Glass Fusing

Tack vs Full Fusing:

Tack fusing allows the glass pieces to bond while still holding their original shape. This fusing results in a textured piece with multiple layers, softening the edges of the glass slightly so it is safe to touch. It will look much like it did before firing. 

Full fusing fully melts all layers of glass together into one combined layer. This fusing results in a single-layer piece with more rounded edges and slightly pooled/softened shapes.  Its final appearance may be different than before firing. 

Equipment Needed:

• Safety glasses

• Cutting mats

• Wheeled glass scorers

• Glass breaking pliers

• Glass

• Tweezers

• Heat resistant gloves

• Broom and dustpan

• Elmer's glue

Glass Fusing in the Classroom:

I would include glass in my future classrooms but probably only with high schoolers - at least in my first few years of teaching it while still getting down all of my procedures and becoming more comfortable with it myself. There are a lot of huge safety hazards in glasswork that I am wary of especially with younger students so I wouldn't feel as confident introducing it to them at that stage. The youngest I would go to is probably middle school, however - at least with cutting their own glass. I may introduce it to elementary students in some form but I don't think I would want them cutting glass and being around such small fragments. I may use precut glass in their projects, giving them a tessellation prompt where they are in charge of designing and gluing using precut shapes. With older students, I may choose a project that revolves around jewelry making or suncatchers that allows them more freedom in the kinds of glass they cut and use.