How-To

How can I tell if a piece of glass is cracked? Did you ever notice the workers in your local glass shop tapping on a sheet of glass before they move it? They do that to see if it has any cracks. Cracked glass has a very different sound when tapped than intact glass does. This will be the best way to tell if your glass is broken. However, you should try it out on some other sheets before you try it on a piece that you think may be broken. Once you have heard a cracked piece, you will know what it sounds like. Hold the sheet from the top edge with one hand. Hold it out and away from your feet, just in case. Gently tap the sheet with one of your knuckles. A solid sheet of glass with no cracks will have a solid, clear ringing sound. A sheet with a crack will have kind of a buzzing, vibrating or tinkling sound. Reprinted with permission from Stained Glass News . All rights reserved.

In my reading I keep seeing mentions of tinning. What is it, and how do I do it? Tinning is the term used to describe the action of putting a thin coat of solder over something else, for instance copper foil, a brass vase cap, or a soldering iron tip. One reason may be to protect the metal from the air, which is usually in reference to a soldering iron tip. The other purpose may be to color the metal underneath, which we’ll address here. You may have seen it suggested that you tin all exposed copper foil on the surface of a panel before running a solder bead. (You will need to apply flux before tinning and again before running the bead.) Some people feel that this allows them to run the final bead more easily because all of the foil edges are already covered. Other people prefer to skip this step and run the finish solder bead directly on the raw copper foil. You should try both ways to see which gives you better results. Sometimes you will be instructed to tin the outer edge of a small project, like a suncatcher. In this case, the purpose is to color the outer copper foil edges. Tinning adds no strength to speak of, so your goal is to allow the edge to accept patin

Step 1 Cut a piece of glass in any wild shape or size you like. (This piece was just a leftover piece of glass from a stained glass window.) Step 2 Place a drape mold in the kiln. Since the piece of glass may run down to the shelf, it is best to have a piece of Fiber Paper under the mold. (I have used a bisque fired coffee mug for my mold. The glass will melt down around this mold so be sure to pick something were the sides go straight down or flare out, or the glass will break removing it from the mold.) Step 3 Drape a thin piece of Fiber Paper over the drape mold that is about the same size as the piece of glass. Step 4 Fire the glass at cone 017. Step 5 Wash the piece using a soft brush to remove Fiber Paper. This project courtesy of Fired Arts and Crafts Magazine. For more great projects like these, consider subscribing to FAC! Materials Glass : Brand of Choice-any scrap glass Mold/Bisque: You can choose from one of these to use as your mold. 12 oz Bisque Mug Large Floral Vase Slumper Small Floral Vase Slumper Tools: Brand of Choice Glass Scorer Mosaic Nippers Glass Running Pliers Glass Grozers Soft Br

I want to make some copper foil and lead projects for use outside. How do I protect them from the elements? If you construct your project using the lead technique, there isnt anything else you need to do. The cementing process weatherproofs the project. If you use the copper foil technique, you will want to make sure that there is something to prevent the copper foil from pulling away from the outer edges of the project when it gets wet. This can be accomplished by using a rigid metal channel (zinc, copper or brass) or by soldering a reinforcing wire around the perimeter of the piece. Another thing you should consider is using mosaic techniques. Either the direct or indirect methods are great for outdoor projects. Your supplier will have information on these techniques if you are unfamiliar with them. Whatever technique you choose to employ, it is best to bring your projects indoors for the winter if it gets cold enough to freeze in your area. While some projects may survive freezing, its better to be safe than sorry. Reprinted with permission from Stained Glass News . All rights reserved.

Most of us have the perception that great art can only be created by mastering intricate and complicated procedures. However when you listen and learn from really creative people very often you will find the most effective touches are added using straightforward and uncomplicated techniques. Master teacher Jayne Persico uses a simple technique called Notch and Fire Polish to add dramatic designs to her jewelry creations. Jayne uses a diamond wiresaw to cut notches and scroll work into her glass jewelry blanks. Then she fire polishes these scroll-notches allowing them to take on a lace-like appearance. The effect is beautiful on its own but the addition of wire wrapping and glass beads will take the work to a whole new level of sophistication. Discover how you can create masterworks like these in Jaynes jewelry book Innovative Adornments. This Randys ProTip brought to you from the book Innovative Adornments by Jayne Persico. Visit Wardell Publications .

