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                 Our Process

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At Iron Glass Design we create our glass art in a kiln. This process is often called glass fusing.
It allows us to fuse specialty sheets of glass into one piece, control the thickness and create heavy duty durable parts. We also use the kiln to fire polish glass to a glossy shine and mold the glass into specific shapes. 

  

We're showing a console for Mark's 09 FLHTCU as an example of the process and will add some other parts as the photos progress. Mark ordered his parts in wispy black silver ice dichroic glass and preferred a small amount of the wispy black .

  

This is a hand rolled sheet of wispy black clear glass 1/8" thick and 10" x 10" square. The glass is made by Bullseye glass in Oregon and is specially designed for fusing. 

We laid out the glass in an area of the sheet where there was good flow and about 30 - 50 % black.
This will be the top layer of the finished part. 
6 Gallon touring console
Area traced

Next we hand cut the wispy black clear glass for the top layer and the silver dichroic glass for the bottom layer. There is excess material around the edge to allow for machining.

Here is a thin sheet of silver dichroic coated glass cut in half. The glass is hand rolled black glass that is cut into a 19" diameter circle. Then it is sent to CBS coatings in California for the dichroic coating. It's round because the glass is rotated in a heated vacuum chamber while lasers vaporize rare earth minerals. That vapor becomes bonded to the glass creating the coating. This piece of dichroic glass costs about $200.
Top and bottom sheets hand cut
Half sheet of silver dichroic
Half sheet of silver dichroic
Console glass layered for fusing

With the wispy black clear glass on top of the silver dichroic glass, it is starting to look like wispy black silver ice. The silver coating is still soft at this point and hasn't developed its sparkle. After a thorough cleaning, the glass is ready to fire.
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Building custom parts for Harley Davidson Motorcycles

Copyright © 2004 - 2013 Iron Glass Design LLC. Images and designs are protected.
Ted Clark Owner/Artist, AA Degree in Harley service 2004. Process Engineer, Boeing Aerospace. Six Sigma Black Belt, GE Aircraft Engines
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DISCLAIMER
Iron Glass Design is not affiliated with Harley Davidson(TM) , and our products are not endorsed by Harley Davidson(TM) . Our glass art is not sold  representing Harley Davidson products.   Emblems, buttons, conchos or images may be ordered and installed on our glass as a service to our customers.
DOT Notification: Items may not be DOT approved in your state.
Caution and liability note: These products are glass and are intended for decorative use. This glass is extremely durable and strong but may break under impact in an accident. Iron Glass Design is not responsible for injury occurring from an accident.