Creating stained-glass can be a fun hobby. In order to get started a person needs to make sure they have all the tools and supplies they will need. At Sugar Land Chiropractors we like to make sure we have all the tools necessary to do our work. After they have obtained all the necessary items it will be time to develop some skills in creating stained-glass. Stained glass is a hobby that requires specific equipment. Just like at Sugar Land Chiropractors where we use specific equipment when treating patients. Most of the equipment that is needed is versatile and can be used for both copper foil and lead came projects.
However, some supplies are specifically designed for a particular technique. General stained-glass tools and supplies that can be used for both copper-foil and lead came projects include basic drafting supplies, combination breaking-grozing pliers, flux and brush, glass, project patterns, safety glasses and self-oiling glass cutter. Basic drafting supplies include a metal ruler, white pattern paper, a pencil and permanent markers. Flux is z chemical you have to use to clean any surface on your project that you want to solder. You simply cannot solder without flux.
A basic disposable brush can be used to paint the flux onto the foil and lead surface. A glass grinder is a must have power tool. It has a diamond wheel that allows one to grind away any unwanted glass edges to your pieces fit together perfectly. Another power tool is a 100-watt soldering iron. Just as Sugar Land Chiropractors have a plan for each patient is is important to have a plan for each stained-glass project. Project patterns are necessary. Most stained-glass projects start as a design drawn on pattern paper. So, the first step in any project it to find a pattern.
These can be found in numerous places, on the internet or in stained-glass books. Another important item is safety glasses. Make sure that you select a pair that is comfortable to wear. Self-oiling glass cutters come in two different types. One is a pistol-grip cutter that is easy to hold in the palm of your hand and the other is a barrel cutter that you hold more like a pencil between your fingers. Both cutters have the same cutting head. Just like being at Sugar Land Chiropractors it is important to determine all the supplies you will need for your first project. If your first project is one that uses the copper-foil construction technique, then make sure you gather up the necessary tools.
You will need 7/32 copper foil, a foilmate roller and 60/40 solder. For lead-came projects you will need 50/50 solder, horseshoe nails, lead came, lead nippers or lead knife and a rheostat. A foilmate roller helps you to burnish, crimp and roll coper-foil tape tightly to each piece of glass. Horseshoe nails are used to secure glass and lead-came pieces during the construction process. Lead cam comes in strips of lead that are either and H or U profile shapes. The glass pieces of the project fit into the cames. The most common lead-came sizes are 3/8-inch H, 3/16-inch H, 7/32-inch H and ยบ inch U.
Sugar Land Chiropractors | Stained Glass
It is important to position all your pattern templates at least 1 to 2 inches away from the edges of the glass. This will give a person enough glass to hold when breaking and it also helps support the glass. We find it imperative to use all of our equipment and tools properly here at Sugar Land Chiropractors. Score from one edge of the glass to the other. Be sure not to apply so much pressure that the cutting wheel crushes the glass. Try not to have any gaps or skips in your score line. You may be over scoring if your score line is bright white, and chips of glass are flying from that line. Do not go back and forth over a score line with the cutter.
If the initial score line does not turn out right, move over 1/4 inch and try again. Here at Sugar Land Chiropractors we find it important to follow rules and guidelines. Whenever possible, use your hands to break the glass. If you need more leverage, use your glass-breaking pliers. If you are using a pair of breaking-grozing combo pliers, make sure that the flat side of the pliers is on top of the glass and the curved side is under the glass. Be sure to clean up any rough edges using the ridges inside your grozing pliers or glass grinder.
There is often more than one way to do something and we find that to be true both when making stained-glass projects and working at Sugar Land Chiropractors. Each cut piece has to be the exact size as your pattern template, so all the pieces fit together during the building process. Keep your cutting surface clean and free of glass chips and shards. Use a bench brush or a clean paint brush to sweep your cutting area in between cuts. If you try to cut your glass pieces on top of small chips of glass, your glass may break unexpectedly.
Choosing the correct technique for yourself is important. This is very important to Sugar Land Chiropractors just as it is in making stained-glass. When you are constructing a stained-glass project, you use either copper foil or lead to hold the glass pieces together. Designs with small pieces work best with copper foil. Copper foil is easier to wrap around small pieces and it keeps the project form looking bulky. Suncatchers are natural for copper foil.
Because lead stretches, it needs the support of a right from. Sun catchers do not work well in rigid frames, and if you construct a suncatcher our or lead, it will stretch over time and pull apart. Picking a pattern is an important part of stained-glass making. You want to find a pattern that you like and that your skill level will allow you to do. Consider things like how many glass pieces that pattern will need and how much cutting and solder if you are going to have to do. If you are just starting out, again, it is best to pick a simple pattern. There are a lot of free patterns on the internet and in books from the library. Beginners should choose a pattern that is broad and simple, such as a flower.