Helping You Complete Your Work of Art
Check out our guided Stained Glass Kit Tutorial to help you complete your glass design. Tips & Tricks for specific steps below!
Watch Our Guided Tutorial
Tips & Tricks
How To Foil
Foiling is the process of wrapping copper foil around the edges of glass pieces.
Pro tips: Use rubbing alcohol to remove dust and oils from the glass to ensure the best adhesion of the copper to the glass. You want smooth, even adhesion. Where the copper is uneven, so will be the solder lines. Then, working from one corner, work your way around the glass piece, overlapping slightly at the seams. For curved edges, cut smaller pieces instead of stretching the foil too tight. Use an Xacto knife to cut edges that are overlapped or uneven.
How To Burnish
Burnishing presses the foil firmly onto the glass to create a strong bond.
Pro tips: Use a wooden or plastic burnishing tool to avoid tearing the foil. Apply firm, even pressure. Pay special attention to corners and curves where foil tends to lift. A well-burnished piece will have better solder adhesion and a more professional finish.
How To Flux
Flux is essential for successful soldering—it is what makes the solder bond properly to the copper foil and allows the solder to flow over the joints.
Pro tips: Apply thin, even layer with the flux brush to the copper foil. Start with a small area first. Avoid fluxing the entire piece right away. The flux will dry before you get to soldering it. We recommend starting at the joints (were several pieces come together) and soldering those first, before moving on to the rest of the piece.
How To Solder
Soldering joins foiled glass pieces together with melted metal.
Pro tips: Keep your iron tip clean and well-tinned for best heat transfer. Use smooth, controlled movements and let the heat do the work—don't force the solder. The proper technique and smooth lines takes time to master! Don't sweat it if it is not perfectly even the first time. You can go over the cooled metal to create smoother lines if you wish. Make sure you solder both sides of your piece. Work in a well-ventilated space.
How To Polish
Polishing brings out the shine and removes oxidation from your finished pieces.
Pro tips: Use Kwik-Clean to neutralize the left over flux and clean the solder lines.
How To Patina
1. Clean finished piece with flux remover (such as Kwik-Clean) or dish soap (like Dawn) and warm water to remove residual soldering flux.
Scrub/buff the solder lines with a wet Magic Eraser or fine #0000 steel wool to clear away oxidation, revealing shiny, fresh metal
Rinse the piece again to remove metal dust or debris, then dry it completely with a clean microfiber cloth
2. Use nitrile gloves and use a well wrung cotton ball, cotton pad, toothbrush, or soft brush to apply patina, making sure not to oversaturate the piece. Excess liquid can cause splotchy results or run onto the glass and stain it.
3. Once finished, neutralize the piece with flux cleaner (such as Kwik-Clean) to stop the chemical reaction. Apply a
carnauba-based wax (such as Mother’s) to seal and protect solder lines once the piece is completely dry. Buff it vigorously with a clean microfiber cloth or brush to protect the metal from future oxidation and add a shine
How to Attach Jump Rings
1. Choose an attachment point, where a solder seam meets the outside edge. This distributes the hanging wight across the joined.
2. Tin the jump ring by holding with needle nose pliers and applying a small amount of flux to the area of the ring that will be soldered.
3. Put a little solder on your hot soldering iron tip and touch the tip to the jump ring
4. Immediately place the tinned ring against the already-soldered stained-glass seam. You only need a thin coating of metal, not a big blob. Solder both sides if possible. This will reinforce and strengthen the attachment.