How to Make Stained Glass Faces

Creating beautiful stained glass projects is a craft enjoyed by people all over the world. Custom designed windows, doors and sun catchers add elegance and interest to any environment. Making stained glass faces utilizes the same techniques as any other stained glass project. Specialized tools for working with stained glass, a pattern and attention to detail are all basic requirements for creating your project.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pattern
• Stained glass
• Grease pencil
• Glass cutting tool
• Glass grinder
• Copper tape
• Flux
• Soldering iron
• Solder
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

1. Create your face pattern. If you're using a picture, size it as you like and print a copy in black and white. Draw lines on the picture that will indicate the size and cut of your glass. The lines indicate where the solder will appear on your finished project, so keep this in mind as you create your pattern. Number the individual sections on your pattern consecutively. Make a copy of your pattern.

2. Cut the individual sections of your pattern. Place the pieces on the stained glass and trace with a grease pencil. Number the outline of the stained glass with the same number as on the pattern piece.

3. Cut your stained glass pieces. Grind the edges to smooth away any shards or roughness. Wear your gloves and protective glasses when you grind.

4. Wrap the edges of each piece in copper tape. Assembly your pieces to create your stained glass face. A metal or wooden tray is helpful if you don't have a separate crafting table.

5. Apply flux to one area of the copper tape. Solder the pieces together with your soldering iron and solder formulated for stained glass. Flux and solder your stained glass face in small sections until you complete the side of the project facing you. Once it is cooled, flip your face over and solder the back in the same way.

Tips & Warnings

• Beginners should make larger sections for the face as working with small pieces of glass is more complicated and requires a bit of skill. Grinders use water to help keep the glass from shattering, but breaking the glass during the grinding process is always a possibility. Practice your grinding technique with scrap glass before you work on your actual project to get the feel of the pressure required to grind the glass. Soldering is something else you should practice before your try it on your project. You can view videos online and in your local craft stores that will demonstrate the correct soldering technique.
• Wear protective gear when grinding and soldering.

Resources

• Stained Glass Information and Techniques

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on 10/26/2009 sullenfrost stained glass photos are now available for viewing on flickr.com more faces
stained glass is light reading poetry!