The Secrets Of Neat Copper Foiling
- 1 Wrapping The Glass Clean each piece with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any grease that will stop the foil sticking ...
- 2 Folding The Foil Over By Hand Squeeze the foil on to the back and front edges with your finger and thumb. ...
- 3 Burnishing The Stained Glass Copper Foil Now you need to burnish the edges to make them stick firmly. ...
How do you stick glass to copper foil?
Start by peeling back a section of the paper to expose the adhesive on the copper foil. Hold the foil strip in your dominate hand and the glass piece in the other. Now you can start by attaching the copper foil making sure the glass is centered onto the foil. There should be an equal amount of foil on each side of the glass.
How can I extend the life of my copper foil?
You can lengthen the life of your foil by: buying a paint can from Home Depot (unused) and store your copper foil in it. The rolls fit perfectly and when the lid is secured in place, it helps maintain the foil. When you copper foil stained glass it’s best to start foiling away from the outside edge as this makes for stronger adhesion.
Does copper foil need backing for stained glass?
For opalescent glass, the backing isn’t really an issue because the foil color won’t be so noticeable. Backing colors for transparent glass though is very important because if you don’t match it, it will stand out and not in the way you’d hoped. Delphi Glass has all the copper foil you need for your next stained glass art project.
What is the best type of copper foil for furniture?
5 Mil (36 Gauge) Copper Foil is one very popular choice. It is a thin material, and for that reason, it is easy to cut and easy to bend. However, it can dent or wrinkle so the installation has to be done carefully. You would want to attach the 5 mil to a very smooth substrate such as MDF or possibly plywood.
How do you use a copper foil tool?
0:461:28Copper Foiling Tools for Stained Glass : Using a Foiler in ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhich is underneath the adhesive side of your copper foil stick your glass. Inside as such and holdMoreWhich is underneath the adhesive side of your copper foil stick your glass. Inside as such and hold one side with your thumb as you run the tool over your glass. This gives you a nice uniform.
Does stained glass need copper foil?
10:5712:23How to Connect Stained Glass using Copper Foil - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then you want to use your flux and just lightly brush the copper foil. With it and that's goingMoreAnd then you want to use your flux and just lightly brush the copper foil. With it and that's going to allow the solder to stick to the copper foil better.
What size copper foil should I use for stained glass?
3/16” – 1/4” foil works well for most standard copper foil stained glass pieces. If you have a wider overlap you may find that the width of the solder is too wide when you start assembling the piece together.
Does copper foil expire?
Copper does not age well. I suggest never buying more than you can use in three months.
How do you clean copper foil?
mix a quarter cup of white vinegar and a quarter teaspoon of table salt until the salt dissolves. dip the pieces of foiled glass into the mixture and swirl it around for about 30 seconds. rinse the pieces with water and dry them. that's it!
What is the difference between lead stained glass and copper foil?
Although copper foil is structurally stronger, lead came is used for external windows as it's made waterproof by the cementing process. I would make larger windows with lead as they're quicker to make. It's estimated that it takes about one third less time than foil.
Do you solder both sides of stained glass?
Generally, you will hold your piece on the edges near the center. Turning your piece over from the top can sometimes cause your piece to bend in the center. The second side of your piece doesn't need to be tack soldered. Simply apply a light amount of flux to the seams and solder as you did on the first side.
What is the best solder for copper foil stained glass?
The 60:40 solder is best suited for copper-foiled work because it stays liquid for a long time when cooling and can produce smoother and shinier beads. The 50:50 solder is a compromise if you cannot buy 40:60 solder. It is not as good as 60:40 solder for copper-foiled work because it does not stay liquid for as long.
How do you weatherproof stained glass?
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.
How do I make my black patina shiny?
2:2912:37Finishing, Patina, and Waxing Stained Glass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you use a brush. So this is how you apply black patina most projects have black patina applied toMoreIf you use a brush. So this is how you apply black patina most projects have black patina applied to them because what it ends up doing is it quiets the shine and the texture appearance of the solder.
How do you clean stained glass after soldering?
Using baking soda and dish soap is an alternative for commercial flux removers. First, sprinkle the piece with baking soda, then apply a small amount of dish soap to the piece. With a soft, damp scrub brush using a circular motion to scrub the piece. Rinse with water and then do the other side.
Why is my solder not smooth?
The connection was not hot enough. Hold the tip of the solder gun on longer. If you have concerns about heating up the wire too much, put a clip on it, or even just hold it with a pair of needle nose plyers to disipate the heat off of the wire. And do not blow on the molten solder to make it cool faster.
Why do you foil stained glass?
Because solder will not stick to glass, foiling each piece establishes a surface on which the solder will adhere. It is critical for the foil to be wrapped smoothly and evenly along the edge of each piece. If not, the solder won't lay evenly and solder seams may look awkward.
How do you apply copper patina to stained glass?
1:216:34Make Copper Patina Really Shiny on Stained Glass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow as soon as you see it turn a brilliant copper color it's going to start to darken. So don't fretMoreNow as soon as you see it turn a brilliant copper color it's going to start to darken. So don't fret about that as long as you see that it's turned that brilliant copper.
How do you apply stained glass to foil?
5:348:16Copper Foiling Glass Pieces for Stained Glass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can peel off a little bit. And then just look really carefully. And then press it so you'reMoreYou can peel off a little bit. And then just look really carefully. And then press it so you're pressing with your fingers. So that's the hard part right there is just wrapping it around evenly.
How do you weatherproof stained glass?
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.
Stained Glass Copper Foil Width
Knowing which size copper foil to use for the variety of glass pieces is important.
Copper Foiling Thick Glass
Has this happened to you? You’re working on a stained glass project and suddenly realise you have a very thick piece of glass. You need wider copper foil but don’t want to waste time going shopping. Argh! All is not lost. Simply wrap overlapping foil around the edge of the glass until the edges are properly covered. Then solder as normal.
Storing Copper Foil
Stained glass copper foil can start to deteriorate if left out in the elements. You can lengthen the life of your foil by:
Where To Start Foiling
When you copper foil stained glass it’s best to start foiling away from the outside edge as this makes for stronger adhesion. This is because the foil isn’t joined on the outside edge where is is more likely to come loose. The red lines on the numbered edge pieces are an example of where to start the foiling.
Copper Foiling Textured Glass
Do you know how to copper foil stained glass that is heavily textured? If you’ve tried this you’ll know that the foil breaks as you try to go from high to low. Even with shallow textured glass (ripples) the foil sometimes breaks as it goes across the ripples instead of nicely contouring to it. There are a couple of solutions:
Centring Foil
When you copper foil stained glass by hand it can be hard to centre the foil. A simple trick was sent by one of my students to help with this. Use lined paper as a guide!
Do You Grind Before Foiling?
This is an interesting question and one I get asked A LOT. My answer might save you HOURS of time grinding and cleaning. When you copper foil stained glass you do not have to have a rough surface for the foil to stick to. Foil actually sticks better to a cleanly broken edge than to a ground edge.
1. Practical Reasons For Using Both Techniques in a Piece
I find it very helpful to use both techniques if you have large areas alongside smaller more detailed areas. This is because leading lots of small shapes can be difficult.
2. Design and Aesthetic Reasons For Mixing Techniques Together in Your Work
Mixing lead and copper foil gives you a wonderful opportunity to use the qualities of each material to enhance the artistic quality of the panel.
3. More Lead Came and Copper Foil Examples
Follower Joyce Paul highlights 2 possible difficulties in mixing lead came and copper foil:
