How to Make Fused-Glass Tabletops

Measure how large you want the tabletop to be using a tape measure. The tabletop should not be so large that it doesn’t fit in the spot that you wish to put it. Also, plan the shape of the glass table. Tables often have a circle, square or oval shape. Square tabletops are the easiest to make symmetrical. However, unusual shapes can make a statement.

Vacuum the floor of the kiln before using it. Add 5 parts water to 1 part kiln wash powder and mix it together in a jar. The jar should have a mouth wide enough to fit the brush. Apply a thin coat of kiln wash to the kiln floor using a wide, soft-bristled brush or sprayer. Kiln wash prevents pieces of glass from falling and damaging the kiln floor. Apply three more thin coats. When using a sprayer, spray from side to side, applying a thin coat.

Use a brush to apply a thin coating of kiln wash to the shelves after removing the shelves from the kiln.

Press together the pieces of glass that you would like to fuse together, and place them on a shelf. Close the kiln and set it to the temperature needed to perform the type of fusing you want to do. For full fusing, heat at 1,450 to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit. For tack fusing -- where the glass only sticks together, but doesn’t become one piece -- heat at 1,350 to 1,450 degrees Fahrenheit. To fuse 1/4-inch thick glass, place it in the kiln for 4 1/2 minutes at around 900 degrees, 30 seconds at 1,100 degrees, 2 minutes at 1,250 degrees, 30 seconds at 1,540 degrees, 2 minutes at 960 degrees, 3 minutes at 800 degrees, one minute at 700 degrees and 4 minutes and 50 seconds at 100 degrees. Thicker glass might require more time.

Wait until the glass has cooled before removing it from the kiln. Even after the kiln has reached room temperature, the fused glass can still be very hot. Touch a thermometer with an exposed metal end to the glass to gauge how hot it is. Then, simply pull the shelf out of the kiln.

Place the tabletop on the base. The fused glass tabletop simply sits on the base, since there is no way to fuse the glass on to a metal or wooden base. Make sure that the base is sturdy enough to hold the fused glass and wide enough so that the glass does not tilt and fall off the base. Press on the edge of the fused glass to see if starts to tilt. If so, get a wider base.