Creating Stained Glass Panels

| Posted: 26-04-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 28 | Rating: (51)

(?)

Used in cathedrals to show glorious scenes of saints, and for animals and plants in other venues stained glass panels are beautiful works of art. Though complex looking, these stained glass windows are actually fairly simple, and with a little effort anyone can recreate the art.

The biggest concern when creating stained glass panels is of course safety. The art you are creating includes exposed glass edges, a hot soldering iron, chemicals, and power tools. If you keep safety in mind and maintain a well-organized workspace your hobby will be perfectly safe. As with most crafts you will need to acquire some tools and materials before you begin. You will need glass cutters to score the glass for breaking. As with most tools the higher quality cutter will cost more to purchase, but can make the difference between success and accidental breakage. Another glass specific tool you will need is a pair of combination breaker-grozer pliers. A glass grinder will be needed for making adjustments to glass edges after breaking. Mastering this tool can help your pieces fit together more precise, increasing your appearance quality. More material and tools will be introduced to you as we begin to construct a stained glass panel.

To get started grab the sheet of glass you will be working on with one hand holding the top edge and the other holding the bottom with the sheet in a vertical position. Never carry a sheet of glass in the horizontal position to avoid cracks and breakage! To place the glass on your workbench while vertical place the center of the sheet against the bench edge. Then roll the glass onto the table and slide completely onto the bench surface.

For your first project choose a novice pattern with a simple design and relatively short lines to score. You will need two copies of your pattern so trace the original pattern onto a sheet of standard paper and heavy pattern paper with a sheet of carbon. Assign numbers to each piece as a way of keeping track of your pieces as you create and build the project. Then use special glass pattern shears to cut your pattern out of the heavy paper.

Select one piece of your pattern and trace the shape onto your glass using a glass-marking pen. Do not forget to mark on the glass the number assigned to that piece of the pattern. Then you need to score the lines you traced onto the glass. Apply firm constant pressure with your glass-cutting tool and make one smooth cut along your line. After you score the line you will need to break the score. Some crafters opt to do this step by hand, while others use breaker-grozer pliers for the job. Either way apply a quick even pressure while doing the break to keep it as clean as possible. Continue to mark, score, and break until all the pieces of your project are created.

Starting in one corner of your project, next compare the glass piece you cut out with that piece in the uncut pattern. Mark any glass that crosses over the pattern lines and then use a grinder to remove the excess glass. Continue to do this to each piece until all pieces are the same as the pattern then place them within the assembly jig for the project.

For the foil wrapping step you need to ensure your hands and the glass are clean to ensure the tapes sticks correctly. Apply the foil wrap tape onto the glass edge with exactly the length of overhang on each side and work your way around the glass edge completely. Overlap the tape on the end about ¼” then crimp the foil over the glass edges. Complete this step by burnishing the foil smooth and then place the glass piece back into the jig.

The final step of your stained glass panel project will be to solder all joints together. Slowly move the hot soldering iron over all the seams coating the foil in solder. Once the initial side is complete roll the project over and solder the seams from the other side. Once you have all the seams covered in solder you should clean your project with a soft rag and glass cleaner. After cleaning the stained glass panel is ready to be proudly displayed for all to enjoy. When others comment on the beauty of the panel you can smile and say you did it all yourself!

Creating stained glass panels is a very fun and rewarding hobby, which can also become a little extra income if you are so inclined. There is so much to learn with stained glass, please take the time to seek out more learning resources than just a small article. To learn techniques and skills to improve your skill look into local classes and workshops. Also speak with artisans in your area, most are more than willing to pass on pointers to a fellow glass worker.

Rate this Article:

Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: Stained Glass Panels, Tiffany Floor Lamps, Tiffany Table Lamps, Tiffany Lighting, Wall Sconce

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/creating-stained-glass-panels-138092.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:

All-Things-Tiffany carries a complete line of stained glass panels as well as a variety of Tiffany lighting including Tiffany floor lamps.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

Tips For Collecting Antique Tiffany Lamps
By: Earl Garber | 02/09/2007 | Home and Family
Home and Family related article - get free Home and Family artilces on ArticlesBase.com

History & Uses of Tiffany Lamps
By: Tracy Pridemore | 10/11/2006 | Accessories

Caring For Stained Glass Panels
By: Earl Garber | 20/07/2007 | Home and Family
Home and Family related article - get free Home and Family artilces on ArticlesBase.com

Choosing Between Incandescent and Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
By: Earl Garber | 13/06/2007 | Environment

Italian Glass Chandeliers
By: maruti | 25/07/2008 | Interior Design

Creating Custom Stained Glass Panels
By: Earl Garber | 18/03/2008 | Interior Design

What are the Advantages of Using Stained Glass Panels?
By: Muna wa Wanjiru | 26/05/2008 | Interior Design

Decorate Your Home With Stained Glass
By: Maureen | 12/08/2008 | Interior Design

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Q&A Powered by:

Latest Home Business Articles

Home Based Recruiting - Networking With Other Recruiters
By: Jim Strickland | 12/10/2008
If you are currently considering Home Based Recruiting as a career option then also consider networking with other recruitment firms to further enhance your ability to succeed.

