Lampworking Dichroic Glass Encasement Tips

Lampworking Dichroic Glass Encasement Tips

The most important things to remember during encasement of dichroic glass are:
1. Your oxygen pressure should be as high as you feel brave, between 40lbs to 90lbs of pressure. The propane on the torch should be a mixed in a relationship of 1/3 propane to ½ of the oxygen flame.

2. You should work in the part of the flame about 5-10 inches from the tip depending on the torch. All torches I’ve tried need you to turn on all the oxygen valves (inner and outer) but only open the inner propane. When doing larger pieces, open your outer propane knob just enough to light up the outer flame using it to inject a larger flame into the center fire, while still remaining a high oxygen flame.

3. The temperature of the strip of dichro prior to encasement should be lightly heated in the flame on the glass side until the metal breaks up slightly into needles or fractures. The first line of color encasement is usually the hardest because of the tempurature not being quite right. Usually, by the second line of color encasement, the temperature is perfect and won’t break down as easily.

4. The torch affects your work to a lesser degree but is vital if you can afford it. Here is Jay Frodo (of Dichroic Alchemy) dichro working torch rating list with fours stars being the best and one star the worst.

Glass Torch Technologies (GTT) ****
Herbert Arnold ***
Nortel ***
Carlisle ***
3A National **
Bethlehem *

5. The temperature you place the color onto the dichro while encasing should never be white hot when applying, it should be red or orange hot. To test for the dichro “sweet spot” on your torch, simply take a 5mm-6mm clear rod and turn up the oxygen on your torch. Now put the clear rod in the flame and go out about 5-10 inches from the tip of the torch. The clear rod should heat up slowly to a red or orange glow and be bendable or pliable but not runny. This is the “sweet spot” for dichro work.

6.The angle of the flame while encasing the metal side of the dichroic glass is important in that you should only use the ¼ bottom part of the flame to heat the rod of color being applied. And use the ¾ top part of the flame should be above the rod heating where the dichro has already been encased.

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