Stained Glass Art

 

Very few art mediums can inspire and mesmerize quite the same as Stained Glass Art. From Cathedrals and Churches to Mobiles and Murals, Stained Glass Art History has always been a lucrative art form. Most people believe that the Art of Stained glass windows is not only difficult, but dangerous. I disagree. With a proper knowledge and patience, anyone can make great works from Stained Glass.

 

Before any preparations begin, tools need to be purchased and correct amounts of glass purchased. As with any art form, the higher the quality of the tools, the easier the process will be. When the process is easier, the Stained Glass Art will look much more professional.

The most important stain glass supply is the glass cutter. The term glass cutter is mildly misleading. The tool does not actually cut glass, but rather gouges a thin scratch into the surface of the glass enabling you to break it into the shape you want. Without this glass tool, it would be impossible to come across the shapes needed for your Glass Art. To keep your glass cutting blade sharp, consider buying Glass Cutting Oil. This is not a requirement, but it will save you money in terms of tools later down the line.

In order for your Stained Glass Art to adhere, you need Copper Foil Tape. Wrapped around the edges of your glass, the tape allows the solder to stick, since glass is very smooth. In order to get the foil to stick thoroughly, consider buying a wooden popsicle stick. It is also possible to use any thin flat surfaced item.

A stained glass soldering Iron is a necessity. Without it, what will melt the solder to fuse the pieces of glass together? While shopping for the Soldering Iron, buy a spool of Solder. The iron may come with a little, but consider buying a larger spool. It will last for many small and large pieces of Glass Art. Many people are afraid of the tin-lead solder, but it can be a cheap material if there is no threat of a child getting their hands on it.

Now that you have all of the tools, select your pattern. Many patterns can be found online or in books. For the beginner, it is highly advised that a pattern be used. Once you have some experience, you can begin making your own patterns. Try a Google Image Search for Stained Glass Art Patterns. Over six million images will be available to you.

Once you have selected your Stain Glass Art pattern, lightly write in each color or a number corresponding to a color on your pattern. This will make things very easy in the future. Go out to your local Stained Glass Retailer or Craft Supply Store, with your pattern. Select the glass sheets that will best suit your needs. If you do not see a color you were hoping for, ask if they have it in storage. Make sure you buy enough of each color to allow for several mistakes. I usually get three large sheets extra. If I do not make enough mistakes to use it, I store it for further projects.

When you get home, plug in your soldering iron. It will need a decent amount of time to heat up. Set out your solder, foil tape, and Stained Glass Art pattern. Score your glass according to the shapes on the pattern. Carefully break each piece. Wrap each piece in the Copper Foil Tape and press it firmly. Place it on the pattern. When all of the pieces are placed, begin to carefully solder them together. Allow an hour for cooling.

 

A stained glass kiln can also be used to create slumped and fused pieces of glass. The same kiln can also be used for making lampwork beads. Another item is a sandblaster which can be used to decorate the glass with blasted sand.