"WARNING: Do not attempt this without adequate training, specialised tools, and adequate supervision. Glass cutting
or firing done in the wrong way can cause bodily harm"
This ancient craft, recently revived, was used mainly in churches. It is now used everywhere to form brilliant, vibrant works of art. You will have to
join a class or invest in space, tools and equipment.
You will need a working surface, tracing paper, pieces of different coloured and textured glass, glass cutters and grinders, wax, lead or copperfoil strips,
a soldering iron, cementing mixture and brushes.
Choose a design and draw a full size cartoon
Trace the design and cut each piece out separately, numbering them carefully. You can colour the pieces to make them easy to identify.
Cut the glass to size using a cutter and file or grind unwanted edges. Make sure the glass is cut slightly smaller on all sides to allow room for leading.
Place the pieces on a flat piece of glass fixing them temporarily with wax or plasticine to check your work.
At this stage, professionals use acid, paint or stains to add depth and detail to the painting. The treated glass may have to be fired to make sure the paint or stain fuses with the glass.
Working a texture into glass can also add a new dimension. You can engrave it with cutting tools, emboss it with acid or abrade it with sand to create multiple effects.
The pieces are now ready for framing. Lead strips or cames in an "H" section are used to insert the glass. These can be soldered at joints. A cementing mixture is then forced under the leaves of the
cames using a stiff bristled brush. This gives the panel rigidity.
Alternatively, the edges of glass are wrapped in slender copper tape. These are then placed against adjacent pieces and soldered along the length. This method is excellent for the joining of small or sharply curved pieces.
The stained glass work is now ready for installation. It is fixed into a wood or aluminium sub-frame and inserted into an opening where it is sealed permanently. For large works, bronze horizontal and vertical bars are placed across the opening, and the glass attached to these.
Watch the light pour through the stained glass and enjoy!!
Courtesy:Namrata Asudani, Interior Designer
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