Ever see fused glass with details so fine they look like they were drawn with a pen? That’s the work of glass stringers. These versatile, spaghetti-like strands of glass are perfect for adding precision and personality to your art. You can use them for sharp, clean lines or heat them with a flame for soft, organic curves. The key to a successful fuse, however, is compatibility. That’s why we’re focusing on glass stringers COE 90—one of the most common types—to help you confidently add those beautiful, intricate details to your next project.

Key Takeaways

• Stick to a Single COE for Success: Mixing different COEs is the fastest way to a cracked project. To guarantee your piece survives the kiln, make sure your stringers, sheet glass, and frit are all rated COE 90.
• Add Precision with Fine Lines: Use stringers like a fine-tipped pen to draw intricate details, write words, or create sharp geometric patterns that are impossible to cut from sheet glass.
• Experiment Beyond Simple Lines: Don’t just lay stringers flat. Create texture by layering them with frit, form gentle curves by heating them with a flame, or place them vertically in a mold for a unique, pointillist effect.

What Exactly Are COE 90 Glass Stringers?

If you’ve ever admired a piece of fused glass with incredibly fine lines or delicate, web-like details, you were likely looking at the work of glass stringers. Think of them as thin, spaghetti-like strands of glass that artists use to draw and design on a glass surface. They are a fantastic tool for adding precision and intricate patterns to your work, whether you’re creating jewelry, plates, or decorative art panels. For glass artists, stringers are like a fine-tipped pen, allowing for a level of detail that’s hard to achieve with other forms of glass. They can be used to create everything from sharp, geometric lines to soft, organic curves.

Stringers are a simple yet powerful way to add a new layer of detail to your glass art. They come in a huge variety of colors and can be bent and shaped with a little heat, giving you amazing control over your final design. But before you start incorporating them into your projects, it’s important to understand what makes them work, starting with their COE rating. In this guide, we’ll focus specifically on COE 90 stringers, a popular choice for many artists working with fusible glass. We’ll cover what COE means, how stringers are made, and the creative ways you can use them to bring your artistic vision to life.

What Does Coefficient of Expansion (COE) Mean for Your Glass?

Before you start placing stringers on your project, you need to understand a crucial term: Coefficient of Expansion, or COE. In simple terms, COE measures how much glass expands when heated and shrinks when cooled. For a fused glass piece to be successful, all the glass components must have the same COE. If you mix different COEs, the pieces will cool at different rates, causing stress, cracks, and heartbreak. Most fusible glass for art falls into a few common ratings, with COE 90 glass being one of the most popular standards. When you use COE 90 stringers, you must pair them with a COE 90 sheet glass base and any other COE 90 elements to ensure your project comes out of the kiln in one beautiful piece.

How Are Glass Stringers Actually Made?

The process of making glass stringers is pretty fascinating. They are created from larger pieces of fusible sheet glass, like Bullseye glass, which are remelted in a kiln. Once the glass reaches a molten state, it is pulled into long, thin threads. This stretching process is what creates their signature spaghetti-like form. The thickness of the stringer—ranging from pencil-thin to hair-thin—is determined by how quickly and how far the glass is pulled. This simple but precise technique allows for the creation of consistent, colorful glass threads that are ready to be used in your next masterpiece.

Stringers, Rods, and Ribbons: What’s the Difference?

While you’ll often hear the term “stringer” used as a catch-all, it’s helpful to know the specific types of glass threads available for your projects. Stringers are the most common; they are thin, round strands of glass, almost like spaghetti, typically measuring between 0.5mm and 2mm in diameter. They are perfect for creating fine lines and intricate details, much like using a fine-tipped pen. Rods are essentially just thicker stringers, offering a bolder, more substantial line for when your design needs a stronger presence. Then you have ribbons, which are flat and wide instead of round. Think of them as a paintbrush, perfect for making broad, sweeping strokes of color or filling in small areas. Choosing the right one simply depends on the effect you want to achieve—a delicate drawing with stringers or a bold, graphic design with ribbons.

