10 Basic Glass Fusing Tools

If you are interested in glass fusing, below is a list of the most basic tools and equipment needed.

Basic

1. Safety glasses, one clear and one with IR-3 rating


2. Running pliers


3. Glass cutter


4. Cutting surface


5. Kiln*


6. Kiln shelf and three posts


7. Kiln shelf wash


8. Haik brush


9. Fused glass handbook


10. Fusible glass

Optional

1. Slumping mold**

2. Glass grinder

Check around the Internet for prices on kilns, tools, and glass, as well as any local glass shops in your area.

* As a beginner, the most difficult decision is choosing the kiln size. I bought a 14 inch kiln, but it only has a 12 inch working surface area. It is too big for doing a quick run of a few pendants and I am limited by size for trays or serving pieces. If I had it to do over again, I would get a small, tabletop kiln to experiment; then armed with more knowledge and experience I would have gotten at least a 16 inch kiln in order to do larger pieces. A small 8 inch tabletop kiln is never wasted because you can always use it for test runs on glass combinations -- anything you do not want to take the time to fill up a shelf of a larger kiln.

**Pendants and coasters do not require a slumping mold which I listed as optional. If you want to do bowls, dinner plates, serving pieces or trays, etc., then, of course, you need slumping molds in the shape and size, or sizes, you want in order to form the fused glass.




Until next time, God bless.