Stained glass is light through color — cut the pieces, wrap them in copper foil, solder them into a window. A glass cutter (the pistol-grip or pencil-grip type with an oil reservoir), a glass grinder for the curves, a roll of copper foil, a soldering iron and flux, and a starter pack of colored sheet glass. Score-and-snap the straight cuts, grind the curves, and ventilate the lead fumes.
Plans
Choose a plan that fits your needs and budget
Item List
4Foiling & Solder
2 items
Cutting
2 itemsPlan Totals$310
FAQ
Common questions about this kit
Copper foil (Tiffany) or lead came?
Copper foil (the Tiffany method) wraps each piece in foil and solders the seams — finer detail, smaller pieces, the modern standard. Lead came (the H-channel strips) holds larger pieces in a traditional window — sturdier for big panels, weatherproof for exterior windows. Foil to learn and for fine work; came for large traditional windows.
Why a glass grinder?
The curves and the exact fits — a cutter scores and snaps a straight or gentle curve, but a tight curve or a precise fit needs grinding. The grinder (a diamond-bit rotating head under water) shapes the edge exactly. It is the stained-glass tool that makes precision possible; without it you are limited to straight cuts.
Why flux, and is the solder safe?
Flux cleans the copper/lead so the solder wets and bonds; without it the solder balls up and does not stick. Solder is lead-tin (60/40) — the lead is the hazard: ventilate, wash your hands before eating, and never eat in the studio. Lead-free solder exists but is harder to work; most stained-glass artists use leaded solder with careful hygiene.
How do I cut a curve?
Score the curve in one smooth stroke with the cutter (the oil lubricates the score), then use grozing pliers to nibble the waste away, and grind to the line. A score is a controlled weakness; running pliers snap a straight score, grozing pliers nibble a curve. Never re-score a line (two scores do not break cleanly); score once, then grind to perfection.
User Reviews
5.0 / 5.0
Stained glass and my sewing share the cut-the-pieces-then-join gospel — the score-and-snap is the cut-once, and the copper-foil-and-solder is the seam. The ventilate-the-lead is the respirator-for-the-dye: safety in the craft, agreed.