Wonderful Window

I have finally finished leading up me second stained glass window. It has taken me an age because I kept missing my Wednesday evening lesson because of work - boo. It has been worth the wait though as the colours in the finished window really pop. Can we all just ignore the bit of matchstick that I failed to notice when taking this next photo? Oh, and it's upside down, hmm.


I've actually already soldered the joints on one side. If I get the remaining side soldered by next Wednesday I'll be onto the cementing. I just can't wait to have my two windows installed now.

Soldering

I was lucky enough to get a soldering iron for Christmas. It's a Weller W101 Line Soldering Iron 230v if you're interested in that kind of thing. It's ideal for lead work as it has a thermostat that stops it from getting too hot and burning through the lead cames. Which would be a bummer!

I have been waiting for my stained glass class to restart as I was a little nervous to try soldering on my own. I needn't have worried, it's pretty straight forward. You just need to rub tallow onto any joins in the lead, which acts as a flux. Then its just a matter of putting the tip of the soldering iron on the end of the solder and melting it onto the joins. It took about 2 hours to solder both sides of my window, but there are lots of joins. It's best to rub the excess tallow off whilst its still warm with a natural fibre brush.

Next week - cementing!

Stained Glass Window Progress

I just got back from my stained glass class and am pleased to say the leading is nearly complete! I probably should wait to share this until its totally leaded but I'm too excited. I've been working on it at home like mad and could probably have finished it before tonight's class but I'd ran out of one width of lead. Typical.

 

Anyway, there's no particular rush now as I've signed up for a second term of classes. Yay!

 

No More Glass Please

I only have 3 more stained glass classes so I'm on a bit of a deadline to try and get moving with my stained glass window at home. Due to the bijoux nature of my house, this process has been taking place on my lounge floor. Not ideal. I've put loads of plastic down, but glass splinters still fly everywhere. The lovely Tim is thrilled I can tell you. I have been cutting out glass for hours, and hours and hours - actually probably forever now I think about it. If I've not been at work I've been cutting. My fingers are so sore, I have broken countless pieces of glass, but finally I have finished the 124 coloured pieced of glass required for my window. I cannot describe my happiness.

Anyway enough whinging, I think it's been worth the effort (almost). Ta Dah!

 

I have also just started the leading process. I have chosen to vary the size of the lead depending on its position in the window. The straight lines are the widest, the outer circles are medium sized lead and finally the smallest circles have he smallest width lead. I hope it will add a nice effect.

 

 

Ooh, it's getting far more exciting now!