Hiya folks...
I was just wondering if anybody could recommend a very basic list of tools to get started with either copper foiling or leaded stained glass ??
The beginner kits I have seen for sale so seem so very expensive.... I am on a watertight budget here..... so what's the bare minimum of equipment I'd be needing to get started ???
Thanking you in advance ?????
Les xxxx
In my extensive knowledge Les......................................some glass :P
are you just trying to get your number of posts up Tan??! lol! most unhelpful of you :P
You're getting closer Tan............ LOL
(http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/Smileys/Lots_O_Smileys/blob9.gif)
Les xx
No I have to disagree......glass is a very useful ingredient when working with um.....glass :P
Here are some very basic tools
No 1 - A good cutter (one of the toyo type) - you can start with the old fashioned one but the wheel won't last long
No2 - 2 pairs of breaking pliers - saves your fingers no end (a little tip) these can be used for grozing as well (there are a few different grades of these so you can economise a bit)
No 3: for smoothing you can use a carborundum stone though it would be pants if your cutting is way out. I do have a grinder but I don't get it out unless I have to. Unless you are studio an entry level grinder is ok - see about getting one second hand if you really have to have one
Soldering iron: I have a weller 100 - there used to be a supplier on Ebay Peter Baker who sold a good iron for around ?25 - 100 watt - the test of a good iron is how well it keeps its heat whilst soldering a line (copper foil work)
For copper foil work - something to cut and smooth the foil to the glass - craft knife and popsickle stick if you want. you can get a little thingy for ?1 (flat fid). Otherwise solder and copper foil tape are it.
Lead work is more involved in a way - lead knife (use the cheaper one - the pro knife is tougher to use and I now use the simple job with some snips, a Lead fid for opening up the channel. Horse shoe nails, a making up board (you can use some mdf or other thickish board for this. Materials used to construct: lead, putty (only necessary if you are needed a watertight seal - but it does look better puttied to me), whiting, solder.
Check out tempsford glass - http://www.tempsfordstainedglass.co.uk/ - they are normally good for basic tools although I know a few other suppliers that are cheaper on individual things.
I've probably scared you witless with the aforegoing rambling shambles (LOL). The soldering iron and the cutter are crucial bits of kit. You can fox around the other things a bit more. Lead work is more restricted in construction than copper foil. there are things glass just won't do and things that lead won't do.
But well worth a go - I've got a basic book The Complete Stained Glass Course - it is a bit dated in that the toyo cutter isn't being used at the time of publication but the principles haven't changed. Let me know if you want to borrow it.
Les, if you have a local stained glass shop that carries out the creative side they usually have off cuts that they are happy to sell, these are great for practicing cutting on because some of them are quite textured and make the cutting wheel jump. The leftovers from your offcuts make ok beads too!!
OOOohhhhhh...... thanks Michele.. I'll let you know about the book.... brilliant !!!
Tan... good thinking.. I shall go on a scroungey reccy later this week ;)
Just look pathetic and smile a lot.....it works for me ;D
maybe I will ??????
;)
Oh I'm sorry Les, I completely forgot to send you the beginners list :'(. I have a Toyo cutter somewhere if you would like it. I bought it in a hurry from an online site and didn't realise it was a Toyo one. I used it once and hated it(you know how we get attached to a certain type of tool). I find K-Star the best and nothing else will do(he he he tool snobbery ;D).
Em xx
Oh fab Em... PM me your phone number ??? ...and, if the wind is blowing from the east, I may remember to ..... WRITE IT DOWN !!! ;D
Had a good poke around your updated stained glass centre site.... O...M... bl**dy.... G !!!!!!!!!!!! That lamp is amazing ... the whole site is looking fab...... I wanna come on a course now....:( ........But I am saving ;)
Les xx
Quote from: Les on January 24, 2007, 05:33:47 PM
Oh fab Em... PM me your phone number ??? ...and,? if the wind is blowing from the east, I may remember to ..... WRITE IT DOWN !!! ;D
Had a good poke around your updated stained glass centre site.... O...M... bl**dy.... G !!!!!!!!!!!! That lamp is amazing ... the whole site is looking fab...... I wanna come on a course now....:( ........But I am saving ;)
Les xx
Its yours Les, now then where the hell did I put it >:(
I shall text it to ya laters.
