| Used in cathedrals to show glorious scenes of saints, | | | | the lines you traced onto the glass. Apply firm |
| and for animals and plants in other venues stained | | | | constant pressure with your glass-cutting tool and |
| glass panels are beautiful works of art. Though | | | | make one smooth cut along your line. After you |
| complex looking, these stained glass windows are | | | | score the line you will need to break the score. Some |
| actually fairly simple, and with a little effort anyone | | | | crafters opt to do this step by hand, while others |
| can recreate the art. | | | | use breaker-grozer pliers for the job. Either way |
| The biggest concern when creating stained glass | | | | apply a quick even pressure while doing the break to |
| panels is of course safety. The art you are creating | | | | keep it as clean as possible. Continue to mark, score, |
| includes exposed glass edges, a hot soldering iron, | | | | and break until all the pieces of your project are |
| chemicals, and power tools. If you keep safety in | | | | created. |
| mind and maintain a well-organized workspace your | | | | Starting in one corner of your project, next compare |
| hobby will be perfectly safe. As with most crafts you | | | | the glass piece you cut out with that piece in the |
| will need to acquire some tools and materials before | | | | uncut pattern. Mark any glass that crosses over the |
| you begin. You will need glass cutters to score the | | | | pattern lines and then use a grinder to remove the |
| glass for breaking. As with most tools the higher | | | | excess glass. Continue to do this to each piece until |
| quality cutter will cost more to purchase, but can | | | | all pieces are the same as the pattern then place |
| make the difference between success and accidental | | | | them within the assembly jig for the project. |
| breakage. Another glass specific tool you will need is | | | | For the foil wrapping step you need to ensure your |
| a pair of combination breaker-grozer pliers. A glass | | | | hands and the glass are clean to ensure the tapes |
| grinder will be needed for making adjustments to | | | | sticks correctly. Apply the foil wrap tape onto the |
| glass edges after breaking. Mastering this tool can | | | | glass edge with exactly the length of overhang on |
| help your pieces fit together more precise, increasing | | | | each side and work your way around the glass edge |
| your appearance quality. More material and tools will | | | | completely. Overlap the tape on the end about |
| be introduced to you as we begin to construct a | | | | ¼" then crimp the foil over the glass edges. |
| stained glass panel. | | | | Complete this step by burnishing the foil smooth and |
| To get started grab the sheet of glass you will be | | | | then place the glass piece back into the jig. |
| working on with one hand holding the top edge and | | | | The final step of your stained glass panel project will |
| the other holding the bottom with the sheet in a | | | | be to solder all joints together. Slowly move the hot |
| vertical position. Never carry a sheet of glass in the | | | | soldering iron over all the seams coating the foil in |
| horizontal position to avoid cracks and breakage! To | | | | solder. Once the initial side is complete roll the project |
| place the glass on your workbench while vertical | | | | over and solder the seams from the other side. Once |
| place the center of the sheet against the bench | | | | you have all the seams covered in solder you should |
| edge. Then roll the glass onto the table and slide | | | | clean your project with a soft rag and glass cleaner. |
| completely onto the bench surface. | | | | After cleaning the stained glass panel is ready to be |
| For your first project choose a novice pattern with a | | | | proudly displayed for all to enjoy. When others |
| simple design and relatively short lines to score. You | | | | comment on the beauty of the panel you can smile |
| will need two copies of your pattern so trace the | | | | and say you did it all yourself! |
| original pattern onto a sheet of standard paper and | | | | Creating stained glass panels is a very fun and |
| heavy pattern paper with a sheet of carbon. Assign | | | | rewarding hobby, which can also become a little extra |
| numbers to each piece as a way of keeping track of | | | | income if you are so inclined. There is so much to |
| your pieces as you create and build the project. Then | | | | learn with stained glass, please take the time to seek |
| use special glass pattern shears to cut your pattern | | | | out more learning resources than just a small article. |
| out of the heavy paper. | | | | To learn techniques and skills to improve your skill |
| Select one piece of your pattern and trace the shape | | | | look into local classes and workshops. Also speak |
| onto your glass using a glass-marking pen. Do not | | | | with artisans in your area, most are more than willing |
| forget to mark on the glass the number assigned to | | | | to pass on pointers to a fellow glass worker. |
| that piece of the pattern. Then you need to score | | | | |