Microwave Limited Editions

Caught your attention, didn't I!

Yes, I've made some trial items and test pieces using a microwave kiln or MWK.  From time to time, pieces are available at craft shows only.   Scroll on below for info on the process.

How they are made

The process starts with a microwave kiln (MWK) made from ceramic fiber.   Special fusing paper is put on the stage of the MWK, then the glass is placed and spaced so the pieces don't melt together.  The lid comes coated on the inside with a coating that gets really hot in the microwave - over 1,400° F!  The ceramic fiber of the kiln is a great insulator and keeps everything outside the kiln fairly cool.  I have a dedicated microwave that I use for this (not an expensive one!).  

You know the temperature is getting up there when you see the glow coming from the hole in the lid.  When the glass reaches the state that I want, I remove the MWK, insulate with tiles and heat-proof blankets, and allow it to cool.  After the outside of the MWK has cooled to the touch, I remove the lid to see what happened!  The MWK is great for doing tests of ideas and making very small pieces.  The dots shown in the pic below were used in other pieces fused in a traditional kiln.

Note that the slow cooling is to approximate annealing in a traditional kiln.  The anneal, however, will not be as controlled or effective as in a traditional kiln.  This is fine for small earrings and dots, but larger pieces might be more susceptible to breakage.