Dull red heat for handles gives me better results than the usual bright orange

Everyone in my class was taught to fuse handles when the glass is at its hottest point. I learned through practice that a cooler, dull red heat makes for a stronger bond. Letting the main body cool a bit before joining reduces stress and avoids cracks. My pieces now hold up without any joint issues after this change.

3 comments

3 Comments

betty_scott182d ago

Ugh, I felt that same frustration... my early pieces had weak spots right at the joints and I could never figure out why. It's so annoying when you trust the taught method and then your own work shows you it's wrong. Letting the main piece cool to a dull red before attaching the handle changed everything for me too.

scott.mia3d ago

How long did you believe the hotter the better for fusing? I was taught the exact same thing in my classes and stuck with it for years. Seeing your results makes me admit I was wrong to ignore the cooler method. The stress from joining at bright orange must have been causing my hairline cracks. Letting the main piece cool first just makes sense for a solid bond. I'm switching to dull red from now on.

murphy.gray3d ago

Hearing you admit being wrong really shows you get it, @scott.mia. Letting things cool down first just makes more sense for a strong hold.