Creative Ways to Use Stringers in Your Glass Art

Stringers are a great way to add design to your fusing projects. Their primary function is to create fine lines, giving you an artist’s tool that feels like drawing with a pen. You can use them to outline shapes, write words, or create detailed patterns like flower stems, whiskers on an animal, or geometric grids. You can also snap them into smaller pieces to create confetti-like effects or lay them side-by-side to fill in colored areas. For more texture, try layering stringers with frit. Many artists also bend stringers into curves by gently heating them with a flame before placing them on their base glass. This versatility makes them an essential supply for any glass fusing artist’s studio.

Why Use COE 90 Glass Stringers in Your Projects?

If you’re looking to add incredible detail and dimension to your glass art, COE 90 stringers are an absolute game-changer. These thin strands of glass open up a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to draw, outline, and embellish your work with precision. Beyond their artistic flair, they are designed to be perfectly compatible with other COE 90 glass, ensuring your finished pieces are strong and stable. Whether you’re fusing, making beads, or lampworking, stringers offer a level of versatility that can help you achieve your unique artistic vision.

Why COE 90 Compatibility is Non-Negotiable

In glass fusing, compatibility is everything. Every piece of glass you use in a project must have the same Coefficient of Expansion (COE) to ensure it expands and contracts at the same rate when heated and cooled. Mixing different COEs is a recipe for disaster, often resulting in stress fractures or your piece cracking apart in the kiln or even weeks later. A clean, planned approach is essential. By using COE 90 stringers with your COE 90 glass sheets and frit, you guarantee a stable, successful fuse. This simple rule removes the guesswork and protects the time and creativity you’ve invested in your art.

Create Crisp, Fine Lines with Ease

Think of glass stringers as your pen or pencil for drawing on glass. For crisp lines and delicate details, nothing beats these thin, spaghetti-like strands. They allow you to create fine lines that would be impossible to cut from a sheet of glass. You can use them to add intricate patterns, write words, outline shapes, or add realistic details like the veins on a leaf or the whiskers on a cat. You can lay them down straight for geometric designs or gently bend them over a flame to create graceful curves before firing. This level of control makes stringers an indispensable tool for any glass artist wanting to add a personal, detailed touch to their work.

How Stringers Shine in Fusing and Lampworking

One of the best things about COE 90 stringers is how adaptable they are to different glass art techniques. Their creative range is truly expansive. For kiln-fusing artists, stringers can be laid directly onto a base piece of glass to create stunning surface designs. But their use doesn’t stop there. You can also shape them with a flame, making them perfect for lampworking and bead making. You can use them to add stripes, dots, or swirls to your beads or to create tiny sculptural elements. Because they are essentially threads of remelted fusible glass, they are perfect for any kind of detail work, whether you’re working in a kiln or with a torch.

Which Brands Offer the Best COE 90 Glass Stringers?

When you’re ready to add fine lines and intricate details to your glass art, choosing the right stringer is key. The good news is that the world of COE 90 glass is filled with fantastic options from trusted manufacturers. While you’ll find a few dominant names in the industry, exploring different brands can open up new creative possibilities for your kiln-formed pieces. Let’s walk through some of the top players and what makes their stringers stand out, so you can find the perfect match for your next project.

My Go-To Brands for COE 90 Stringers

We pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of 90 COE stringers and ribbons. These thin, delicate glass rods are essential for any artist working with kiln-forming techniques. Whether you’re outlining a design, adding subtle accents, or creating complex patterns, our selection is curated to give you the tools you need. We carry an extensive range of colors, sizes, and styles from leading manufacturers, making it simple to find the exact materials for your vision. Think of stringers as your pen and ink for glass art—they allow for a level of precision that can truly transform your work.

Bullseye Glass Stringers

Bullseye Glass is a name that every glass artist knows and trusts, and for good reason. Their stringers are renowned for their quality and consistency. Often described as thin, spaghetti-like strands, Bullseye stringers are perfect for creating crisp lines and delicate details. One of their biggest advantages is their versatility. You can use them straight out of the tube for rigid lines or gently shape them in a flame to create organic curves and flowing designs. This flexibility gives you incredible control over your final piece, allowing your creative range to expand with every project.

