Copper Foil Method of Stained Glass

Copper foil stained glass

Copper foil artwork is commonly known as Tiffany style stained glass, after the famous artist and glassmaker Louis Comfort Tiffany. Objects such as lamps, windows and vases are often created or enhanced with stained glass. One of the most popular techniques for creating stained glasswork is copper foil. This method replaced the old lead came technique and is now commonly referred to as the Tiffany stained glass method. If you want to engage in an interesting arts and crafts project, you may want to learn how to use the copper foil method of stained glass.

Things You'll Need

• Paper sheet
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glass cutter
• Rubber mallet
• Grinder or carborumdrum stone
• Soldering iron
• Flux and small brush
• Sponge
• Liquid detergent
• Car wax
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Draw a precise plan for your stained glass design. Choose a pattern, colors and the textures of glass you are going to use. Once you have completed your drawing, you will know what kinds of glass and how much of it you will need. Glass texture is an often overlooked factor when it comes to stained glass design, but textured glass will add interest to your piece.

2. Make templates of the shapes for the glass. Draw the templates on a big sheet of paper, where they will form a whole design. Cut them out and use them to outline the shapes on the particular pieces of glass. Use a glass marker and draw each of the shapes precisely onto the stained glass, following the paper cutout.

3. Cut the glass into the final shapes you will need for the design. Use a glass cutter to outline the shape of the glass. Be very precise and careful. Once you have outlined the shape with the cutter, tap it with a rubber mallet to break it exactly along the cut line. Repeat until all the shapes are cut out.

4. Smooth the edges of the cut pieces of glass with a grinder or a carborumdum stone. Keep the stone wet during the process of smoothing the edges, to avoid generating a lot of glass dust.

5. Remove the protective paper backing from the copper foil. A wider copper foil means a wider seam; likewise, a smaller foil means a smaller seam. Apply the copper foil to all the raw glass edges. The primary function of this step is to make the soldering process easier. Press the adhesive side of the foil to the edge of the glass shape, centering the foil strip on the side of the edge and folding the rest to the front and back of the glass. Use a piece of scrap wood to press the foil firmly around the edge, making sure it’s smooth and secure.

6. Solder pieces of glass together with a soldering iron. Preheat the soldering iron. Apply flux--which comes in gel, paste and liquid forms--to the copper foil with a small brush. Move the hot iron along the copper foil to melt the solder and join the pieces of glass together. During this process, use a damp sponge to keep the solder tip clean.

7. Clean the entire stained glass with a soft sponge and warm water mixed with liquid detergent. Remove all debris from the soldering process and all the dust and dirt as well.

8. Apply a coat of car wax to the stained glass and use a soft, dry cloth or towel to buff the surface until it shines.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose the right width and color of copper foil, one that’s suitable for your particular design. There are different kinds of copper foils; check the Down East website listed in the References section to help you choose the right one.

• Always be extremely careful when handling glass in arts and crafts projects; wear protective gloves so you don’t cut your hands.

References

• Down East Stained Glass: Stained Glass Copper Foil
• Warner Criv - WC: Copper Foil Technique
• Create Stained Glass: Copper Foil Method of Stained Glass