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How to Make Stained Glass Letters

Stained Glass Clock Project by Bob Dodrill Sr.
Clara Jane Dodrill, Tara Dodrill

Making stained glass letters is easier than creating more intricate pattern scenes. Rounded letters are the most difficult to create, but can be accomplished by using a mechanical compass, or a printed letter pattern. Stained glass letter patterns can be downloaded and printed from stained glass websites, or created using inexpensive cardboard stencils.

Stained Glass Clock Project by Bob Dodrill Sr.
Clara Jane Dodrill, Tara Dodrill

Things You'll Need:

  • Water In A Spray Bottle
  • Cutting Wheel And Oil To Lubricate Wheel (Wd 40)
  • Permanent Marker
  • Stained Glass
  • Windex
  • Paintbrush
  • Protective Eye-Wear
  • Foil Overlay For Attaching Letters Together.
  • Ruler And/Or Mechanical Compass
  • Stained Glass Letter Pattern Or Stencils - Block Letters
  • Sand Paper
  • Cardstock Paper To Draw Stencils On Before Cutting.
  • Soldering Iron And Solder
  • Flux
Joel Walten creates a letter and heart stained glass table top.

Determine the height and width of the letters.

Stained glass ship art by Bob Dodrill Sr.

Measure and draw letters onto the cardstock. Letters touching each other are easier to cut and foil.

Stained glass window shutters created by Bob Dodrill Sr.

Place cardstock under the stained class. If using dark glass, stencil directly onto the stained glass panels.

Hexagon shaped stained glass window art by Bob Dodrill Sr.

Roll stained glass cutting wheel along the outline of the letter stencils.

Joel Walton displays his first stained glass project.

Sand away any rough edges on the glass letters.

Lay completed letters in the proper order. Apply foil copper onto the front of the letters; press the adhesive foil onto the backside of the letter pieces.

Apply flux compound to all exposed copper foil areas with a paintbrush. Air dry for an hour.

Apply solder uniformly by squeezing the trigger gently in a steady motion to the stained glass letters. Air dry for at least two hours.

Clean smudges and remove grease from letters with Windex, or similar glass cleaning agent.

Tip

Practice cutting letters on scrap pieces of stained glass before attempting a large project for the first time.

Warnings:

  • Always wear protective eye-wear when cutting stained glass, and working with hot solder.
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