Coatings By Sandberg: For Unique Colors and Effects

Another major name in the COE 90 world is Coatings By Sandberg. They are especially famous for their stunning dichroic stringers, which add an incredible shimmer and color-shifting effect to fused glass art. If you want to introduce a touch of iridescence or a dynamic, eye-catching element, their products are an excellent choice. Using Coatings By Sandberg stringers alongside other COE 90 glass materials can create beautiful depth and visual interest. They offer a fantastic way to add that “wow” factor and make your pieces pop with vibrant, shifting colors that change with the light.

More High-Quality Brands Worth Exploring

While Bullseye and Coatings by Sandberg are industry leaders, they are by no means your only options. The market for COE 90 accessory glass is rich with variety, and many other excellent manufacturers produce high-quality stringers. Exploring different brands can introduce you to unique color palettes and specialty products you might not find otherwise. We encourage you to browse our full collection of stained glass supplies and experiment. You might just discover a new favorite brand that perfectly complements your artistic style and helps you bring even the most ambitious ideas to life.

What Colors and Sizes Can You Choose From?

One of the best parts about working with glass stringers is the incredible variety available. When you’re ready to add those fine details to your next piece, you’ll find a whole world of options waiting for you. The sheer number of choices can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but it really comes down to three key things: color, thickness, and length. Thinking about these elements separately makes it much easier to find the perfect stringers for your vision.

Whether you need a vibrant rainbow to create a complex mosaic or a single, bold color for a minimalist design, there’s a stringer for that. The thickness you choose will determine the weight of your lines, from delicate, wispy details to strong, graphic outlines. And understanding how they’re packaged—whether by weight or by the stick—helps you buy just what you need. Let’s break down these options so you can confidently select the right materials for your next masterpiece.

The Incredible Variety of Colors Available

When it comes to color, COE 90 stringers don’t disappoint. The palette is practically endless, offering everything from bold primary colors to subtle, nuanced shades. You can find dozens of options within each color family—think vibrant reds, deep blues, earthy greens, and warm ambers. Beyond solid colors, you can also find clear, black, white, and even mixed-color stringers that create beautiful, unpredictable effects in the kiln. This incredible variety means you can find the perfect hue for any project, whether you’re recreating a realistic landscape or designing an abstract pattern. Having access to such a broad spectrum of colors allows you to add precise, meaningful details that bring your artistic vision to life, perfectly complementing the entire range of COE 90 glass.

Choosing from a Rainbow of Colors

The color selection for glass stringers is truly impressive. You can find just about every shade imaginable, from fiery reds and oranges to cool blues and purples. Standard colors like black, white, clear, and gray are always available for creating contrast and subtle details. Many artists love to have a full spectrum on hand, as it opens up endless creative possibilities.

If you’re just starting out or want to experiment, look for mixed color packs. These are a fantastic way to get a wide range of hues without committing to a large quantity of any single color. Having a diverse palette allows you to play with shading, create gradients, and add that perfect pop of color exactly where you need it. When you browse our selection of COE90 glass, you’ll see just how many vibrant options are available to bring your ideas to life.

Beyond Transparent: Exploring Opal, Reactive, and Sparkly Styles

But the fun doesn’t stop at color. Glass stringers also come in different styles that can completely change the look of your piece. Opal stringers, for example, are opaque and give you solid, bold lines that you can’t see through—perfect for graphic designs or creating strong outlines. Then there’s reactive glass, which creates a little bit of kiln magic. Certain reactive stringers will develop a new, often dark, outline where they meet another specific type of glass during firing. For a touch of sparkle, you can’t beat dichroic stringers, which have a stunning shimmer and color-shifting effect that adds a dynamic, eye-catching element. Experimenting with these different styles is a great way to add depth and personality to your work.

How to Choose the Right Stringer Thickness

Glass stringers come in several different thicknesses, or diameters, and the one you choose has a direct impact on your final design. The most common sizes you’ll find are 1mm and 2mm, though some are as fine as 0.5mm. Think of them like drawing pencils—a thinner stringer creates a delicate, precise line, while a thicker one produces a bolder, more pronounced mark.

