Skye-stained-glass.com - Bits about stained glass

When glass is man-made, other ingredients, such as potash, lead oxide and boric oxide are added. Some of these ingredients are used to make clear glass, to colour it, ie stained glass, or to obtain a frosted effect, which is also found on stained glass.

STAINED GLASS can be a misleading name, as many people assume, that it is ordinary/float/window glass, which has been 'stained', ie: coloured afterwards. As a medium, the term generally refers to glass, that has been coloured by adding metallic salts during its manufacturing. For instance: iron is mixed in to create green 'stained' glass, while gold or selenium produces red 'stained' glass.

By popular request ??!! Here are the basic
STEPS TO CREATE A STAINED GLASS PICTURE

1. Select & order/buy stained glass - you need a large 'stock' of
     stained glass as there are so many colours, textures etc
2. Choose a pattern: an existing pattern or
    Adapt a photograph/drawing or painting or
    Design your own
3. Duplicate the selected pattern x 3 and size it up or down,
    depending on the required final size
4. No.1 - with pattern shears, cut out all shapes to use as a
     template and for score lines on the stained glass
     No.2 - to be kept as a reference guide
     No.3 - may be helpful to plan the colour scheme, using colour
     pencils/crayons
5. Select the exact pieces of stained glass to be used; this may be as many as a
    dozen different types/colours. This is very exciting, but also very daunting -
    not only because stained glass is very expensive, but also due to the amazing
    variety of stained glass available. From plain translucent colours, through
    streakies, ripples, embossed with leaf patterns to opalescent
6. Mark stained glass using the pattern templates
7. Score along the marked line
8. Break/cut along the marked line - easier said than done - especially curves !!
9. Put all the cut pieces together on the reference template
10. Using grozier pliers 'nibble' away all excess glass, that is outwith
     the template markings
11.With an (electric) grinder, smooth all edges, so the pieces fit together
    like a jigsaw. Grinding the very sharp edges prevents the copper-foil
    and fingers being cut !! It also helps the copper-foil to adhere better
    to the stained glass
12. Wash and dry all cut and ground pieces to remove any 'grinding' residue,
     which would stop the copper-foil adhering properly
13. Copper-foil is a paper-backed adhesive copper tape, available in several
     widths & backing colours
14. Centre the foil on the edge of the glass; apply slowly & steadily and
     remove the backing paper as you go
15. Crimp the foil over the sides of the piece of stained glass - both sides
16. Using a burnisher, press all foiled areas firmly in place
17. Arrange all pieces of stained glass according to the pattern & keep
     together with push-pins
18. Apply flux to the copper-foiled seams, at the 'junction' points where
     the glass pieces meet
19. Solder these points, which will hold the stained glass pattern together
20. Flux all foiled seams & solder together
21. Repeat on other side
22. Remove all 'spare' beads & spatters of solder carefully from the glass
     without touching the proper soldered seams
23. Wash gently with soapy water & dry
24. Panels: mount panel in a U shaped lead channel
25. Solder all corners - both sides
26. Attach (solder) rings/links to accomodate a chain/wire/nylon
27. Suncatchers: attach (solder) ring/link for hanging
28. Finish with Patina (black or bronze) to stop oxidisation of solder - both sides
29. Wash again carefully with soapy water & dry
30. Polish with soft dry cloth
31. Photograph for the record & Portfolio
32. Update website if required
33. Packing & Posting for commissioned artwork