry, craftsmanship and creativity of each individual glass worker. Some of the processes to be explored are:

GLASS BLOWING - or 'Off Hand Glass Blowing,' refers to working the glass on the end of a hollow blow pipe or a solid 'Punty' rod. The Fire Bucket is the primary heating chamber that can be used by itself or in conjunction with a kiln or small furnace. Unlike a torch, the fire bucket heats the glass from all sides. Its 2150°F quickly takes glass to it's a molten state for easy forming. The Fire Bucket is used to make "hot parts" such as millefiori pattern bars, tube beads, stringers and drip lines or to reshape sheet glass into canes or rods. Glass Blowing techniques can be used to make small blown objects such as rondels, perfume bottles and paper weights.

KILN FORMING - Also, Fusing or Kiln Work. The kiln is used for a variety of activities that require controlled rates of heating and cooling such as:

Annealing - the slow cooling of hot glass from 1000° F down to 600° F to relieve any internal stress that might cause the glass to break.

Bending - also called slumping or draping. This activity occurs in the pliable zone (1000° F - 1350° F) when the glass is soft enough that gravity will cause it to form into or over a mold.

Fusing - Melting two or more pieces of glass into one single piece of glass.

Pate-de-Verre - also Frit Casting. A process in which a mold filled with crushed glass (frit) is heated to the point where the frit fuses into a solid mass.

LAMP WORK - The term for forming glass over a torch, such as wound bead making or shaping glass canes. The term 'Glass Blowing' is sometimes used, primarily by those bending tubes for scientific applications, but most artists prefer the term Lamp Work.

Some of the following terms used in this catalog may be new to you.

BENDING GLASS - Also Slumping or Draping. The process of using heat to soften glass to the point that gravity will cause it to reshape itself to into or over a three dimensional form. Stainless steel molds designed for glass bending are here.

BINDERS - Also mediums or vehicles. A product added to powdered glass enamels or paints that allow them to flow evenly and adhere to the base glass being painted. The medium should also burn off without leaving any residue. Examples are Pine Oil and Water Friendly Medium listed here.

CANES - Any rod or thread of glass. Canes may be solid or multi-colored. See this page.

C.O.E. - Coefficient of expansion. A number that expresses the measured expansion of a piece of heated glass. The glass in this catalog is listed by it's C.O.E. such as 90 C.O.E. see this page.

COMPATIBILITY - The absence of stress when different glasses are fused together. Glasses that have the same or similar C.O.E.s are said to be compatible. All 90 C.O.E. glasses are compatible with each other but not with expansions such a 96 C.O.E..

DEVITRIFICATION -A crystalline growth that appears as a scum or matte finish on the surface of some glasses when they have been heated above 1000° F.

DEVITRIFICATION SPRAY OR OVERGLAZE - A spray that is applied to the surface and sides of glass before firing to prevent devitrification and provide a glossy surface. Overglazes can be found here.

DICHROIC GLASS - This is any piece of glass that has a special heat resistant metallic looking coating applied to it's surface by a process called vapor deposition. The coating produces a vibrant, metallic looking sparkle that changes color under different angles of light. It looks similar to an iridescent surface only it is much more intense. Dichroic coatings can be applied to sheets of glass and canes regardless of their C.O.E. Dichroic glass is listed here.