For intricate details like flower stamens, delicate script, or wispy strands of hair, a 0.5mm or 1mm stringer is your best bet. If you’re looking to create strong outlines, graphic patterns, or lines that need to stand out, a 2mm stringer will give you that substantial look. It’s a good idea to keep a few different thicknesses in your studio so you’re always ready to create the exact effect you want.

A Quick Guide to Stringer Length and Packaging

When you purchase stringers, they typically come in long, straight rods. Standard lengths are often around 17 to 18 inches, which gives you plenty of material to work with. You can easily nip them into smaller pieces for detailed work or use them whole for long, flowing lines in your design.

Stringers are usually sold in tubes, which is great for keeping them safe and organized. You’ll find them packaged by weight—like 5-ounce or 6.5-ounce tubes—or sometimes by the number of sticks per tube. This packaging not only protects the delicate glass rods during shipping but also makes them easy to store in your studio. Just be sure to handle them with care, as they are fragile and can break if dropped or bent too far.

Common Packaging: Tubes and Sample Packs

When you purchase stringers, they typically arrive in long, sturdy tubes. This packaging is incredibly practical because it protects the delicate, 17- to 18-inch glass rods during shipping and makes them much easier to store in your studio without worrying about breakage. You’ll usually find them sold by weight, in packages like 5-ounce tubes, or sometimes by the number of sticks included. For artists who want to experiment with a wide range of colors without committing to a full tube of each, sample packs are a fantastic option. These variety packs offer a curated selection of different colors, giving you a broad palette to play with. Exploring our collection of COE90 glass will show you all the different ways you can stock your studio with these essential design elements.

Where Can You Buy COE 90 Glass Stringers?

When you’re ready to stock up on COE 90 glass stringers, you’ll find that online retailers are your best bet for selection and convenience. Having a few trusted suppliers makes it easy to find exactly what you need for your next project, whether it’s a specific shade of blue or a variety pack to spark some new ideas. The key is to find a shop that not only has what you’re looking for but also provides great service and reliable shipping.

As you explore different options, you’ll notice that each retailer has its own strengths. Some specialize in sample sizes, while others offer a massive inventory from top brands. Here at ArtGlassSupplies.com, we focus on providing a fantastic, curated selection of high-quality COE90 glass supplies, including the stringers you need to bring your vision to life. Taking a little time to compare your options will help you find the perfect source for your studio.

A Comparison of the Best Online Retailers

When you start your search, you’ll come across several excellent suppliers. For example, shops like Glacial Art Glass are known for offering small “stringer samples,” which are perfect if you want to try out a few colors without committing to a full tube. Other retailers, such as DL Art Glass and SW Art Glass, are recognized for their extensive inventories, sometimes carrying hundreds of different stringers and rods from brands like Bullseye.

Finding the right supplier often comes down to your specific needs. While a huge catalog can be great, it’s also helpful to have a curated selection that you can trust for quality. We know how important stringers are for creating crisp lines and delicate details, which is why we carefully select the stringers we carry to ensure they meet the high standards your art deserves.

Understanding the Cost of Glass Stringers

Budgeting for supplies is a practical part of any artistic practice, and it’s helpful to know what to expect when you’re shopping for glass stringers. The price can vary quite a bit depending on several factors, including the brand, the complexity of the color, the quantity you’re buying, and whether it’s a specialty product like a dichroic or reactive stringer. While some rare colors or effects might cost more, think of stringers as an investment in the fine details that make your work stand out. Understanding the price range helps you plan your projects and stock your studio with the materials you need to bring your creative ideas to life without any surprises at checkout.

What to Expect to Pay for Stringers

The cost of stringers can fit any budget, from hobbyists trying a new technique to professional artists stocking their studios. If you’re looking to experiment with a few colors, individual samples are a great starting point and typically cost around $7.95 each. Once you know which colors you’ll use often, buying in larger quantities is more cost-effective. Most standard tubes of stringers, which usually contain 5 to 6.5 ounces of glass, will run you between $28 and $39. For artists seeking truly unique effects, specialty COE90 stringers with dichroic coatings or intricate patterns can be a bigger investment, sometimes ranging from $190 to over $260 per tube, but the stunning results are often worth it.

