CBJ01 pp56-57 What's Cookin_Beading 24/03/2010 11:32 Page 56
KILN BEADS MICROWAVE KILN
Judith Hannington shows you how to create your very own glass beads using a nifty little microwave kiln f you have ever dreamed of creating your own fused glass beads for jewellery making, but have been put off by the cost of a kiln or the lack of space to house one, a microwave kiln could be the ideal solution. A Kilnworks microwave kiln measures just 3¼” high and 4½” in diameter, and works in most metal-interior microwave ovens. An 800-1,200 watt oven is recommended, but
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I have used a 600 watt oven without any problems. The Kilnworks kiln can be purchased alone or in a starter pack that also contains an instructional book, a glass cutter, protective mitts, kiln paper, silver and gold jewellery findings and enough glass to get you up and running. Once you have experimented with the glass provided, you can purchase further glass from a variety of online retailers. Glass
www.creativebeadsandjewellery.com
COOKING? with a co-efficient of expansion (COE) of 90 should be used, and glass with different COEs should not be mixed. Glass is available in a wide variety of colours and finishes, including the fabulous dichroic coated glass, which adds a real sparkle to your fused projects. If you purchase a Kilnworks starter pack the only other tools you will require are glass pliers for breaking the glass along your scored
lines. These come in a variety of styles, and the choice is down to personal preference. Running pliers are great for breaking lengths of glass off a sheet and breaking pliers are invaluable
TOP TIP
JUDITH HANNINGTON DESIGNER
for dealing with small, thin strips of scored glass. If you haven’t cut glass before, invest in a couple of pieces of clear glass to practise your scoring and breaking skills.
If your pendant has rough edges, try cutting the clear glass slightly smaller than the cranberry glass – this helps create nice rounded sides. Ultra fine-grade sandpaper can be used to remove any small, rough areas and the sanded areas can then be smoothed with polishing compound using a felted drill bit