Start with a neutral flame to maintain consistency and vibrancy in your work, wind a base layer of 33 clear, then roll in boro frit until saturated, then encase in 33 clear. Encasing is optional but recommended. Keep your kiln at 1050 degrees until the last bead goes in and hold for one hour.

Depending on the brand of clear or color that you use, you’ll have a lot of control of your color outcome at the annealing range of 1035°F to 1065°F. If you take the glass to a white heat/very liquid state, the crystals will melt and the glass will unstrike. Glass Alchemy recommends flame striking for silver colors and kiln striking for ruby colors.

Kiln striking for ruby colors rather than flame striking is to ensure even heating at the proper temperatures. This prevents your reds from turning “livery” brown red instead of the vibrant red you want.. Reds should look clear or very slightly pink when they go in the kiln. If you’re using colors that need to kiln strike, ramp kiln to 1125º F for 20 minutes.

Then ramp down at 200 degrees/hour. Please note: This annealing schedule is a guide. Your own kiln, glass type or the size of glass being worked may require different calculations.