Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! We make it simple so you can focus on creating the art. We are here to support you every step of the way. Our website includes detailed instructions, videos, and tips and tricks to help you with your very first stained-glass piece. Need an added boost of confidence? All of our marketing videos were filmed with women who had never touched stained glass previously. All of the pieces in the videos are their actual creations. Not perfect, just joyfully made.

Please visit our "tips and tricks" tab on our website for more detailed instructions and videos. 1. Match the numbered glass with the numbers on the pattern sheet to create the design 2. Evenly apply copper foil to all edges of the glass 3. Lightly flux the copper foil 4. Solder 5. Polish and enjoy!

We use true stained glass. When making stained glass metal oxides are added to the molten glass to add color, so the color is inside the glass. With painted glass, the color sits on the surface and may chip, wear, or fade over time.

Our kits include everything you will need to complete the project. Weller soldering iron, mat, flux, flux brush, iron tip cleaning ball, copper foil, burnishing tool, and solder wire.

You will receive numbered, pre-cut and smoothed glass pieces and a numbered pattern sheet to easily place the pieces together. You will also receive a wood stand or planter depending on the design you choose. No glass scoring, breaking, or grinding involved!

Standard solder for stained glass is 60/40 tin/lead alloy (60% tin and 40% lead by weight). There is minimal handling of the solder wire especially when soldering from the spool. Contact with the solder wire is brief, and lead absorption is negligible through intact skin, so risk is very low. Hand-to-mouth transfer is the biggest risk so we strongly encourage washing hands before eating or making hand-to-mouth contact to avoid ingesting residue.

More Questions

Flux is a chemical agent that is applied to the copper foil to allow the solder to adhere properly to the copper.

Patina is a solution that is applied to finished solder lines to change the color from a shiny silver, to either a black or copper color. Patinas are used to achieve an aged, classic, or high-contrast look. Certain designs and glass colors may look better with a patina.

The copper foil is necessary for the solder to bond. Where copper is missing or uneven, so will the solder.

Gloves are not necessary, and stained glass is done frequently without gloves. However if you wish to wear gloves, nitrile gloves will protect the skin from flux, lead in the solder, and patina. To protect your hands while soldering, Weller makes heat resistant gloves specifically designed for soldering. Please do not use nitrile gloves while soldering (they can melt).

For small projects, an open window or fan in a well-ventilated room is usually sufficient. Solder and flux fumes, if inhaled, can cause irritation. If not in a well-ventilated space, or many people are completing a project together, we recommend an exhaust fan.

There is enough copper foil and the solder wire to make around 3-4 small stained-glass pieces. Since a very small amount of flux is needed, this will also last several projects. The burnishing tool, tip cleaning ball, mat, flux brush, and soldering iron will last years if cared for properly.