40 Great Stained Glass Projects

By Michael Johnston

Create suncatchers, picture frames, and more with this “nice collection of small stained-glass projects that would make fine gifts” (Library Journal).
 
Stained glass artist and teacher Michael Johnston provides patterns and detailed instructions for forty projects—along with one thousand step-by-step photos—in this informative guide.
 
With his pro tips on soldering, working with lead and foil, building 3-D projects, and more, even a beginner can make stunning candleholders, mirrors, angels, garden ornaments, boxes, and other useful and decorative items that capture light—and captivate with their rich color and timeless beauty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jun 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9780811745574

Michael Johnston

Michael Johnston was the oldest of the group of young National Service officers who served together in HMS Warrior during Operation Grapple. Already a published author, he has, with input from his erstwhile shipmates, now friends of 60 years standing, complied and written this first-hand account by those who were there.

Book preview

Introduction

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Majestic cathedral windows and the colorful lamps of Louis Tiffany are what most people think about when the art of stained glass is discussed. As has been our teaching strategy for the past twenty-five years, we strive to help our students create their own quality window panels and lamps.

However, many hobbyists, after their fourth window and third lamp, simply run out of room for additional pieces of stained glass of this nature. But since ours is a craft that brings out passion in people as they continue to create, most hobbyists remain on the lookout for new and exciting ideas and designs.

If you have been working in stained glass for some time, you know the sensation that develops when you are engaged in creating a really cool project. This book is intended to give you lots of stained glass options beyond lamps and windows.

When we started developing the designs for this book, we wanted decorative and functional items. We wanted easy and challenging items. We wanted a wide array of items that would be useful in the home as well as for gifts. Hopefully you will find all of that, and maybe more.

As stained glass teachers, we have also learned that, when faced with a project that requires skills different from the norm, hobbyists also want to know how to build it. With that in mind, we have attempted to provide detailed instructions for assembling all of the projects.

In the skills chapter you will find thorough instructions for techniques used in the projects. Some you might be familiar with, but the information will be a good review. As you begin many of the projects, it will be useful to refer to this chapter from time to time to make your work easier.

At the front of each project’s section we have included a materials list, which includes any special items that were used in our sample. We list sizes of bevels and jewels, types of lead and zinc channel, and specific gauges of wire, as well as quantities of glass and mirror needed to complete the project. Feel free to make substitutions as you see fit.

We will be developing a web page for projects from this book, and we would love to feature your work. E-mail us pictures of your projects through our website, www.rainbowvisionsg.com, and be sure to check out the work of your fellow glass aficionados.

CHAPTER 1

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Equipment and Materials

If you’ve been working in the stained glass craft, you likely will have most of the tools necessary for completing the majority of the projects in the book. If you need to buy tools, try to purchase the best glass cutter, combination pliers, and soldering iron your budget will allow. These are the items you will use the most and the ones that will contribute most to the quality of the end products you make with them. If you have the luxury of being able to shop at a local stained glass supply shop, ask them for their advice on the best tools.

Some of the necessary supplies may be new to you but most are readily obtainable. As with tools, purchase a quality flux and a solder that is produced for the stained glass industry. These will assist you in rendering attractive solder seams.

This chapter lists and describes the various tools and materials we used throughout the book.

Chemicals

• Flux—A chemical that removes oxidation from various metals, allowing solder to flow smoothly. Most are either liquid or gel.

• Mirror protector—a chemical that seals the back of mirrored glass, preventing deterioration of the silvering.

• Finishing wax—a polish that puts a protective coating and shine on solder and lead.

• Patina—a chemical that oxidizes on solder and lead in various colors. Black and copper are the most common.

Mosaic Items

• Grout elf and spatula—used to spread grout between glass pieces in a mosaic.

• Silicone—an adhesive and sealer used to bond glass to glass and waterproof glass items.

• Etch cream—A chemical used to frost the surface of glass. It is generally used in conjunction with a vinyl stencil to etch a design on glass.

• Weldbond—This multipurpose adhesive bonds glass to glass and to various other surfaces such as wood.

• Grout—a cementlike powder that is mixed with water. It is used to fill in open areas between pieces of glass in a mosaic. It is available in many colors.

Specialty Glass Items

• Bevels—precut pieces of glass with angled edges that create a prismatic or rainbow effect when sunlight passes through them. They are available in a multitude of shapes.

