焼成
Full Fusing (Smoothly Integrating)
Japanese: フルフュージング（つるんと一体化させる）
A firing process that thoroughly melts the material, creating a smooth, seamless surface. The boundaries disappear, resulting in a smooth finish. The maximum temperature is approximately 780°C.
Full fusing is a firing process that thoroughly melts the glass, creating a smooth, seamless surface. The edges where the layers of glass meet disappear, resulting in a single, smooth piece of glass.
Temperature and Method
The maximum temperature is **about 780°C**. When heated to this point, the layered glass melts together smoothly, and the edges soften and round out.
After baking, the key is to let it cool slowly. You’ll be tempted to open the door halfway through, but resist the urge. Let the program do its thing and wait until it’s finished.
Here's the key point
If you want it smooth and flat, go for the full version.
And then—
Do not skip the gradual cooling process. If you cool it too quickly, it will definitely crack.
It's harder to cool something down than to melt it.
Common Pitfalls
Overfiring (too high a temperature or holding the temperature for too long) can cause loss of transparency (a white haze) or the edges to become too rounded. Don’t be tempted to think, “I want to melt it a little more”; instead, start by firing a single piece at the standard temperature of 780°C to get a feel for your kiln’s characteristics.
This entry is written in Japanese by Rei Chikaoka and translated for readers outside Japan. If something reads oddly, the original is the source of truth.