Hot-Melt Glass is the process in which glass panels are casted by directing melted glass into a mould where it solidifies. Modern melt glass is formed by a variety of processes such as kiln melt, or melt into sand, graphite or metal moulds.

Sand melt mould art glass

Sand melt involves the use of hot molten glass poured directly into a preformed mould. It is a process similar to casting metal into a mould. The sand mould is typically prepared by using a mixture of clean sand and a small proportion of the water-absorbing clay bentonite.bentonite  acts as a binding material. In the process, a small amount of water is added to the sand-bentonite mixture and this is well mixed and sifted before addition to an open topped container. A template is prepared (typically made of wood, or a found object or even a body part such as a hand or fist) which is tightly pressed into the sand to make a clean impression. This impression then forms the mould.

The surface of the mould can be covered in coloured glass powders or frits to give a surface colour to the sand cast glass object. When the mould preparation is complete hot glass is ladled from the furnace at temperatures of about 1200 C to allow it to freely pour. The hot glass is poured directly into the mould. During the pouring process, glass or compatible objects may be placed to later give the appearance of floating in the solid glass object.

Kiln melting  (Kiln-melting lead crystal 'Nuclear Family')

Kiln melting involves the preparation of a mould which is often made of plaster or plaster mixtures.A model can be made of any solid material such as wax,wood or metal and after taking a cast of the model, (a process called investment), the model is removed from the mould.

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