| We use many chemicals in the stained glass studio. | | | | choose to use this as a final cleaner. We sure don't |
| It's sometimes helpful to review how they are best | | | | want white buildup inside encased units.Clarity Finishing |
| used and when they should be used. This helps us | | | | Compound: This is a light clear wax that seals your |
| achieve better (and safer) results.Flux: Comes in | | | | metal and protects it from oxidizing. It's applied by |
| different brands and strengths. The purpose of flux is | | | | wiping a thin coat all over the window and then |
| to clean the outer layer of copper foil or lead so that | | | | allowing the wax to dry. When it dries to a hazy |
| solder will stick to it. Acid eats away a small bit of | | | | finish, buff the wax briskly with a rag.Every tiny |
| the outer layer so that it's super clean which allows | | | | crack and crevice in the window will need to be |
| the solder to bond with the metal surface. This | | | | buffed and polished. Sometimes we'll take a rag and |
| cleaning process is acidic so this stuff can eat through | | | | a stick to polish along edges that are hard to get |
| your clothes and your skin. Try to avoid getting it on | | | | to.We also recommend that once the window looks |
| you and don't let it sit on glass any longer than you | | | | good on each side while lying down, you should tip |
| must.When using some particularly strong flux, I once | | | | the panel on it's edge and look though each pane for |
| left a window with flux on it overnight. When I came | | | | any streaks and haze. The window will then be very |
| back the next morning, the copper foil on the side of | | | | slick and shiny. This takes a lot of time, but the |
| the window that hadn't been soldered was dissolved | | | | payoff is well worth the time, especially on panels |
| away. I had to work hard to save that window. So | | | | that are going to be sealed between tempered |
| now we always clean away the flux when we're | | | | panels.We use Minwax on more windows than the |
| done.Some fluxes give off hazardous fumes when | | | | finishing compound. It goes on easily, just the same |
| soldering so insure you have adequate ventilation | | | | as the clear wax, except that instead of being |
| when soldering.Good old blue window cleaner. We | | | | poured on, it's wiped on with a rag. It also has a |
| dilute it with water and clean flux off the window | | | | great smell. And a can of it lasts a long time.The first |
| right after soldering. This removes the bulk of the | | | | time I tried it, I was rather scared because I had |
| gunk left behind from soldering.We once had a large | | | | never tried it and it could have easily made the |
| order of windows and neglected to clean them off | | | | window worse or made it cloudy or too waxy, then |
| as we built them. Instead, we stacked them up till | | | | I wiped some on and there was a moment when the |
| they were all done. Days passed and when we finally | | | | glass was hazy. I was terrified until I let it dry for |
| got ready to clean them, there was a haze on the | | | | awhile and then buffed it. It turned the glass into a |
| windows. We had to scrub with cleanser to get most | | | | brilliant, work of art.Never-Dull Rubbing Compound: A |
| of the haze off of the glass and even when we | | | | cottony can of silver polish which is good for cleaning |
| were done, we needed to replace one or two of the | | | | and polishing a window. When you first apply it, the |
| panels because we really couldn't get them clean | | | | window will become a little hazy but it buffs up well. |
| enough.CJ's Flux Remover. After the Windex | | | | It's especially good on sun catchers because it brings |
| treatment, use CJ's on the panel to completely | | | | the lead line up to a bright silver shine.We buy |
| remove the flux residue still left on the window.For | | | | EnviroTex Lite 2 part polymer from a local craft |
| years I was cheap and didn't want to spend anything | | | | store. It's the best stuff for really bad damage. |
| extra on chemicals. When we found CJ's, we tried a | | | | Sometimes a window gets so damaged that the only |
| small bottle and the results were great, the copper | | | | practical fix is to pour this clear polymer over the |
| patina we applied was more vibrant than it had ever | | | | entire panel. It glues the whole piece together and |
| been before.Patinas come in black and copper color. | | | | stabilizes it into a solid piece.If the cracks were |
| A patina colors the outer layer of the metal. They | | | | noticeable, they'll still be able to be seen, but you |
| work best when applied to very clean lead lines.We | | | | won't have to put little pieces of scotch tape on it to |
| used to leave patina on windows for an hour or two | | | | keep little pieces from falling out.It's a good idea to |
| so that the chemical reaction would sink in deep and | | | | put the window you're sealing on paper so that if |
| give us a better color reaction. Then we left some | | | | any of the finish runs through, the project won't be |
| on overnight and nearly ruined the window. A bluish | | | | struck to the table.One chemical I didn't write about |
| residue was left on the panel. We went to the store | | | | are the essential oils. When cutting glass, you need to |
| and bought all their cleaners, orange, ammonia, and | | | | oil the cut with a light lubricant.A few months ago, |
| lemon cleaners. None of them worked. Finally we | | | | we stumbled on using orange oil instead of kerosene |
| tried cleanser and it's abrasive nature cleaned off the | | | | when cutting glass. What a difference, when you get |
| residue.Then we had to re-apply the patina because | | | | orange oil on your hands, it smells good. When you |
| we had scrubbed it off.When we started using CJ's | | | | get kerosene on your hands, it makes you cringe. |
| to clean our glass, we started getting very brilliant | | | | There is something happy about using orange oil, |
| results. We pre-clean the lead lines with CJ's or | | | | there must be something to aroma therapy, we feel |
| Kwik-Clean before the patina is applied. Afterwards | | | | like we get a shot of it every time we cut glass.We |
| we also clean the lead lines with the same cleaner to | | | | also keep Lavender essential oil on hand in case of a |
| stop any adverse chemicals reactions and limit | | | | soldering burn. putting it on a minor burn or cut |
| oxidation and mold occurrences.After applying patina, | | | | seems to relieve the pain almost immediately.Photos |
| we use Kwik-Clean flux and patina remover to do a | | | | to go with this article are at Gomm started building |
| final clean to a panel. They claim it eliminates white | | | | stained glass windows professionally back in 1983 and |
| mold from a window. We don't believe that the | | | | has become an expert at many aspects of stained |
| white buildup that sometimes forms on lead is mold, | | | | glass building, design and repair. He writes a monthly |
| we think it's oxidation. But just to be sure, we | | | | newsletter at his better stained glass website. |