• Jewels—faceted or smooth pieces of glass used as decorative features in stained glass projects.

• Nuggets—Rounded globs of glass that are available in several sizes and numerous colors.

Metals

• Brass tubes—hollow lengths of brass that are used to make box hinges.

• Twisted wire—a double strand of copper wire used for reinforcement and decorative details.

• Copper and zinc channel—available in many sizes; 1/8-inch U-channel is used as framing in several of the projects. These are rigid metals.

• Brass rods—solid lengths of metal used to brace and reinforce.

• Lead channel—available in many sizes, lead is a soft, malleable metal that is easy to bend and solder. Profiles of lead are mainly U and H.

• Layout bars—manufactured by Morton Glassworks, these aluminum bars are used with pushpins to square up and hold projects in place prior to soldering. They are available in several lengths.

• Copper pipe—½-inch plumbing pipe was used in the garden projects.

• PVC—plastic pipe that is inserted into the ground to support the garden sculptures.

Tools

• Utility knife—a heavy-duty razor knife used to score brass tubes.

• Running pliers—used for separating glass after it has been scored.

• Mosaic cutters—pliers with two carbide wheels that are used to cut glass.

• Combination pliers—used for breaking and shaping glass

• Pistol-shaped glass cutter—equipped with a carbide wheel, it is used for scoring glass. There are several other types of glass cutters.

• Needle-nose pliers—used to hold hooks and wires during the soldering stage.

• Lead cutters (dykes)—pliers with two sharp jaws that are used to cut lead channel smoothly.

• Wire cutters—used to cut thinner gauges of copper wire.

For Soldering

• Solder—a tin/lead alloy that is melted onto copper or lead to connect pieces of glass and metal. 60/40 solder is the standard (60 percent tin and 40 percent lead).

• Soldering iron—a heat-producing tool that melts solder. Some are used with a separate regulator for controling the temperature. The one pictured has a dial on the handle for adjusting heat.

Miscellaneous Supplies

• Brass corners—used as braces and decorations on picture frames.

• Brass ball—used as a drawer pull on the Leaf Box project.

• Brass feet—used on the bottoms of box projects.

• Ball chain—used as a decorative border on frames, box lids, and panels.

• Box chain—used as a safety device to prevent a box lid from dropping.

• Hanging chain—with easily adjusted links, this chain can be used for any of the bevel hangers.

• Cord set—used to light up the church project.

• Glass square—used to align layout strips and panels at a 90-degree angle.

• Plastic tape—used to temporarily hold together pieces or sections of glass for easier tack soldering.

• Night-light fixture—the brass clip is soldered to the stained glass.

• Steel wool—used for removing tarnish from brass and zinc for easier soldering.

• Felt pads—adhesive-backed discs that are adhered to the bottoms of stained glass items to prevent them from scratching furniture.

CHAPTER 2

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Special Skills

Throughout this book we will be showing various techniques for building the projects. Some of them may be new to you. In this chapter these will be described and illustrated in detail.

Soldering

1. Different projects call for different levels of heat from your soldering iron. Having an iron that allows you to control the temperature will be very helpful. Also, you will want to use an iron that has a narrow tip (¼ or 1/8 inch). Most irons allow you to interchange tips of different sizes.

2. One technique you will use in almost every project is transferring melted solder from the spool to the project. This allows you to hold pieces of glass with one hand and solder them together with the other.

To achieve this, cool down your iron on a saturated sponge and melt off about 1/8 inch of solder onto your iron. Then take it to where you want the solder connection.

Position your solder spool next to where you are soldering so you do not have so far to travel.

Pro Tip: If the solder falls off your iron, cool your iron with the wet sponge or try taking a little less solder.

3. Several terms will be used to describe the amount of solder to use in various situations:

• Tack solder—small amounts of solder to connect two or more pieces of glass, wire, or lead.

• Flat solder—a seam of solder that is not raised, but about even with the glass.

• Bead solder—a seam of raised solder. This is the final, smooth solder seam.

• Edge bead—this is a raised solder line for the foiled edges of glass pieces such as the outside of box lids.

• Lead joint soldering—this is how two or more pieces of lead are joined.

• Tinning—this involves applying a very thin coat of solder to glass edges, wire, rods, and other materials. This will give brass or copper a silver finish.