This page shows you the process of making one of our Nautica Lunaris pieces. The Nautica Lunaris piece is one of our simpler forms with only one dichroic lamination between 2 pieces of kiln formed glass.
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Optic lead crystal stock and laminated Nautica Lunaris blanks.
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Making Nautica blanks at the diamond cut-off saw. |
Optic lead crystal rod and cut Nautica blanks.
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Blanks loaded in kiln & ready to fire. |
Cutting Dichroic glass pieces to be laminated to the Nautica blanks.
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Nautica blanks and Dichroic pieces laid out for cleaning and lamination prep. |
Blanks loaded in temperature controlled chamber for curing for 48 hours per laminationglue joint. There are two lamination glue joints in the Nauticas.
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Lamination cure is complete & ready for rough shaping. |
Grinding down the excess dichronic glass. |
Much better! |
Measuring to make sure piece is round. |
Rough Grinding on the diamond lap wheel works best when you are down low so you can see what you are doing. |
Grinding...
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...Grinding... |
Marking the surface with ink helps to let you know where you are going and where you have been!
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...really difficult to stay steady on such a small face!
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Rough shaped Nautica (80grit). You can see the heavy grind marks. |
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Fine rough (360 grit). Shape is set, now it's all about refining the faces. Starting to see how the light plays with the piece. |
We start with 40 or 80 grit. Then 180, 360, 600, 600 resin...then on to Pumice.
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Pumice Lap wheel is used for pre-polish. You really have to hold on during this step other wise it will snatch it right out of your hand and throw it against the wall! |
Now piece is really starting to glow with color. |
Cerium is used for the final polish. |
Cerium really makes the glossiness and luster come out in the crystal. |
You should really buy more than one. They look even better in groups! |
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