Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting

Finally, a review by someone who HAS read the book! And, I too own a copy of Brad Walker's book, which is excellent, as well. But his "fan club" seems to want to ward you off from buying a fantastic book, just because their titles are close!?! Give me a break! This book, not only covers all the methods of working in warm glass, but it does so in a straightforward, step-by-step manner, supplemented by helpful photograpic illustrations. When it says it is a complete guide, it IS complete. It is chock full of info on materials and tools, all technical procedures, as well as, a complete history of glass, starting with early myths and legends, leading up to contemporary design and sculpture. I particularly appreciated the section on the nature of glass, which covers its physical and chemical properties. Finally, it is a hardcover book with hundreds of beautiful color illustrations, and the design layout is very appealing. Of course its content overlaps other books on the topic. Within any art/craft book this happens. No need to burn the authors at the stake! But if I had to choose one book above the rest, "Warm Glass" would be it! It has everything that is covered in all the other intro books I've read so far, including "Contemporary Warm Glass", and much MORE!!! Addendum 1/13/11: I originally wrote my review when numbers of reviewers were bashing this book, and it seemed unfair to me. I hope no one has taken offense as the result of my review, especially Brad Walker, who I now consider a friend. I wrote this review when I was starting kilnforming. I still love this book, and think it is a great deal for the price. But now I understand why the price is so good...it's published by a large publishing company. Books like Brad's Contemporary Warm Glass, and his latest revision, Contemporary Fused Glass, are more costly because they are self published... many glass artists do that. I also want it to be clear that I think both books should be on every kilnformer's shelves... there is valuable information to be found in both books! Lear from both!

Great overview of glass and its artistic uses.

This book has a lot of the history of glass and the scientific properties, etc. These things interest me, but may not appeal to the casual viewer. Some interesting project ideas are presented, though they are not really my cup of tea. Some of the commentary presented seems a bit silly: they show a flat piece of float glass (window glass) before and after slumping and comment that "Note the transparency and shine that the thermoformed glass takes on through this process when it is finished" (after slumping). Well, it looks just like any piece of window glass! Just clear, smooth and shiny. No better or worse than it did in the original photo. Then there is a gallery of glass work...some with nice utilitarian names like "Bowl" or "Untitled" and some with trying-too-hard New Agey names like "Resounding Beyond II" (for a paperweight) and "Hoaxing" (for a series of 4 slumped square bowls). But that is certainly not the fault of the authors. My kiln is arriving next week and I'm looking forward to experimenting with this stuff! Edited to say that some of the information is confusing. Having studied the types of firing schedules that Spectrum and Bullseye produce, I can't understand the charts in this book, which are written quite differently (and in Celsius, too). I wanted to make a drop-ring votive candleholder. There's a drop-ring vase project in this book. But they don't tell you any kind of guideline about how thick the glass must be to achieve the vase look (in case you don't want to exactly duplicate their project). I have had to look that info up elsewhere. I'd change this to 3 stars but I can't.

This book is a must for every concerning glass worker. Several Techniques are explained in details, the photos are excellent and the step-by-step instructions are easy to understand and to follow. I had borrowed this book from our library, but liked it so much, that I bought it in order to be able to read it to my heart' s content.

I don't want to know just how to do something, I need to know the whys as well. This book (without getting overly technical) explains what glass is and how it interacts. Lots of great pictures for the textually challenged. All up it's a very good starter book for slumping and fusing glass.

An interesting guide to kiln molding with a set of basic projects and clear temperature setting information. Good information about types of mold technologies and how to use them; not very extremely detailed about types of glass to use with them.

Die ersten Seiten kann man weglassen, wer nicht weiß wie man eine Form gießt oder Glas schneidet dem bringt der Rest auch nix. Aber die Tabellen und die genaueren Arbeitsanleitungen sind echt nützlich, auch wenn das ganze ein bisserl aussieht wie Kindergarten.

この本を読めば、キルンワークに必要な道具から、型の作り方、型に入れるまえのガラスの処理の仕方、焼成時のプログラム、焼成後のガラスの加工の仕方等を知ることができます。また、各工程ごとにわかりやすい作業写真がたくさん掲載されています。 ただし、すべて英語で書かれていますので、辞書が手放せません。 作品ギャラリーのページもありますが、作品数は少ないと思います。 キルンワークの基本を知りたい方におすすめです。

Nice overview but somewhat short on details. Good illustrations/photos.

This book gives reliable practical information, in an outstandingly clear and accessible format. It also gives a clear explanation of the technical issues involved in working warm glass so that the practical information can be applied with understanding. Particularly useful are the figures illustrating the behaviour of glass at different temperatures, and the excellent graphs representing various firing processes. This is always the book I pick up when I want to work out a new firing program. Covering basic equipment, including kiln choice, and specifics of fusing, slumping, casting and pate de verre, I would recommend this book for anyone working with a glass kiln, or thinking about working with one.

boek is al wat ouder maar dat doet niets af aan de kwaliteit van de informatie.Informatief, duidelijk en goed geïllustreerd.