I'm in trouble with my wife

Hmmm, Besides the obvious, and have it repaired if possible, maybe a clear security film applied to the inner surface, then fill the cracks from the outside with UV glue to assist in holding together and keeping out the elements. Instructions for the two operations could be provided once you make up you mind on what you are going to do. Regards, Les

Sounds like a good suggestion Les, thank you. I'm going to look into the UV glue. Jerry

If you're willing to go to some more trouble, you can probably match the glass pretty closely and actually fix the window. Perhaps one of the stained glass folks will correct me, but I think it's probably easier to replace a few pieces than to build an entire window. Most cities have a bunch of places that sell stained glass and supplies. This is assuming, by the way, that the broken pieces are flat and not beveled. That would be harder, and would probably be smarter to go to a professional, which would of course be kind of spendy.

This would allow you to be a hero to your wife. I doubt that UV glue will produce a very attractive repair, though it will probably keep anything from falling out and hurting someone. I guess if you don't like the result you could always repair it then....

Good luck in any event.

Mike Beede

having done both, I'd rather build 100 windows than do ONE repair....repairs are a pain... doubly so if it's an older window. By the time you've matched the glass and matched the lead and dis-assembled part of the piece to get to the broken bits and reassembled everything and re-puttied the miserable thing, you'll be ready to go build something new instead. There are reasons why my grandmother's livingroom windows still have cracks, and it's not just because I'm not a dutiful grandson. :)

Bryan "my $0.02 worth...and worth at least half that" Paschke

repair....repairs

Our studio repairs leaded panels every day, it is what we do, among other things,like bevel glass.

Its all a mind set, a way of thinking, channel your energies, then its not so bad. Its also what helps pay the bills.

The Original Poster does not mention where in the world he is, as to glass availability, this makes a difference. Also, as to labor expense, it matters. But you are always better to restore sooner rather than later, wait and prices and glass cost (and choices) change.

repair....repairs

I make a very, very good living doing nothing BUT repairs and restoration. Currently I have close to a 3 week backlog of work and I'm just now getting into what's traditionally the busy season. They are breaking them faster than I can fix 'em.

Standing at a table and repetitively assembling window after window after window would soon lose it's luster for me. I'm glad you like doing the new work, it's job security for me.

I'm from a little farm town in central Illinois, about 50 miles north of Peoria. Not much in the immediate vicinity for stained glass supplies or repairs. I'll look in the Peoria area soon and see if I can find someone there that can fix the window. Thanks again to all of you. I just dropped in on the group looking for suggestions and seems like I found a good bunch of folks. Jerry

Jerry, I just went here

typed in "Glass, stained andleaded" under Peoria,IL and got 4 places in town, with phone numbers anddriving instructions, must be someplace closer, but if not, call in advance,if you have a digital camera take a photo and email/snail mail it to them sothey have a heads up on the glass. It will help to do as much as possiblebefore you spend time with them. Time is how we bill. One piece of glassat the edge isn't so bad, one in the middle takes a little longer, and if Ihave an idea what glass to search for before you get in my studio, we areahead of the game. Good luck

Java, Thanks for the tips. The cracked piece is in an outer corner. I do have a digital camera, and we go to Peoria fairly often. I'll do the Google thing and call some folks. Again, thanks.

repair....repairs

Sorry Brian but I have to come down on the other side of this one. There is nothing as wonderful as a leaded glass repair job. Why? Because those of us that thrive on this form of income, are the few on the planet that know how to do it, and make money doing it at the same time. There is nothing as profitable in my opinion.

And I am very happy that someone wants to do it....I'm equally glad I can do this as a hobby rather than as a profession because I really don't enjoy doing restorations.

Of course, I've known people who enjoy all kinds of things I don't. Thankfully, everybody enjoys something different or I would NEVER get to do what I enjoy because of all the crowds.

Bryan "still don't like doing repairs" Paschke

Ah OK now I understand where you're coming from. Makes alot of sense. They can be a bitch if you're not into it. Infact the whole art is a dirty, nasty, dangerous, and very messy job. I'm ready to sell out!