How to Find the Best Deals on Glass Stringers

Every artist loves a good deal, and with a little savvy shopping, you can definitely save some money on your supplies. One of the easiest ways to find savings is to look for discount codes before you check out. Some retailers offer a percentage off for new customers or have sitewide sales. It’s always worth taking a moment to search for a promo code or check the site’s homepage for any current offers.

Another great tip is to sign up for the email newsletters of your favorite suppliers. This is often the first place you’ll hear about upcoming sales, new product arrivals, and exclusive discounts. Following suppliers on social media can also keep you in the loop. By staying connected, you can plan your purchases around sales events and get the best possible price on the materials you use most.

Look for Tiered Discounts and Shipping Offers

Beyond single-use coupons, keep an eye out for tiered discounts. This is when a supplier offers increasing savings based on your total order amount—for example, 10% off orders over $100, and 15% off orders over $200. These promotions are perfect for when you need to stock up on essentials. If you know you have several projects coming up, you can plan a larger purchase of stringers and other COE 90 glass to hit a higher discount tier. It’s a smart way to get more for your money, especially during seasonal sales events when these types of offers are more common.

Shipping costs can add up, especially with fragile materials like glass. That’s why shipping offers are so valuable. Many online retailers provide flat-rate shipping or even free shipping once your order reaches a certain threshold. To take advantage of this, try bundling your purchases. Instead of just buying one tube of stringers, think about what else you might need. Could you use more sheet glass, some frit, or maybe a new slumping mold? Combining items into one order is an easy way to meet the minimum spend and save a significant amount on delivery fees.

Should You Buy Your Stringers in Bulk?

If you have a large project planned or find yourself constantly running out of your favorite colors, buying in bulk can be a smart move. Many online suppliers offer incentives for larger orders, which can lead to significant savings. For instance, some shops provide flat-rate or free shipping once your order reaches a certain total. This is a huge perk, as it can dramatically lower your overall cost per item.

Beyond the direct savings, stocking up ensures you have the materials you need on hand right when inspiration strikes. There’s nothing worse than having to pause a project to wait for a supply shipment. By consolidating your purchases into a larger order, you not only save on shipping fees but also build a well-stocked studio that’s always ready for your next creative session.

What to Do When a Product is Out of Stock

It’s a familiar story: you have the perfect vision for your next project, you find the exact color of stringer you need, and then you see those dreaded words: “out of stock.” It can be frustrating, especially when you’re working on a deadline. Since some popular colors sell out quickly, it’s a good idea to have a plan. Most online stores, including ours, have a feature that lets you sign up for back-in-stock notifications. This is the easiest way to get an alert the moment your desired color is available again. If you’re in a hurry, don’t hesitate to contact the customer service team. We can often give you an estimated restock date or suggest a similar alternative that might work just as well for your piece.

Tips for Ordering Your Stringers Online

Shopping for glass supplies online is incredibly convenient, but a large catalog can sometimes make it hard to find exactly what you need. To make your search easier, take advantage of the site’s filtering tools. You can often use filters on the side of the page to sort products by color, brand, thickness, and, most importantly, COE. This is the fastest way to narrow down the options and see only the COE 90 glass that’s compatible with your project. Before adding anything to your cart, read the product description carefully to confirm the size and quantity. It’s also a good habit to double-check your entire cart before you check out to make sure everything is the correct COE. This simple step can save you from a lot of potential frustration later.

Understanding Shipping Rules

Shipping delicate glass stringers requires special care, and it’s helpful to know what to expect. Reputable suppliers are experts at packing glass to ensure it arrives safely, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Some glass products may have special shipping rules or fees because they are considered “Other Regulated Materials” (ORMD). This usually won’t apply to standard stringers, but it’s good to be aware of when ordering other chemicals or supplies. Always review a store’s shipping policy before placing a large order so you understand the costs and delivery timelines. A little bit of planning can ensure a smooth and predictable delivery experience.

Common Payment Options

When you’re ready to check out, you’ll find that most online glass suppliers offer a variety of payment methods for your convenience. You can typically pay using all major credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Many stores also accept digital wallets, which can make the checkout process even faster. Options like PayPal, Amazon Pay, or Apple Pay are becoming increasingly common and offer a secure way to complete your purchase without having to enter your card details every time. Just be sure you’re on a secure checkout page—look for the little padlock icon in your browser’s address bar—before entering any payment information.

