Copper foil tape is applied to the edge of the glass pieces. The foil is what allows the solder to bond two or more pieces of glass together. Copper foil is a quick and easy way to start creating beautiful stained glass for beginners. Came is another material and method of creating stained glass work.
It can be made of many different materials but lead is most common. Came is used in larger geometric or 3D pieces and those that may be exposed to the elements. Larger pieces that require additional support and structure will typically require came instead of copper foil. Flux serves many purposes when it is applied with a brush to the metal pieces you intend to join with solder. It acts as a cleaning agent which removes any oxidation on the metal to provide better contact, it helps the solder solder flow better, and finally it seals out any air preventing further oxidation of the solder join.
All of this ensures a long lasting secure bonding of two metal pieces. This Novacan Flux works great. Solder is the what is used to bond the two glass pieces together by melting it onto the copper foiling.
Solder removers come in the form of a solder sucker or braided copper and they can remove excessive solder. It is especially handy if you need to disassemble pieces for repairs or any other reasons you may need to remove the solder from a joint. It makes the process quick and easy. Solder suckers work best for removing solder beads while the braid will work best for solder that is spread out or not easily removed by the sucker.
Soldering irons come on many different styles and power ratings. This Weller PG is a popular pencil style choice for stained glass as it is powerful and durable. For more options and to learn more check out this great article on the best soldering irons for stained glass. After you have finished soldering you stained glass art you will need to apply patina to the soldering joints to give a finished look in either a black or copper look.
Patina will give the solder joints an even and consistent finish. Novacan black patina works wonderfully and can also be had in a copper finish as well. All of these items will make the projects move along much quicker and more efficiently. When you have learned to make more detailed designs you will probably decide to start investing in specialized tools used in stained glass making.
In some cases, these specialized tools can speed up the job, and in others, it is less about time-saving and more about making the task easier and efficient.
It is important to note these tools are usually pricey and often take up valuable studio space. Consider this when you start deciding on adding glass grinders, glass saws, and cutting systems to your stained glass tool collection. In most cases, however, these are all costs well worth the benefit they will bring to the avid glass artist. Glass cutting systems like the Beetle Bit Mini a great system for beginners are really useful in making extremely precise scoring of your glass pieces.
Cutting systems are essentially an articulating arm attached to a bar that you anchor to your craft table and often feature a grid-like platform which you rest the glass onto. The arm up and down the arm as well as providing full articulation of the attached cutter.
Glass fusing is a beautiful form of art that can be easily made by anyone. There are so many glass fusing techniques that your level of expertise does not matter. For example, if you are a beginner and this is your first time fusing glass, a kiln and fusible glass is all you need to get started.
If you are looking to get more creative, you will probably need different types of glass and fusing molds. If you want to go full on and become a glass fusing artist, you can then purchase the full set of glass fusing tools that include different kinds of fusing glasses, accessories for the kiln, paints, molds, adhesives, cutters, breakers, and many more.
Fusible glass comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. These 4 types of fusible glass are the most common ones. However, you can find fusing glass in literally any color and size, from the big sheets mentioned above to powdered glass and anything in between. When it comes to thickness , most fusible glass is either 2, 3 or 6 millimeters thick. The reason is that when glass is fused, it will always end up being 6 millimeters thick.
So depending on the technique you use, you may or may not want to use glass that is thick to begin with. Another characteristic you need to keep in mind about fusible glass is compatibility.
There are many kinds of glass depending on their chemical composition and they melt at different temperatures; this is known as Coefficient of Expansion CoE. The best way to do this is by buying all the glass used in a piece from the same provider. You absolutely need a kiln to fuse glass, and there are basically two ways you can go about this. You can get a small microwave kiln that you can use to fuse tiny glass art in any microwave oven, or you can get an electric kiln. Microwave kilns are usually made out of silicon carbide, have a chamber of up to 6 inches of diameter and tend to work quite well.
In a matter of about 10 minutes, most of them are able to fuse small pieces of glass just like a regular kiln does. For those who need more space and are planning on fusing glass on a regular basis either as a hobby or professionally, an electric glass kiln is by far the best option. To summarize, electric glass fusing kilns come in a variety of sizes and shapes. There are plenty of options to choose from depending on their size, capacity, voltage, maximum temperature, heat distribution requirements, controller types and many other characteristics that you might need.
They make the fusing process more efficient by helping you arrange the pieces inside the oven either to fit as many as possible in a single batch or to achieve certain looks with the help of gravity. Check out our full guide for more details about glass fusing kilns and kilns accessories. As stated before, all you need to fuse glass is fusible glass and a kiln. The most common glass fusing supplies and tools include:.
By creating your very own glass fusing kit with the glass fusing supplies and equipment mentioned in this article, you are all set to start creating beautiful and creative glass art.
These torches have more precise flames and heat to the appropriate temperatures. Jacks are a pair of metal blades held together at the end with a curved handle. They look like large tweezers and are used to shape glass as it is rotated at the workbench.
Jacks can be used to shape glass as it is being inflated, separate glass from the blowpipe towards the end of the work process, and widen the opening of glass vessels. Shears are used to cut or constrict hot glass. They come in two types: straight and diamond. Depending on the type of project being completed, glassblowers will favor one over the other.
Made from wood with a handle at the end, paddles are used to form the bottom or other flat edges of glass pieces. The glass is carefully pressed onto the paddle to create a flat surface. Molds are used to shape glass into preset shapes and items. Molds are generally made from brass or wood and can be custom made to suit the needs of individual glassblowing projects. A crimp is a metal device that looks a bit like a pair of kitchen tongs, but has a textured surface. This tool creates a decorative design and texture when glass is squeezed between it.
Crimps come in a variety of sizes, with different patterns to suit your specific needs. A marver is a table or surface on which glassblowers shape hot glass. Marvers are made from steel, brass, or graphite and were originally made from marble , which is how they got their name.
A parchoffi is similar to the jacks discussed above, but they have wooden blades instead of metal ones. Wooden blades are more rounded and therefore do not leave any marks in the glass when used to flare or shape the opening of a vessel. A parchoffi is dipped in water prior to using it to help it glide across the surface of the glass. Used after glass has been inflated, a punty is a small metal rod that glassblowers transfer their work to in the finishing stages of the glassblowing process.
The punty is carefully attached to the bottom of an inflated glass piece so the glassblower can work on the top of the item. A pyrometer is a remote-sensing thermometer that records the temperature of annealers and furnaces. This tool is helpful in ensuring that glass is heated and cooled down properly.
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