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 ring for
future projects.) The green buttery featured in this tutorial was made using a total of 3 oz of frit. This
frit was taken to a full fuse using the ring schedule provided. It is possible to make lighter butteries
by using less frit and a lower working temp in the ring 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 butteries 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 rst.
The Green Buttery 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 ne 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 buttery with a light
coat of powdered yellow opal (Fig. 4). Add ne transparent Yellow to the area just outside of
the body on the wings and ne transparent Moss to the to the outside edge of the wings. Place
ne 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 butteries head. (Fig. 8)
Fire the project using the ring schedule provided
choosing the 3 oz working temp in segment 4.
The red butteries can be used in a variety of
delightful ways. An alligator clip can be glued to the
back of the buttery and the buttery can be clipped
into arrangements and onto copper tubes/wires. Addi-
tionally the thinner butteries can be lightly tack red
(1300 degrees) to other glass projects.
Frit Cast Buttery
Tutorial
Fig. 3
Table 2*- Fuse ring schedule for butteries
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
Butteries pictured. The artist can also choose to use any
assortment of frit colors and combinations.
The following materials were used to create the butteries as
photographed:
• CPI molds: LF107 Frit Cast Buttery
• 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 (ne) 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
*Before you re in your
kiln please click here
to read our important
ring notes.
