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Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Are your products one of a kind?

Yes - They are Fused Glass Art, so I set the design and the kiln heats the flowing glass. It's always fun to open the kiln and see what happened!



Can I request a custom design?

Yes. If you give me an idea of what you are looking for. if it doesn't come out to your liking, you don't have to take it. Someone else will love it. A custom design can take between 2 to 4 weeks. It's an artistic process and can include many fusings, each of which can take up to 24 hours.



Can I order one of your items in another size or color?

Nothing is ever the same, So I can might be able to offer you something similar.



How long will it take to receive my order?

If you choose something that I still have in stock, it will send it within a week.



Where else can I find your products?

Me, myself and I. Only on my website or by getting in touch with me in the Chicago area. My email address is debbie@debbiesteinerglassart.com



What is Fused Glass

Basically fused glass, also called kiln formed glass, are layers of similar COE* glass melted together at a very high temperature in a kiln. *A Coefficient of Expansion (COE) is a measurement of the rate glass will expand and contract when it is heated and cooled. There are two different COE glass for fusing, 90 COE and 96 COE glass. To fuse multiple pieces of glass together, it's important to use glass that is compatible. Since each COE expands and contacts differently 90 and 96 COE is not compatable and can't be mixed as it will cause the glass to crack. There are many steps to fusing glass. First you make your design. You can use sheet glass, thin glass, thick glass, powdered glass, dichroic glass that has a shiny look to it, "string" glass, glass dots, glass paints and many other ways. Once you are happy with the look you put it in the kiln to fire it. Depending on the look you want, you fire the glass at many different temperatures, holding the glass at certain temperatures to achive your end result. The three most importants steps to firing glass in a kiln are first a bubble squeeze to reduce the bubbles that can form. Second is the glass turning into a liquid to make multiple layers of glass melt together. Finally there is annealing to reduce the stress when glass becomes a solid again. Once the glass has fused together there can be other fusings to add other glass elements. Forming the glass into the final shape is another fusng called slumping.



What are Dichroic, Iridescent and Luminescent Glass?

There are a few types of coatings that add other design elements to glass. The most popular are Iridescent, which has an oxidized coating, Luminescent which is similar to Iridescent, but needs to be used in a totally different manner. Dichroic (pronounced dye-crow-ik) also called dichro, glass has a metal coating. It has a reflected color and refracted color which is why it looks different depending on how you hold it. It's the sparkly glass and sometimes has fun texture.



What if my art comes broken?

It hasn't happened yet, but if it does you will get a full refund. Please email me at debbie@debbiesteinerglassart.com



How much is shipping?

If you live within 60 miles of Buffalo Grove, Illinois you can pick it up at an arranged time. Shipping will be the lowest price, allowing for safety from the United States Postal Service. I charge you exactly how much it costs me and I would be happy to let you know before I ship it. email me at debbie@debbiesteinerglassart.com