How to Make Stained Glass

It is not that hard to learn how to make stained glass creations. Amateurs and serious artists alike can enjoy making stained glass. The first step is to pick a pattern, glass, and tools. Just a few of the tools that you will need are, safety glasses, glass pliers, glass pattern shears, a soldering iron, and a glass grinder. Other stained glass supplies needed are, copper foil tape, solder, glass, and glass cleaner.

 

 

 

 

Once you have your pattern, you need to trace it, number it, and cut it apart. Take your original glass pattern and trace two copies. Using carbon paper, trace one on regular paper, and another on a heavier pattern card. After you are done tracing, number each piece so you don't get confused. Next you need to cut the pattern card into templates for glass cutting. To learn how to make stained glass templates work, you need to use special glass pattern shears, to allow for space in between each piece for foil and solder.

 

Next you have to trace your pattern onto the glass using a marker, remember to transfer the numbers onto the glass as well. Then you will have to score the glass. Score on the inside of your traced line, not down the middle. Hold the cutter in your tooling hand and place the cutter wheel on the glass. Place the thumb of your guiding hand behind the cutter head to prevent it from rolling back. Apply steady pressure straight down onto the cutter with your tooling hand, and push it away from you with your guiding hand. Your tooling hand is your right hand if you are right handed, and vice versa with the left.

 

The next step on how to make stained glass is to break out the pieces. You do this by placing the glass in between your thumb and index finger, your hand should be in a fist, and close to the score line that you just made. Position the flat jaw of the pliers on the top side of the glass, with the jaw 90 degrees to the score, and as close to the end of the score as possible. Holding the glass firmly, apply quick even pressure, pull the glass outward, then snap down with the pliers.

 

Compare your glass pieces with your pattern card, and if there are any spots that have extra glass on it, put on your safety glasses, and grind the pieces to the appropriate size. Now you are ready to foil your pieces. Put foil around the edge of the glass, with equal overhang on each side. Once foil is all around the piece, crimp it onto the glass using your thumb and index finger. The same amount of foil should be on the top and bottom of the glass pieces.

 

Put your pieces together and now it is time to solder. Slowly move your soldering iron over the foil while constantly adding solder. You need to solder all of the foil, both front and back of the template. When you are finished you can clean it with a glass cleaner and enjoy your project. Now you know how to make stained glass!