How to Flame Polish Glass

Flame polishing or fire polishing glass uses heat to polish glass objects to a glossy finish, either in a kiln or with direct application of flame. This is useful to obtain a finished look after a fused glass object is ground or sandblasted for further shaping or to remove imperfections. The process requires a kiln temperature of between 1300 to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit (F) for about 5 to 10 minutes, then a long cool-down time. Holding the polishing temperature at 1300 F for too long can distort the edges of the glass object.

• 1

  Clean and dry the glass object.

• 2

  Cut a piece of kiln shelf paper to fit on the shelf under the glass object or cover the shelf with kiln wash, as directed in the manufacturer's instructions.

• 3

  Set the kiln to a basic fire polishing schedule according to the manufacturer's instructions and the type of glass that you are using. One manufacturer might instruct you to heat at 400 degrees F per hour to 1325 degrees F, hold at that temperature for 10 minutes, then cool it down as fast as possible to 950 degrees Fahrenheit and hold that temperature for 60 minutes, cool it further at 150 degrees Fahrenheit per hour until it reaches 100 degrees F, then turn the kiln off.

• 4

  Allow the kiln to cool completely before removing the glass object.