Stained glass #2

Hi, it's time for foiling. Now that you have a simple figure in glass we want to make it so you can hang it in a window, or from your car's rearview mirror. First though, We are at the point where you will need to have a roll of solder and a soldering iron. If you can afford it, a grinder would be nice. Foil comes in many widths. I use 7/32 copper foil for almost everything You can buy machines that hold the copper foil to make it easier you to do the foiling or you can use your hands. In order to make sure the foil will stick to the glass the glass has to be clean. Plain window glass cleaner will work just fine for window pane glass that you will be working with on these first few projects. Make sure your pieces fit pretty close together. If you followed the pattern closely the pieces should match up pretty well. Sometimes you have to grind the edges down so that they are smooth and won't tear the foil or your fingers. Once you're satisfied that the pieces fit together, you begin the foiling process. Copper foil comes in rolls with a protective paper on the glue side. You have to strip that paper off as you begin foiling. At first it seems difficult but with practice it comes pretty easy. Strip some paper off the foil, maybe three inches or so. Hold the foil in one hand and center the piece of glass in the middle of the foil. As you wrap the foil around the piece of glass keep the glass centered in the foil as much as possible

When you get to the place you started cut the foil off. Now you have to press the foil down on the glass like burnishing it. The edge has to be pressed down and this can be done with a spoon or whatever. They sell things to do this with. After the edges are pressed down then you have to press the foil down on both sides of the piece. One side at a time, although I have seen a tool that is supposed to do both sides at the same time..

I use nails or pens to hold the pieces together on a flat surface. Each piece is wrapped in foil now and they are ready to be soldered. Solder comes in different kinds like 60/40, 50/50 etc. I use 60/40 most of the time. As the pieces are laying there all snuggled together you must apply some flux to the copper. There are fluid and gel flux. I have used both and I think that the gel is easier to work with.s Anyhow, you can take a cue-tip wipe it on the gel and then wipe it on the copper. Do all the copper on the side facing you. Your soldering iron is heating up nicely and you have your roll of solder close by. When the iron is hot enough to melt the solder, touch the solder to see if it melts easily, if it does then you are ready. There are two ways to apply the solder. One way is to cover the foil on both pieces fo they are ";;welded";; together. Do that for the whole side. Take out your pins, turn the piece over and do the same on that side.

To do a more professional job, you should run a bead of solder over the pieses you have soldered together. Raise the iron a little and move the iron and the solder along the pieces so that instead of having a flat solder seam you have a slightly rounded seam. Attach a small ring to a balance point on the piece, tie a string to the ring and tie the other end of the string to the window lock. You have created a conversation piece.

Next time we will talk a little about using lead came. Until then, take care.