What Patreon tier structure works for glass fusing creators?

A two-tier structure suits most glass fusing creators: a Firing Notes tier ($15–25/month) delivering the technical documentation layer per firing — glass brands and COE used, firing schedule with ramp rates and soak temperatures, fuse level achieved (tack, contour, or full), slumping mold and schedule if applicable, annealing protocol, and any devitrification or cracking observations; and a Project File and Consultation tier ($35–55/month, capped at 6–8 patrons) adding printable firing schedule cards with annotated temperature profile diagrams, COE compatibility tables for the creator's glass inventory, and a monthly diagnosis session where patrons submit photographs of their pieces for a written assessment (devitrification cause, cracking mechanism, fuse level inconsistency diagnosis). The firing notes tier is high-value because glass fusing schedules are kiln-specific: the same schedule that produces a full fuse in a Skutt Firebox produces only a contour fuse in a Paragon SC2, and no manufacturer guide can document your specific kiln's behavior.

How should glass fusing creators document COE compatibility for Patreon?

COE (coefficient of thermal expansion) is the rate at which glass expands and contracts with temperature change, measured in parts per million per degree Celsius. Mixing glasses of different COE in the same fused piece causes thermal stress on cooling: the glass with higher COE tries to contract more than the glass with lower COE, and the bond between them creates a stress concentration that eventually cracks the piece — sometimes immediately on opening the kiln, sometimes hours or days later as residual stress finds a fracture path. The two standard COE families used in fusing: Bullseye glass (COE 90), Spectrum System 96 / Oceanside glass (COE 96). These must never be mixed in the same fused piece. Within each COE family, certified compatible glasses from the same manufacturer are tested to fire together without stress; compatible glass from different suppliers within the same nominal COE may have slight COE variation that causes stress in thick or large assemblies. Document for Patreon: every glass piece in each project by manufacturer, product name, and lot code where visible; whether all glasses in the project are certified compatible from a single manufacturer; any cross-manufacturer mixing and the compatibility testing result (strike test: fuse a 5cm test strip with the two glasses side by side and a third piece crossing the joint; cool, photograph, check for cracking along the joint at 24 and 72 hours); and any dichroic glass used (dichroic is typically available in COE 90 and COE 96 versions; document which COE and which base glass — clear, black, or specific base color — to allow patrons to source a compatible replacement).

How should glass fusing creators document firing schedules for Patreon?

A firing schedule is a series of ramp rates (degrees per hour), target temperatures (°C or °F), and soak times (minutes held at each temperature) that control how the glass heats, fuses, and cools. The schedule must be documented as numbers, not descriptions — 'ramp slowly to fusing temperature' is not useful; '165°C per hour to 816°C, hold 10 minutes' is. A standard Bullseye (COE 90) tack fuse schedule: ramp 1 at 333°C/hour to 677°C, soak 30 minutes (the initial ramp must not exceed the kiln's safe maximum ramp rate for the loaded mass — thicker or larger pieces require slower initial ramps to prevent thermal shock); ramp 2 at 999°C/hour (full power) to 732°C — the tack fuse peak temperature; soak 5–10 minutes (longer soak at peak = more rounding of edges and more flow, shorter soak = sharper edges and less flow); crash cool (drop to 516°C as fast as the kiln allows — this closes the devitrification risk window quickly); hold at 516°C for 30 minutes (annealing soak — equalizes temperature throughout the glass mass, relieving thermal stress); ramp 3 at 83°C/hour to 371°C; ramp 4 at 167°C/hour to room temperature. Document for each firing: kiln manufacturer and model (kiln behavior varies significantly between models), controller firmware version if updated, firing schedule segment by segment, glass stack configuration (number of layers, total stack thickness in mm, piece footprint), kiln shelf position (top element distance), kiln wash used, and the achieved fuse level observed after cooling. Devitrification documentation: if the glass surface shows a matte white haze after firing, document the crash cool timing (devitrification forms when glass is held in the 595–704°C range for too long) and whether a devitrification surface spray was used before firing.

How should glass fusing creators document slumping for Patreon?

Slumping is a secondary firing in which a previously fused flat glass blank is draped over or into a mold to create a three-dimensional form (bowl, platter, vase, pendant bail). Slumping requires a lower peak temperature than fusing — enough to make the glass plastic and allow gravity to shape it, but not enough to fuse any surface texture or cause the glass edges to flow and round. A standard Bullseye slumping schedule: ramp 1 at 278°C/hour to 677°C; ramp 2 at 999°C/hour to 621–677°C (slumping peak range — exact temperature depends on mold depth, glass thickness, and desired surface texture retention); soak 10–20 minutes (longer soak = the glass conforms more completely to the mold surface; shorter soak = slight bridging may remain in sharp mold recesses); crash cool to 516°C; annealing soak 45 minutes (slumped pieces are under more stress than flat fused pieces because of the three-dimensional shape; the annealing soak must be adequate); ramp down as for fusing. Document for each slump: mold manufacturer and form number; mold material (ceramic, stainless, kiln-washed steel — each transfers heat differently and requires different peak temperature adjustments); kiln wash used on mold (document brand and dilution ratio; inadequate kiln wash causes glass to stick to the mold); glass blank thickness (2, 3, or 6mm Bullseye — thicker glass requires longer soak times); achieved slump level (full contact with mold at deepest point, or partial slump requiring a second firing); and any mold-texture transfer to the glass surface (intentional texture or unintended artifact).

How does the Apple Tax affect glass fusing creator Patreons starting November 2026?

