'How to' guides...

Did you ever wonder how Fire Devil creates the jewellery you see on this site?

Well wonder no more - this page will explain some of the techniques used to make Fire Devil jewellery....

If there's anything else you'd like to see here just let Fire Devil know.

You have a choice - you can do it in a couple of ways:

You add a rolled-up piece of fibre paper or length of ceramic rope.  They don't burn away in the heat so will leave a hole through the piece during firing.

Firstly, be aware that this is a very hazardous choice, as both paper and rope shed harmful fibres you can breathe in, so you'll need a properly certified dust mask.

You place the rope or fibre somewhere in the middle layer, near the top of the piece the way you want it to hang it when it's finished.  Imagine a sandwich, with a string through the filling.

Be careful to have it hang out enough on either side as, when the glass expands, you don't want the ends of the hole to become sealed and your fibre or rope stuck inside!

You will want to carefully tack your piece together with craft or fusing glue to keep everything in place but, as always, less is more!  Dab tiny amounts onto the fibre paper or rope with a cocktail stick to ensure that you don't over-glue and leave a nasty residue that ruins the finished piece.

Make sure you also leave enough glass all around the paper or rope.  As I've mentioned before, glass likes to be 6mm thick and if it's thinner than that it will contract and leave sharp and uneven edges.  You can't then fix this in your finished cabochon, so it might be worthwhile experimenting on clear glass first to get the technique right.

Always check your finished piece for rough edges as, if you are using fabric or thong, it could wear through over time.  If you need to, you can smooth the edges of the hole a little (as long as they aren't too rough) using a diamond-tipped file under cold running water - mind you don't slip and scratch the surface of the cabochon or break its edges.

2) After fusing

You simply create a cabochon in the normal way and, after firing, attach a bail (a piece of metal with a hole for the necklace!).

Bails come in many sizes and styles.  Personally I prefer Sterling Silver and all Fire Devil bails are marked .925 so you know they aren't plated so the silver won't wear off.

First you rough up the back of the cabochon with a diamond-tipped tool where you want to attach the bail - as above, always do this under cold running water to avoid any heating of the glass (you'd be surprised how much heat this friction causes!) and this avoids any splintering or cracking of your glass.

Then rough up the surface of your bail.  You can use a normal metal file for this.  And clean and dry both surfaces thoroughly.

Finally, glue them both together.  You must select the right glue for this - the two-part ones are best for this (I won't mention brand names but they come in two tubes which you mix).

Key tips to remember are:

• Care and patience and following the instructions closely are vital for results that last!
• Rough up everything well or the glue won't have a strong surface to stick to.
• Always clean AND dry everything thoroughly before starting, including your hands.
• Make sure you always use exactly equal amounts from each tube.
• Mix thoroughly and for the recommended times on the pack - time yourself if you have to.
• Apply glue to both surfaces and leave to dry for a few seconds without sticking the together.
• IMPORTANT - clean any glue from anything you do not want stuck permanently to your piece: fingers, paper, cocktail sticks, pegs, children, pets, etc!
• Hold each piece together firmly until they stick - don't be surprised if this takes at least a few minutes.
• Then keep up the pressure - you can use a peg or clip for this part.
• Leave with the join supported in this way for at least five days in daylight somewhere warm and don't let it get cold.
• Don't keep trying it to see if it's stuck yet - patience is a virtue!
• If you mess up and need to remove the bail once it's partially stuck because its slipped or uneven, pop it in the freezer for a hour or so.  This weakens the glue so you can separate everything but be careful of the glass which will be slippery and easy to drop and much more fragile when it's cold unfortunately!

Good luck and have fun!

Good luck with your experiments if you decide to create your own pieces, if not, Fire Devil is happy to do the work for you....

• What is Dichroic Glass?
• Fusing glass