Oh fab Em !! Thanks !!! (http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/Smileys/Lots_O_Smileys/icon_thumright.gif)
Oh... by the way.. battery is pooped on my mobile, but you can send txt's to my landline if you have that ??
LOL
I also posted in the 'Looking For' bit too....
Does anybody have a second hand 100 w copper foil soldering iron for sale ??? Or does anyone know of anybody selling one ???
I need to save every penny possible.. I never realised they'd be so damn pricey !!! LOL
Cheers
Les xx
OK..... so I got most of my SG kit sorted out now.... I know I still have to buy some flux.... but there are sooo many types of sheet glass out there, I just looked.... what would you SG folkies recommend to begin with ???
Quote from: Les on February 11, 2007, 07:44:28 PM
OK..... so I got most of my SG kit sorted out now.... I know I still have to buy some flux.... but there are sooo many types of sheet glass out there, I just looked.... what would you SG folkies recommend to begin with ???
Hi Les, are you near an SG shop? It would be good for you to see what was around. Also another good reason is to rummage (very carefully) in their offcuts boxes.
If you just want to have a play then I would suggest the cheaper glass makes. Spectrum (uniform and easy to cut as well as being widely available and relatively inexpensive, some of the Chinese glasses are good too if you can find a supplier. There are some really awesome art glasses around Youghihani and Uroborous to name two. And English art glass of course (very expensive but fab). And Bullseye of course.
Have you sources a supplier for mailorder yet?
Not yet Michele.... I haven't.
There aren't any stained glass shops anywhere near me really... well.. none that I know of and could get to , so it'll have to be mail order for me I'm afraid.... I would much rather have a look and feel of the glass before I go ahead and buy it though.. never mind ...
Thanks for the info though... I'll see what I can find on the net...
Cheers Michele....
Les xx
Quote from: Les on February 11, 2007, 08:16:56 PM
Not yet Michele.... I haven't.
There aren't any stained glass shops anywhere near me really... well.. none that I know of and could get to , so it'll have to be mail order for me I'm afraid.... I would much rather have a look and feel of the glass before I go ahead and buy it though.. never mind ...
Thanks for the info though... I'll see what I can find on the net...
Cheers Michele....
Les xx
These are my main suppliers. I can visit Creative Glass Guild as they are only 60 miles away! But they are bit more expensive mail order as they are a smaller supplier but well worth it for the Tatra Glass alone
http://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/catalog/index.php
Tempsford is quite good and the prices are reasonable for the most common glasses. They don't do the Chinese glass (Kansa does but I have yet to order from them) http://www.tempsfordstainedglass.co.uk/acatalog/index.html
Come back if you want any observations on the glass makes.
Happy Hunting :)
Michele
Ooohhh.... cheers Michele :)
Off to do a little shopping ....
;)
:)
I just shopped.... just a sample pack of spectrum... and a couple of whispy bits too....
hehe.. can't wait :)
I'v just started fusing glass and learning slowly. However last week I tried copper foiled glass(?)/stained glass at a craft fair and want to combine the two. I have a lot of the things your list suggested, however, you stopped short at advice on which solder and which foil - look on ebay at copper foil and there are hundreds of different types! Should one get the quick flowing solder and is 1/4in copper foil best for working with the average 2mm glass (sorry about different cm/ins, that's how the info has come to me!) also what is the right sort of copper foil called?! I was hoping to buy it from somewhere other than a craft glass supplier where prices always seem to be more expensive (apologies to all glass suppliers!)
Any help fantastic and if anyone has tried using fused pieces within their stained glass projects I'd love to know the pitfalls....
thanks all
I used to use black backed 1/4 inch copper foil for most things but never incorporated fused pieces in my glass. One negative I think is that the fused piece would be thicker and heavier than the surrounding glass so you might have to use a wider foil to make a structurally sound join. This would also mean a thicker solder line which might detract from the piece. But what would be the pluses of incorporating fused pieces. You could get more detail by using stained glass enamels and silver stain without getting the added weight. Here's a panel I did about 25 years ago. It's called the Orange Lady. Not a good photo but you get the idea. (http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1426/5604171/12685369/384515403.jpg)