reinforcing stained-glass panel

WHY are you thinking of foiling a window ? Use lead, zinc, or brass came and you won't have to worry about reinforcing or the border.

Your idea of using epoxy in the channels of the came is original, anyway. Folks who do glass professionally use an oil based putty.

Best advice? Donate the funds to the church so they can have the window built professionally.

HI Moonraker

Thanks for the reply.

I am using the copper foil technique because it's something I'm familiar with - and, after all, the window is not that large. It's not going to be exposed to the weather - it's a panel fitting inside an existing window.

We may be talking at cross-purposes here - the brass section I'm using is quite small (.15" deep x .15" wide) and fits the thickness of the glass without any gaps - don't think you'd get putty into it as well as the glass..?

That's always a possibility ...... . After your encouraging message yesterday I got busy and cut / foiled / assembled the window. Looking good so far....

Still needs the beading finishing off, and the brass section attached around the outside. As the outer edge of the panel is already foiled I'm going to slip the brass over the foil and solder it where I can.... unless anybody has any alternative suggestions ..?

The panel is strengthened (on the back) with two pieces of heavy copper wire which run across the piece - and it's feeling reasonably strong already.

This is my first attempt at a panel this large - which is why I was asking advice.

I've been designing, making and selling smaller items for several of years now - who knows, if I stick at it long enough I might even get good enough to do it 'professionally'.....

Regards Adrian Suffolk UK

Hello Adrian - glad to see you are still working with stained glass! I agree with Moonraker - unless they particularly want a complicated design better rendered using copper foil/solder you would be better using lead cames for your panel. Easier to get straight lines and perhaps more fitting for the building. Regards Elizabeth in Bournemouth/UK

Yes - still working at it....

The straight lines didn't seem to be too much of a problem - everything went together without any real problems.

I'm in the happy position that there is no other stained glass in the building (so my window's going to be the 'best one' there ).

It's not a traditional church (Christian Spiritualist) - the window's to go in the room in which we do Spiritual Healing - and contains certain specific colours that are associated with the healing process. Not only decorative, but functional also....

As it'll be supported by the existing wooden frame of the sash window, I wasn't sure about the extra weight of using the lead came - though I do realise that, by the time all the solder beading is done then we'll have added a fair bit of weight....

Anyway - we'll see how it goes - might even take a picture when it's finished .

Regards Adrian Suffolk UK

And copper foiling is very time-consuming. While I know how, and have done a lot of it, I promise you I could build 3 leaded windows in the same time as one made with foil. I don't like foiling. Period. Not that I think it's a "wrong" technique or anything like that, it's just that I hate doing it.

Ummmhuh.....but you can get the putty out if needed. Epoxy is, well, permanent. I was thinking about the need for future repairs.

Heh.......

If it is just sitting in an existing sash with no weather and wind load and protected on one side with POG (plain old glass), heavy reinforcing is probably not required. I'd be more comfortable with some 3/8" zinc or brass "U" came on the perimiter than the 1/8" brass U that you are talking about.

I understand the feeling. It's exactly how I feel about lead. :-)

And I hate brass came worse than anything....