Online Home Business - Working At Home Advice
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 11/10/2008
Do you dream of being boss free and having the freedom of being able to control when you work and where you work? It is not something you could do working in a job because you have a boss who tells you what to do and when to do it. Imagine having an online home business that would give you this control.

Learn to Make an Online Income - System Product Review
By: Shelley Smith | 11/10/2008
With today’s increasingly tough economy, alternative ways of making money as a backup source of income are always welcome. Increasingly, an online business is a great way to make extra money. The question is “how”?

Highest Pay Surveys Really Works
By: Michael Bowler | 11/10/2008
We recently tested 103 paid survey providers with hope of alerting the public about all the different scams and fakes found on the web today. Highest Pay Surveys was one of the 103 paid survey providers that we tested. We are here to tell you that Highest Pay Surveys really works and we actually have proof.

Network Your Way To Financial Freedom
By: Rosamunde Bott | 11/10/2008
This article explains how you can make money by extending something that you do naturally by becoming a network marketer

The Spiderweb Marketing System? Working Affiliate Program?
By: Mark Hall | 11/10/2008
A review of the famous SpiderWeb Marketing System. I have been trying this Online Business Opportunity out, and have met with some success. I believe it to be one of the most legit and promising online ventures I have ever came across.

How to Uncover the Best Home Business Ideas
By: Boris Tomson | 11/10/2008
Ideas are a dime a dozen. But some ideas are truly the best home business ideas. These ideas are ideas as big as Microsoft, and some others are a little more modest.

Data Entry Work at Home - the Tools of the Job
By: Boris Tomson | 11/10/2008
The home office has become just as important as the kitchen in many households. Having a neatly setup home office can greatly improve your chances of success in your data entry work at home job.

More from Elva O'sullivan

Choosing a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home
By: Elva O'sullivan | 02/04/2008 | Finance
If you are considering, or have decided to put your real estate up for sale then you are probably looking for a real estate agent. What do you need to look for in an agent so that your experience turns out not only positive, but hopefully resulting in the sale of your property.

Weimaraners as Pets
By: Elva O'sullivan | 14/03/2008 | Pets
If you are searching for a dog whom will be a true companion by your side at all times, look no further than the Weimaraner. This breed of dog thrives on being a member in a family, and is extremely loyal and loving.

Deciding to Sell Fsbo
By: Elva O'sullivan | 12/03/2008 | Real Estate
If you are currently considering selling your home in this very turbulent real estate market the biggest question you may have is whether to use a licensed real estate agent or not. Going the route of for sale by owner, or fsbo, can be very challenging but rewarding for some individuals while being very frustrating and a waste of time for others.

What is a Goldendoodle Puppy
By: Elva O'sullivan | 05/03/2008 | Pets
Over the last several years designer dogs have become very popular with breeders as well as pet lovers. These dogs are combinations of purebreds for unique crosses, with the intentions of getting the best of both breeds in one animal. One of the popular crossbreeds available it the Goldendoodle. This is the combination of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.

Bassett Hounds as Pets
By: Elva O'sullivan | 27/02/2008 | Pets
Everybody loves the Bassett Hound! These lovable, short-legged dog with floppy ears gets along well with those around them and are welcome in many homes.

All About Karaoke Systems
By: Elva O'sullivan | 11/02/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Karaoke is one of the best activities when one wnats to spend an great night out on the town with some friends. Eventually, for the those who truly enjoy karaoke, a home karaoke system may prove to become a key part of home entertaining.

Using Cash Out Refinancing to Consolidation your Debt
By: Elva O'sullivan | 06/02/2008 | Finance
Even the most careful consumer sometimes get in over there head with debt, with the instant gratification world we live in, many find themselves over-do on debt, especially on credit cards or other non- appreciable debt such as payday loans. One popular and beneficial way to wipe the slate clean, or at least get a foot up on high debt, is through a "Cash-out Refinance".

American Pit Bull Terriers as Pets
By: Elva O'sullivan | 29/01/2008 | Pets
One of the most misunderstood dog breeds is the American Pit Bull Terrier. People tend to love the animal or hate it; in some cases this is based on experience in others only rumor.

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.25, 17)

Creating Stained Glass Panels

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest Home Business Articles

More from Elva O'sullivan

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter