Dichroic Glass

What is Dichroic Glass

The question of what is dichroic glass is a very complex and scientific process and best explained by the dichroic experts and manufactures at CBS - Sandburg who make and have been innovating dichroic coating for years. The following is an extract from there website and a link so if you need more please visit their website is quite amazing what they have done.

“Dichroic Glass is a multi layer coating placed on glass by using a highly technical vacuum deposition process. Quartz Crystal and Metal Oxides are Vaporized with an electron beam gun in an airless vacuum chamber and the vapor then floats upward and attaches then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. Our colors have as many as 30 layers of these materials yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 35 millionths of an inch.  http://www.cbs-dichroic.com  “

If you would like to order any of the CBS products and can not find them on our site, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

How to use dichroic glass

We have a large library of online video tutorials that show you step by step how we fuse dichroic glass in a microwave kiln, to create some spectacular fused glass jewellery. The online video tutorials show fused glass bracelets, pendants, rings, earings and lots more. So be sure to subscribe now to our regular newsletter and video releases.

Dichroic glass projects

We have over 35 online glass fusing projects that show you how to use dichroic glass in glass jewellery design. View our projects here. If you are a beginner we have a set of online tutorials that shows you how to get started with your first basic fused glass pendant. view here

Dichroic on black

The thin film of dichroic is manufactured on a number of glass types one being black glass. The black glass backing shows of the reflective power of dichroic to great effect. The disadvantage with dichroic on black is that you can only use it one way and need to cap with a clear piece of glass if you want a gloss finish.

Dichroic on clear

Dichroic is manufactured on black and clear glass. The advantage of clear dichroic or dichroic on clear is that you can place it dichroic up for a mat finish or dichroic down for a glass finish. The clear also allows the other coloured glass used in the project to complement or enhance the dichroic effect on your fused glass jewellery design.

Dichroic powder

A recent innovation by CBS, you can now buy dichroic extract, which is dichroic scraped of the glass and sold in a fine powder. The advantage is that it can be used on any type of glass and can be used on recycled glass too. The dichroic extract is like a gold-flake or powder and can be used in flameworking, glass blowing, fusing, stippling, painting and various other artistic methods.

Dichroic scrap packs

The best value for money option for fused glass jewellery makers is the dichroic glass scrap packs that come with an assortment of dichroic glass as a very reasonable price. This affords you the opportunity to experiment with dichroic glass that you may not normally have chosen due to cost or perception. Its a great way to start you dichroic collection

Dichroic glass online store

We have a large selection of dichroic glass on sale through our glaze online store. We sell dichroic glass in 5x5 squares, 2.5x2.5 square or in large sheets to order we also sell the very popular dichroic scrap packs. Please browse our online store for best results.

Dichroic glass jewellery gallery

Here is a recent piece of dichroic glass jewellery. Here we have use a patchwork quilt them as our inspiration to try to demonstrate the amazing qualities and impact that dichroic glass can have on a fused glass pendant.