How to Choose the Right COE 90 Stringers for Your Art

With so many colors and sizes available, picking the perfect stringer can feel like a big decision. But it really comes down to matching the material to your creative vision. Thinking through your project’s goals before you buy will help you select stringers that behave exactly how you want them to in the kiln and bring your design to life. By considering your project’s specific needs, color palette, and the quality of the materials, you can confidently choose the right stringers for any piece.

First, What Does Your Project Need?

First, think about the role you want the stringers to play in your artwork. Are you creating delicate, wispy lines for a floral design, or do you need bold, graphic outlines for a geometric piece? Stringers are thin, spaghetti-like pieces of glass perfect for adding fine details. Understanding the specific requirements of your project will help you select the right ones. For tiny details in jewelry or bead making, a very thin stringer (like 0.5mm) is ideal. For more prominent lines in a larger fused panel, you might opt for a thicker 1mm or 2mm stringer. The scale of your work is your best guide for choosing the right diameter.

How to Perfectly Match Colors to Your Design

Color is where so much of the magic happens. Your choice of stringer color can create sharp contrast, subtle texture, or soft, blended lines. Do you want your lines to pop or to gently complement the base glass? For a dramatic stained-glass effect, you might place black stringers on a light-colored background. For a more organic, watercolor look, you could use transparent stringers over a mix of colorful COE90 Glass. Don’t forget that you can also bend and shape stringers with a flame before firing, which gives you even more control over your final design. Think of your stringer collection as your pen and ink set—each color opens up a new creative possibility.

What to Look for in High-Quality Stringers

To get predictable and beautiful results, you need to start with high-quality materials. When you’re shopping for stringers, look for consistency. This means the stringers should have a uniform diameter from end to end, with no weak spots, bubbles, or impurities. High-quality stringers are pulled from reliable, fusible sheet glass, ensuring they melt smoothly and are fully compatible with your base glass. Inconsistent stringers can break easily during handling or melt unevenly in the kiln, which can frustrate your process. Investing in stringers from trusted brands ensures that the material will work with you, not against you, helping you achieve the clean, precise details your artwork deserves.

What Are the Best Techniques for Using Glass Stringers?

Once you have your stringers, the real fun begins. These versatile glass rods open up a world of creative possibilities, from adding the most delicate details to building complex, textured designs. Think of them as your pen or pencil for drawing with glass. Whether you’re just starting or looking for new ways to express your style, mastering a few key techniques will make a huge difference in your work. Let’s walk through some of the most effective ways to use COE 90 stringers in your glass art, from simple line work to more advanced methods that add incredible depth and dimension.

How to Draw with Glass: Creating Fine Lines

At their core, stringers are thin, spaghetti-like pieces of glass perfect for creating crisp lines and delicate details. They give you a level of precision that’s hard to achieve with other forms of glass, making them essential for artists who want to add fine, controlled elements to their work. You can use them to outline shapes, draw patterns, or even write words on your base glass. For perfectly straight lines, simply lay them down. If you need curves, you can gently bend a stringer over a candle flame before placing it. For the best results, use tweezers for accurate placement and arrange them on a piece of compatible COE 90 sheet glass before firing.

How to Layer Stringers and Frit for More Depth

Combining stringers with frit is a fantastic way to add texture and depth to your glass projects. Frit, which is crushed glass, can create a beautiful, granular background that makes the clean lines of your stringers pop. You can layer frit beneath or around your stringers to build a more dynamic visual effect. Imagine creating a landscape where frit forms a sandy beach and blue stringers create the waves. Or, you could design an abstract piece by sprinkling a layer of coarse frit and then arranging stringers on top. This interplay between the fine detail of the stringers and the texture of the frit gives your art a professional, multi-dimensional feel.

