General Instructions
:
Begin by treating the molds with the glass separator spray in a
ventilated area. We recommend ZYP. Several light coats with
a short waiting period between coats is preferable to one heavy
coat. Shake the can well before use and hold the can upright while
using to assure proper distribution of product. It is important to
turn the mold to make sure you coat the mold cavity at all angles.
Click here for a tutorial on applying ZYP.
Before adding frit to the mold, place the mold on a scale and
weigh it. (Fig. 1) (Tip: you can use an underglaze pencil to write
the weight of the empty mold on the outside of the mold and the number will be there after firing for
future projects.) The green butterfly featured in this tutorial was made using a total of 3 oz of frit. This
frit was taken to a full fuse using the firing schedule provided. It is possible to make lighter butterflies
by using less frit and a lower working temp in the firing schedule. Weights and working temps in
segment 4 are given for the various weight options. Fine and powder frit should be used exclusively for
the 1.5 oz butterflies as medium grain frit will remain textured at low working temps. To create precise
frit placement, a Powder Vibe (or other similar tool) can be used with powdered frit. The precise frit
placement should be done first.
The Green Butterfly Colors and Process
Use a Powder Vibe to place powdered transparent Cobalt in the dots on the perimeter of the
wings, the edges of the wings and in the low area of the body. (Fig. 2)
Fill the body with fine Chestnut Opal frit and use a frit sifter to sift powdered Deep Aqua frit
along the wing edges (Fig. 3). Use a powder sifter to cover the entire butterfly with a light
coat of powdered yellow opal (Fig. 4). Add fine transparent Yellow to the area just outside of
the body on the wings and fine transparent Moss to the to the outside edge of the wings. Place
fine transparent Dark Amber frit over the moss frit in the lower section of the wings, top tip
of the wings and onto the body allowing some of the Dark Amber to spill into the transparent
Yellow next to the body. (Fig. 5)
Place the mold onto the scale and add 1.5 oz of medium grain Pastel Green all over the mold
cavity. (Fig. 6) Add medium Clear until the mold weighs 3 oz more than it did before it held
any frit. Sweep the clear frit back from the mold wall to help prevent burrs. (Fig. 7)
Cut two 5” pieces of 18 gauge bare copper wire and bend 1/4” of the end of each wire at a
right angle. Place the tip of the bent ends into the frit at the top of the butterflies head. (Fig. 8)
Fire the project using the firing schedule provided
choosing the 3 oz working temp in segment 4.
The fired butterflies can be used in a variety of
delightful ways. An alligator clip can be glued to the
back of the butterfly and the butterfly can be clipped
into arrangements and onto copper tubes/wires. Addi-
tionally the thinner butterflies can be lightly tack fired
(1300 degrees) to other glass projects.
Frit Cast Butterfly
Tutorial
Fig. 3
Table 2*- Fuse firing schedule for butterflies
Segment
rate
temp
hold
1
275
100
10
2
275
1225
30
3
275
1300
10
4
275
1470 - 3 oz
1440 - 2 oz
1400 -1.5 oz
5
5
9999
960
60
6
100
800
1
This guide demonstrates how to use various grains of
translucent and opaque frit in a mold to create the green
Butterflies pictured. The artist can also choose to use any
assortment of frit colors and combinations.
The following materials were used to create the butterflies as
photographed:
• CPI molds:
• MR-97/ZYP Glass Separator
• 18 gauge bare copper wire, powder sifter, powder vibe
• Digital kiln with chamber 8” dia. or bigger
• System 96 frits: F1 (powder) Deep Aqua, Yellow Opal, Cobalt,
F2 (fine) Yellow Trans, Med. Amber, Dark Amber, Moss Green,
Chestnut Opal F3 (Medium) Pastel Green, Clear.
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
