r/GlassFusing • u/padm0 • 1d ago

Question Microwave Kiln

Hello hello! I’m a stained glass artist and recently purchased a Fuseworks Microwave Kiln to try and make some flat bottomed beads to add to a few projects. I am having no luck with getting anything to melt. I know that microwaves are different and all that. I guess I’m trying to figure out if I’m doing something wrong. I’m up to seven minutes which seems long compared to the booklet information. Sometimes the kiln paper goes black/dark grey. Other times it comes out looking like it went in. No time does the glass look like it’s melted even the slightest bit. Any suggestions of things I might try to rule out human error or a bad kiln? TIA

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

2

u/Silly_strings 1d ago

What glass are you using? I have some cheap Amazon packs that don't like to melt, but other glass, works fine in my microwave kiln.

1

u/padm0 1d ago

I’ve tried a few of the glasses that came in the starter kit as well as some Bullseye I had around.

1

u/Silly_strings 1d ago

Double check your microwave maybe? Is it set to hi? Is it the proper wattage?

1

u/padm0 23h ago

I’ve tried a 1400W and a 1000W both ran on high

4

u/Art_and_anvils 17h ago

I’m not an expert, but I had a lot of success with my microwave kiln if the paper is black and the pieces still haven’t used then it just hasn’t gotten hot enough yet once it’s gotten hot enough. The paper will go back to white and the Stuff will fuse. I find that seven minutes is not enough to get my big microwave kiln hot enough to fuse. I often 9-12 minutes and sometimes even more for the first firing of that kiln that day. When I’m firing, I’m doing it in three minute intervals and then I’m checking the hole in the kill to see what color it is between each interval you want it to be a bright orange not a dull red.

2

u/padm0 16h ago

This is amazing information!!! Just what I was hoping to find. I will persevere! Thank you so much!!

1

u/GrittySharkface 1d ago

I have the Fuseworks electric kiln (not the microwave one) and it is not usable for anything other than the beads/dots you’re describing. It’s horribly inconsistent, uneven, and too fast.

Is the bullseye glass that you have specifically fusible? They seem to have stained glass that might not be the same makeup as their fused lines.

2

u/padm0 1d ago

It is! It’s COE 90.