How to Make Stained Glass Tiles

Stained glass tiles make lovely additions to your own home or gifts for a friend. They can be used in windows or decorating, in any place you would like to see pure color. With a little patience and practice, your stained glass tiles could even be a welcome addition to local craft markets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Plywood and narrow wood strips for the jig
• Colored glass
• Glass marking pen
• Glass cutter and cutter wheel
• Glass grinder
• Copper foil tape
• Soldering iron and solder
• Glass cleaner and a soft rag

1. Prepare the jig for your tiles. A jig is a flat piece of wood with narrow wood strips that outline the finished shape of your tile. It is used to ensure that the tile is square when you are done.
2. Choose a simple pattern for your first stained glass tile. Patterns are available online or in pattern books at your local library. Use a marker to trace the pattern pieces onto the glass you have chosen.
3. Score the glass inside the line you traced and carefully break out each piece. Compare each piece to the working copy of your pattern and grind down any bits that don't match with the pattern lines.
4. Clean each piece of glass and wrap the edges with foil. When all the pieces have been foiled, fit them carefully back into the jig. They should fit tightly without bulging.
5. Solder all the foil joints slowly, filling any gaps -- the joints should be slightly rounded. When you have finished the first side, remove the tile from the jig, turn it over and solder the second side. All the foil must be covered with solder, including the outside edge of your stained glass tile.
6. Clean your tile with glass cleaner and a soft rag. Set it in the sunshine and enjoy the colors streaming into your home.

Tips & Warnings

• For help with making stained glass, see eHow's "How to Make Stained Glass."