Glass fusing creator iOS rates: Instagram kiln glass and fused glass photography 70–80% iOS; YouTube glass fusing tutorial content 55–68% iOS (above-average desktop share because kiln timing tutorials are often viewed on a tablet or laptop next to the kiln controller); TikTok kiln-opening reveal content 70–80% iOS. The Apple Tax on November 1, 2026: Patreon applies Apple's 30% IAP fee to all iOS subscriptions. At $200/month with 65% iOS (YouTube-primary glass fusing tutorial creator): approximately $39/month ($468/year). At $300/month with 72% iOS (mixed Instagram and YouTube glass fusing creator): approximately $64.80/month ($777.60/year). At $250/month with 76% iOS (Instagram-primary kiln glass artist): approximately $57/month ($684/year). Enable Patreon's web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026. Update Instagram bio link and YouTube description Patreon link to the Patreon web URL. Test from Safari on iPhone before the deadline.

Explainers · SEO guide · 2026-07-02

Patreon for glass fusing creators: tiers, COE compatibility documentation, firing schedule mechanics, tack vs full fuse, slumping protocol, and the Apple Tax

Glass fusing Patreons retain when they document the technical layer that kiln-opening videos and finished piece photographs cannot carry: COE compatibility at the manufacturer and lot level; firing schedules as ramp rates, soak temperatures, and soak durations measured for their specific kiln; tack vs contour vs full fuse documentation at the peak temperature and soak time level; and slumping protocol at the mold material and achieved-contact level. Kiln glass audiences are moderately iOS-concentrated across Instagram and YouTube. Apple Tax exposure begins November 1, 2026.

Who glass fusing creators are on Patreon

Glass fusing Patreon creators span three overlapping categories: wall panel and decorative glass artists (fused panels, night-lights, suncatchers, and architectural glass elements that demonstrate design and color theory through kiln glass); fused glass jewelers (pendants, earrings, brooches, and cuff components produced by fusing dichroic, opalescent, and transparent glass in a kiln and finishing with wire wrapping or metal bezels); and functional fused glass makers (bowls, platters, vases, and dishes produced by slumping fused blanks over or into ceramic or stainless molds). Each category has distinct firing documentation needs, but all share the common Patreon value of delivering the schedule and compatibility data that video tutorials cannot practically convey.

COE compatibility documentation

COE (coefficient of thermal expansion) is the rate at which glass expands and contracts with temperature change, measured in parts per million per °C. The two standard fusing COE families: Bullseye (COE 90) and Spectrum System 96 / Oceanside (COE 96). Mixing these families in the same fused piece causes thermal stress on cooling that eventually cracks the piece. Document every glass piece in each project by manufacturer, product name, and lot code where visible. If mixing glasses from different manufacturers within the same nominal COE family, document any compatibility testing performed (a 5cm test strip with the two glasses side by side, fused and examined at 24 and 72 hours for cracking along the joint). Dichroic glass: document COE and base glass (clear vs black vs colored base). The COE compatibility table for your glass inventory — listing every glass in stock with manufacturer, code, COE, and tested compatible partners — is a high-value exclusive Patreon deliverable because it requires empirical testing rather than manufacturer claims.

Firing schedule documentation

A firing schedule is a series of ramp rates (°C/hour), target temperatures, and soak times (minutes held) that control how the glass heats, fuses, and cools. Document as numbers, not descriptions. A standard Bullseye tack fuse schedule in a top-element kiln: ramp 1 at 333°C/hour to 677°C (initial heat-through, prevents thermal shock); ramp 2 at 999°C/hour to 732°C (tack fuse peak); soak 5–10 minutes; crash cool to 516°C; soak 30 minutes (annealing); ramp 3 at 83°C/hour to 371°C; ramp 4 at 167°C/hour to room temperature. For each firing document: kiln model, schedule segment by segment, glass stack thickness in mm, kiln shelf position, and the achieved fuse level. Devitrification: if surface haze appears, document whether crash cool was delayed and whether a devitrification spray was applied.

Tack vs contour vs full fuse documentation

Three fuse levels with different peak temperatures and soak times in a Bullseye (COE 90) kiln: Tack fuse (peak approximately 724–740°C, short soak): glass pieces bond at contact points but retain their original profile and sharp edges; no flowing or rounding occurs. Contour fuse (peak approximately 760–788°C, medium soak): glass pieces fully bond and upper surfaces begin to round but the overall profile of the cut pieces is still visible. Full fuse (peak approximately 788–816°C, full soak): glass flows into a uniformly smooth, rounded-edge, fully integrated surface; individual cut pieces are no longer visible in profile. Document which fuse level was targeted, the schedule used, the actual peak temperature reached (kiln thermocouple reading), and the fuse level observed in the cooled piece. The same schedule in a different kiln will produce a different fuse level because kiln element age, controller calibration, and insulation efficiency all affect the actual glass temperature at any given controller reading.

Slumping protocol documentation

Slumping requires lower peak temperature than fusing (typically 621–677°C for Bullseye). Document for each slump: mold manufacturer and form number; mold material (ceramic, stainless, kiln-washed steel — each transfers heat differently); kiln wash brand, dilution ratio, and coat count; glass blank thickness; achieved slump level (full mold contact or partial); and any surface texture transfer from the mold to the glass. The kiln wash documentation is the most commonly omitted variable in glass slumping tutorials: inadequate kiln wash causes glass to stick to the mold regardless of technique, and different kiln wash brands and dilutions produce different surface finishes on the slumped glass that are only determinable by testing.

Apple Tax for glass fusing creator audiences

Instagram kiln glass and fused glass photography: 70–80% iOS. YouTube glass fusing tutorials: 55–68% iOS (above-average desktop share from viewers watching next to their kiln controller). TikTok kiln-opening reveals: 70–80% iOS. At $200/month 65% iOS: approximately $39/month ($468/year). At $300/month 72% iOS: approximately $64.80/month ($777.60/year). At $250/month 76% iOS: approximately $57/month ($684/year). Enable Patreon’s web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026.