No oneknowstheexactorigins of glass fusing although there is evidence that the Egyptians were familiar withrudimentary techniques. The Romans however arenoted by scholars for developingrefined glass fusing skills. Although technology has changed the way modern glass fuserswork,the technique isessentially the same as those developed by the Romans centuries ago. The basic technique involvesstacking two or morelayers of fusible glass, which are then placed in a kiln and gradually heated to between 1450-1500 Fahrenheit.At these temperatures the layers of glass fuse, or melt together and become one. Unfortunately, glass kilnsare large andexpensive,whichkeeps most Hobbyists from pursuing this art form. Now there are new kiln options, including the The Fuseworks Microwave Kiln . This device works in most household microwaves and can fuse glass in about 3 minutes. Here are some common questions we get on fusing in this modern-day kiln. The following are Q A complied by Diamond Tech , the manufacturer of Fuseworks Microwave Kiln for the purpose of helping current users be successful, and to aid in the decision making of those considering the purchase of a microwave kiln.

When youre in a creative slump, try slumping with a new mold! Delphi just added three new molds from Creative Paradise to its selection. Ive attached information on each of these molds, along with project ideas to get you inspired. These fusing molds are made from ceramic clay and are highly durable. But be sure to cover them well with kiln wash before use to prevent cracking. Four coats of kiln wash is recommended. Slumping 3-D Sunflowers Step 1 . Trace the slumping mold onto a piece of paper, so you know how large your glass can be. Begin arranging glass on this pattern, starting with the flower base glass. Step 2 . Arrange flower petal glass in layers and fuse. Step 3. Arrange the fused flower on top of the mold and slump. Slumping Pattern Bar Plates (pictured top left) This unique dam mold makes it easy to make pattern bars or thick fused glass. Interior measures 2-1/2 x 6. Step 1 . Cut up small pieces of your favorite glass or use scrap glass to create a base layer. Step 2. Use long strips of fiber felt (item#4824) to create the channels. Fill around the fiber with scrap glass. Step 3 .

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time in my backyard. My father (a retired horticulture professor and perpetual gardener) has been preparing my quarter-acre lot for a vegetable garden. As soon as I saw this project guide, I could envision stained glass dragonflies peeking out amidst my beans and greens. They are perfect for adding a little sparkle to your summer landscape!  DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN HERE Materials: Wissmach Sky Blue and Crystal Stream X for Wings, 1/2 Sq. Ft. (or other glass color of choice) Wissmach Dark Blue/Medium Green Opal for Body, 1/3 Sq. Ft. (or other glass color of choice) Flux Solder 7/32" Copper Foil 20-, 22-, and 16-Gauge Copper Wire 2 Small Green Nuggets 1/8" Copper or Brass Rod Black Patina Directions: This is one of many of the garden stake designs in Leslie Gibbs' book , Garden Art in Glass . There is a lot more information in her book about wire, rods, and other hardware used in building the garden stakes. Always wear eye protection, keep a clean work surface, and solder in a well ventilated area. When you’re ready to begin, make two copies of the original pattern provided. Number each pattern piece

Why does my kiln make a buzzing sound? Here are some of the sounds that a kiln makes: The heating elements hum when they turn on. That is because they vibrate in the brick grooves due to magnetism between the coils. This sound is normal. It diminishes as the kiln gets hotter, because the elements soften. The clicking noise of a switch-operated kiln is also normal. It is the sound of an infinite control switch cycling on and off. When the clicking turns into a popping noise, the switch is probably about to fail. You should keep a spare on hand. Relays are another source of clicking. To turn on the elements, a digital controller sends twelve volts to the relays. The relays, in turn, act as switches and send full voltage to the elements. The relays click every time they turn on. A chattering noise, however, indicates that a relay is about to fail. A crackling noise followed by loud POP from the kiln's switch box usually means that a loose electrical connection has just failed . If you hear crackling, which sounds like sparks, turn off the kiln. The loose connection creates a tiny electrical arc, which overheats and burns ele

I have stashed away old jars and bottles for many years . As an avid wine lover I have amassed more than my fair share of wine bottles. I use them to line my flower beds, as bottle tree sculptures and in some of my art pieces. When I discovered the Ephrem's Bottle cutter it became an indispensable tool for recycling and reusing these old jars and bottles. I instantly made myself a complete set of water and juice glasses. They remind me of the jelly jars and mason jars I drank from at grandma's as a child. Everyone who comes to my home loves them too and wants me to make a set for them. In this video I share some of the projects from my book Bottle Art and show you how to use the bottle cutter. It is very simple and you can often get more than one project from a single bottle. Try slicing off rings in different widths until you cut the bottle to the desired height of the glass you are making. I use these rings to make wind chimes or even jewelry. If you want to add goblets to your drinking glass collection, simply turn the top of the bottle upside down once you have cut it, epoxy the lip of the bottle to the base and enjoy your beverage of choice. Watch the