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Product Description
This is a modern-day primer on the basic skills and techniques of fusing. The book is geared toward the absolute novice and assumes you know little or nothing about the craft. Filled with lots of step-by-step photographs, useful tip sidebars, and complete project instructions. You will learn terminology used regularly in fusing, as well as all the basic skills that are the building blocks of the art. From tools and material descriptions to glass cutting and shaping, to more complicated procedures such as mould-making and kiln operation, everything is covered. Chapters include topics such as: Warm Glass Processes and Temperatures, Glass Tools And Equipment, Kilns and Controllers, Basic Glass Cutting Techniques, and more. Each new technique is taught via the creation of an actual project, such as a Tangram Puzzle, a Window Ornament, a Night Light, a Set of Soup Bowls or Jewellery Pendants, thereby allowing you to learn a new skill and create an item to wear, display or use in your home.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This little book is a good, simple starting point for those with small kilns and little access to tutoring. It is a book of 15 projects. The projects have the learning outcomes stated at the beginning of each project. The book includes a number of useful tips, although it is difficult to distinguish between "hot tips" and "pro tips". This seems to be aimed at the North Amnerican beginner, as brand names are used rather than the generic name. Celsius temperatures are given after the Farenheit ones in an attempt to be international. The book finishes with a trouble shooting section and an index. The trouble shooting on bubbles will be used a lot, given the rapid speeds of heating used throughout.
The learning outcomes are: cutting, preparing and assembling glass for firing; using separators; differences between single and double layers; grinding and drilling; making chanels, holes and hooks; firing face down, creating nuggets, circle cutting (very bizarre method); simple mould making and preparation with ceramic fibre paper; pattern transfer; and slumping.
Firing schedules are given for each project, although the principles are not explained in a systematic manner. This may lead to the use of the schedules as recipies without thinking about what the schedules are to achieve. "Tricks" and "tips" are frequently used terms in this book. To get systematic explanations of principles you will need to go elsewhere.
As can be expected, a book of 78 pages cannot live up to its sub-title "A comprehensive guide to glass fusing techniques". It will get you started though. It has a number of interesting projects for anyone to try out.
My main criticisms of the book are:
The misconception that CoE determines compatibility is perpetuated here. Rather than offering alternatives, the beginner should be told to start with one manufacturer's tested compatible glass and stick with it throughout the initial learning period.
Annealing is discussed but not fully explained.
Flash cooling is recommended in spite of the fact that modern glass kilns are designed to lose heat quickly at top tempertures. It may be that the instructions lead to over hot firings and so heat needs to be dumped.
No emphasis is given to the beginner on good practices that must be started at the beginning, e.g., there is no emphasis on keeping a firing log.
A number of practices recommended here will get people into trouble with larger projects and little recognition of what a change of scale will do to the glass. This is where the lack of discussion about the principles of kiln working is possibly problematic.
However, if you remember this is a project book for the beginner, there is much of interest.
The learning outcomes are: cutting, preparing and assembling glass for firing; using separators; differences between single and double layers; grinding and drilling; making chanels, holes and hooks; firing face down, creating nuggets, circle cutting (very bizarre method); simple mould making and preparation with ceramic fibre paper; pattern transfer; and slumping.
Firing schedules are given for each project, although the principles are not explained in a systematic manner. This may lead to the use of the schedules as recipies without thinking about what the schedules are to achieve. "Tricks" and "tips" are frequently used terms in this book. To get systematic explanations of principles you will need to go elsewhere.
As can be expected, a book of 78 pages cannot live up to its sub-title "A comprehensive guide to glass fusing techniques". It will get you started though. It has a number of interesting projects for anyone to try out.
My main criticisms of the book are:
The misconception that CoE determines compatibility is perpetuated here. Rather than offering alternatives, the beginner should be told to start with one manufacturer's tested compatible glass and stick with it throughout the initial learning period.
Annealing is discussed but not fully explained.
Flash cooling is recommended in spite of the fact that modern glass kilns are designed to lose heat quickly at top tempertures. It may be that the instructions lead to over hot firings and so heat needs to be dumped.
No emphasis is given to the beginner on good practices that must be started at the beginning, e.g., there is no emphasis on keeping a firing log.
A number of practices recommended here will get people into trouble with larger projects and little recognition of what a change of scale will do to the glass. This is where the lack of discussion about the principles of kiln working is possibly problematic.
However, if you remember this is a project book for the beginner, there is much of interest.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
25 reviews
103 of 103 people found the following review helpful
A Good Place To Start
8 Sep 2005
Format:Paperback
Petra Kaiser's book on Glass Fusing is a great place to begin your exploration of warm glass. The book is layed out very well, highlighting important information, for example, by providing tables of temperatures when different things happen to glass...slumping, tack fusing, full fusing, etc. A beginner needs to know about equipment and supplies, kilns, safety, and all about glass itself... Kaiser covers everything you need to know to start out working with fused glass. Then she puts you to work, where you learn as you do! I like the way she takes you though a series of 15 projects, all of which build on each other, expanding your knowledge at the same time as you reinforce important skills, such as glass cutting. As an artist I also found that all projects were easily adapted to my own aesthetic, therefore they did not have to be copied exactly to learn the intended lesson. As a former art instructor, I recommend it highly because it not only provides you with basic information -- it also provides you with hands-on experience.
73 of 76 people found the following review helpful
GREAT fusing book
10 Oct 2004
Format:Paperback
This book takes you step by step in the fusing process and gives little tips and tidbits to aide you. The projects are wonderful even if you are experienced in fusing. You start small and work up to serving dishes, this is a complete book on fusing
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Good for a beginner
3 Aug 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Good for someone really new to glass fusing.The writer seemed to lack the experience of a more advanced glass fuser and the projects were very basic but over all still a good introduction to glass.
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