Want to know-How was this done?

I started stained glass after retireing as a hobby,since my sight is not that good anymore I use 1/4"foil and know it is thicker then I wished I could use. Seen a tv show,where a glass artist made bevel inserts for large french doors and 6 big windows, she said she only used foil as not to take away fom the beauty of the bevels. Now I know these bevels are heavy and 6ft doors and almost as big windows,but no lines to be seen at close up,

not buckeling or bending when they where caried to the doors to be inserted, the overall pannels looked like all bevels fitted together like a puzzle. I gues they where between glass pannels to be installed,but how can such big pieces be handled with only thin and narrow foil. would like to make me a 30 x 36 but would be scared they fall appart. I know there are super & longtime glass artist's out there,how would that be done. thank you. md

Reply to
marion711
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md. It's not that it can't be done, obviously, it can. You saw it. But have you seen them since then? IF the panels were installed into doors, they are supported around the edges by the wood molding and held in place. the builder, if they had any common sense at all, used a "re=strip" in various places to add internal reinforcing that would hopefully keep it in plane, kinda, for a while. What makes it work is a substantial lead line of solder, that lead/tin alloy. If I build a panel of same size and use 1/4" lead came, and then grout/cement/putty it, and you use 1/4"foil, and build the same panel, both using good construction techniques, they would look the same from 10 feet away. How the panel ages is what tells the tale. I know people that have done this for years, it just doesn't suit me well, I would rather use came. This can start a long thread as to right or wrong, but as to "can it be done"? Yup, you saw it...

Reply to
Javahut

Besides the obvious problems of strength and waterproofing a copper foil panel that is used in an exterior door or window, the construction time for a foil panel is easily twice if not three times what a similar lead came panel would take. There is one "artisan" in my area that builds 4 ft sq and larger bath windows with foil. I've even seen a 6'-0" x 8'-0" radius top palladium window made with foil installed over an entryway. That is a huge surface for a wind load. It was bowed so badly I was scared to stand anywhere near it.

Reply to
Moonraker

I haven't done much glass. But, I would think if the bevels are sandwiched between two sheets of glass, and all sides are supported. Then I would believe that you wouldn't need anything between the bevels. They wouldn't be able to move in any direction.

Just my 2 cents.

Reply to
nospam

Obviously, not enough re-strip! Mention was made by the Original Poster that the panels were sandwiched between glass, hence my lack of addressing the weather exposure problem. When lead came panels are "cemented", and then thermal insulated, the situation of installation may create a "gassing" or cloudy condition inside the thermal pane, also not good. the heat buildup inside a thermal in certain climates can make the adhesive on the foil "weep out" also not good. Pro's and con's to all situations.... I'm still a lead freak tho...

Reply to
Javahut

While that is correct, to a point, with age, and weight things will change inside. Having witnessed this... Lead came window, all bevels, no grouting, but pretty good construction, nice joints well soldered, inside a thermal.. the seal broke on the thermal window, all of the bevels at the bottom of the panel, (triple border all around 40 x 60 panel) were accordianed, the weight of the glass, assuming

1/4" but some was 3/16" , pushed downward and pulled the top pieces out of the channel.

The weight and forces on beveled windows is not all downward, due to the shape of the beveled glass and it's weight hanging out past the lead cause stresses other than simply "stacked". there is an "outward of plumb" weight to be considered.

Long winded way of saying that "between two pieces of glass" does not alter the need for proper design and reinforcement needs. It just means there is no wind load to speak of... size changes that too...

Reply to
Javahut

Interesting answers,the french doors shown on the hgtv show was interior between two rooms,the windows in a sun room wich I did not seen close up,still hope to catch the show in a re run as I can't remember the show's name,but it was such facinating pieces to look at.

Reply to
marion711

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