When you start fusing, you'll quickly hit a fork in the road: Bullseye or System 96? These are the two most popular glass systems, and picking one early saves you money and heartache, because you can't freely mix them.
Bullseye is a COE 90 system; System 96 is, as the name says, COE 96. Both are complete, tested systems where sheets, frit, stringers, and accessories are designed to fuse together reliably. Both make gorgeous work. The key is to commit to one and keep your studio consistent.
| Bullseye (COE 90) | System 96 | |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation | Highly consistent, artist favorite | Forgiving, wide working range |
| Working range | Tighter, very predictable | Longer, more margin for error |
| Devit tendency | Managed with clean glass/schedule | Generally low |
| Availability | Very wide | Very wide |
Honestly, both are excellent and most of what you learn on one transfers to the other. The single most important thing is to pick one and stay consistent, so you're never guessing whether two pieces of glass are compatible.
Don't mix systems in one piece. COE 90 and 96 contract at different rates and the stress will crack your work, sometimes long after it leaves the kiln. Store them separately and label your scrap.
Either system pairs with the right kiln and controller. Tell me your plans and I'll help you set up. Spencer — (801) 839-5882.
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