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Character Pods  

Character Pods offer a unique option for fusing glass. Use Frit of varying sizes to fill a mold that has been created with specific designs such as a butterfly, heart or a pendant.

Priming Your Mold - Begin by priming the mold to be used with Primo Primer. It is essential that the mold is completely dry prior to fusing glass in the piece. Otherwise, bits of the mold may permanently fuse to the glass and also ruin the mold.

Create The Design - Fill the mold to the rim with your choice of frit. Fine or medium frit is ideal for frit casting. Fine frit will shrink more than larger frit. Additionally, fine frit will be more opaque when fired. Fi you would like to achieve a more transparant look, medium frit works well. While coarse frit may be used in the Character Pods, it can be difficult. Piling too much coarse frit above the rim of the mold can cause jagged edges on the back of the piece.

Fusing The Glass - Fire casting pods at 1500-1600F. Try increasing the hold time to 30-40 minutes. As always, hold time depends on the kiln, glass & size of the mold. If a mold is fired too hot it may cause the glass to stick in the mold or break the mold. Once the pieces have cooled and are removed from the kiln, turn the mold upside down to release the fused piece. If the piece does not come out easily, gently tap the mold (upside down) on a table to release the glass.

Cleaning The Glass - After the glass has been fused and slumped, touch up any rough areas with the abrasive sanding ribbon and clean the glass again to remove any residue. You will notice that some primer will be left on the piece after it is removed from the mold. To remove the excess primer, simply rub the piece under warm water. If the mold primer does not come off easily, brush Wash Away on the piece and rub with a stiff brush. You may soak in Wash Away if necessary.

Finishing The Glass - Character Pods may be used as sun catchers, jewelry, garden stakes or an addition to another glass piece. They may also be attached to completed ceramic pieces to add a new medium to the piece. Kids will really enjoy Character Pods as an after school or Summer Camp project.

Cleaning The Glass - As with any glass, it is essential to keep slumping and fusing molds clean. Use a small wooden tool (such as a pottery sculpting tool) to gently scrape and smooth excess mold primer or frit from the mold. By doing this, you will allow future firings to produce smooth glass surfaces. Be sure to check molds after each firing.

COE96. System 96 Compatible.

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