How to Nail Vertical Placement Techniques

Ready to try something a little different? Instead of laying stringers flat, try placing them vertically. This technique involves standing short pieces of stringers on their ends in a bed of frit or within a dam or mold. When fired in a kiln, the stringers fuse into the base, creating a field of tiny dots when viewed from above. This method adds a unique, pointillist-style texture to your work. Artist Miguel Unson demonstrates a beautiful version of this in his “Zen Organico” approach, where he places stringers vertically in frit to create an incredible interplay of color and light. Using casting molds can help keep your stringer pieces contained and upright during the process.

Ready to Start Using COE 90 Glass Stringers?

Ready to add some beautiful, crisp lines to your glass art? Working with stringers is one of the most satisfying ways to introduce detail into your pieces. Let’s walk through the essentials to get you started on the right foot.

The Tools and Equipment You’ll Actually Need

You don’t need a ton of specialized gear to start working with stringers. Think of them as thin, spaghetti-like pieces of glass used to create fine lines and delicate details. Your basic toolkit should include your COE 90 glass stringers, a compatible base sheet of glass, and tweezers for precise placement. To cut or break the stringers into smaller pieces, a simple pair of running pliers or glass nippers will do the trick. The most important piece of equipment, of course, is your kiln, which you’ll use to fuse your final design. With these few items, you have everything you need to begin drawing with glass.

How to Properly Store and Handle Your Stringers

Because stringers are essentially thin threads of glass pulled from remelted fusible sheets, they are quite delicate. The best way to prevent breakage is to store them carefully. Many artists keep them in their original tubes or dedicate a tall, sturdy container to hold them upright, like a cup or vase. This keeps them organized and safe from being accidentally snapped. When you’re working, handle them with a light touch. Use tweezers to place them on your base glass, as this gives you more control and prevents oils from your fingers from getting on the glass. Just be mindful that they are round and can easily roll off your workspace!

A Few Quick Tips for Your First Project

When you’re just starting out, it’s fun to experiment. Try laying stringers down to create simple stripes, grids, or radiating lines to see how they melt and settle into the glass. You can also snap them into tiny pieces to create a confetti effect. For more complex designs, remember to use stringers for fine lines, frit for texture, and maybe even some dichroic glass for a pop of shimmer. This layering of different materials adds incredible depth to your work. Always make sure your stringers are fully fused to your base glass to create a smooth, professional finish. Playing with different colors and thicknesses of COE 90 fusible glass is the best way to find your style.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I mix COE 90 stringers with COE 96 glass? Think of it as a recipe for heartbreak. Because the two types of glass expand and contract at different rates when heated and cooled, they will literally pull each other apart. This creates immense stress in the finished piece, which will almost certainly cause it to crack, either in the kiln or even weeks later. Sticking to one COE for all components in a project is the golden rule of glass fusing for a reason—it ensures your artwork stays strong and beautiful.

Do I need a torch to bend stringers into curves? Not at all! While a torch gives you quick, precise heat, you can easily create gentle curves using a simple candle flame. Hold the stringer with tweezers and gently pass it through the upper part of the flame until it becomes pliable. Then, you can shape it as needed before placing it on your base glass. This is a great, low-tech way to create flowing, organic lines without needing any specialized equipment.

How do I keep my stringer design from shifting before I get it into the kiln? This is a common challenge, especially with intricate designs. A tiny drop of clear-drying glue, like Elmer’s School Glue, can be your best friend. Place a very small dot of glue on your base glass where you want to secure the stringer. The glue will hold everything in place while you move your project to the kiln, and it will burn off completely during the firing process without leaving any residue.

What’s the difference between a stringer and frit? The easiest way to think about it is that stringers are for drawing lines, and frit is for adding texture or fields of color. Stringers are thin, spaghetti-like rods that give you precision and control for details and outlines. Frit is crushed glass, available in different grain sizes, that you can sprinkle onto your work to create a granular, sandy texture or to blend colors in a more painterly way. They work beautifully together to create pieces with both sharp detail and soft texture.

Can I layer stringers on top of each other? Absolutely! Layering stringers is a fantastic technique for creating depth and more complex patterns. You can stack them to build thicker, more prominent lines or crosshatch them to create a woven or grid-like effect. When fired, they will melt together and fuse into your base glass. Just be mindful that stacking them can create a slightly raised texture, which can be a beautiful design element in itself.