Kiln Firing Schedule for Glass Paint and Stain

by Irene McBride
(Comber, Northern Ireland)

I need help with a kiln firing schedule, to include annealing. I am staining some replacement diamond shapes in the old type German cathedral glass (minster glass) and I cannot find out the strain and annealing points so that I can fire the glass safely. I am using Reusche bistre brown and silver stain, so as there will be two firings I do not want to take any chances. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

Milly's answer: Thanks for your question Irene. There's lots of factors to take into account when firing glass, especially with regard to the glass kiln. Check them out on my Kiln Firing Schedule page.
Firing glass twice is no problem, so no worries there, and if your glass is machine - rather than handmade - it's quite robust.
Assuming it's simple glass paint mixed with water, I'd recommend the following (first figures in C, second in F):
Segment 1. 300/570 ph to 660(matt)-675(shiny) /1220-1250. Soak 5 mins.
Segment 2. Full to 560/1040. Soak 5 mins.
Segment 3. 10/50ph to 530/986. No soak. Off.
You can follow the same kiln firing schedule for stain, but top temperature in Segment 1 should be 560-600/1040/1112, depending on which type you're using. You must test stain first!
Good luck.

To find out more about how to make stained glass, click here and return to the Everything Stained Glass home page.