Everyone has seen stained glass at least once in his or her life. Although they are usually associated with religious buildings, it is possible to see some elsewhere. In fact, many people choose to decorate one or many of their house’s doors with stained glass. However, the process of making it is unknown to the vast majority of the population and that is why we decided to write about this topic in our latest article.
The Origins of Stained Glass
Before discussing how stained glass is made, it is interesting to know the origins of this art form. The earliest forms of stained glass dates back to the time of the great Egyptian and Roman civilizations. In Rome, for example, baths were decorated with colored mosaic glass designed to sift the light that penetrated the room. In addition, the windows wealthy Romans villas were closed with colorful painted glass. As you can see, the use of stained glass has already been prevalent for many centuries.
The Process of Making Stained Glass
The glass used for the creation of leaded stained glass is flat and has a thickness that varies between 1.5 mm and 5 mm. Meanwhile, lead is used in rods that form a lying H. Here are the steps necessary for the creation of stained glass :
- Design : Since making stained glass requires precise work, there is very little room for improvisation throughout the process. At the design stage, image, colors, strength, stained glass durability and the amount of light you want to let inside the room must be determined.
- Model : The model is a document which the artisan will refer throughout his work. It shows the project on a 1/10 scale and presents all of its parts such as the lead path, glass color, paint and metal frames.
- Coloring : The coloring stage determines the harmony between different glasses. The glasses are selected according to the colors mentioned in the model and according to their nature. They are antique, veneered or printed.
- Outline : The outline is the ‘technical drawing’ of the panel, drawn on bubble wrap on a 1/1 scale. Lead locations are outlined and parts are differentiated by numbers to be easily located.
- Layer : The outline is carried over a layer. This is important for creating future copies or repair damaged parts. It also serves to position cut parts and to avoid confusion and losses.
- Calibration : After layer, the outline is methodically cut. The calibration step is used to keep the panel’s measures considering the glass/lead assembly.
- Cutting : You need to be accurate when cutting glass, because each flaw may alter the final result in its measures or its design. Templates designed in the previous step act as guides to each of the parts and their overlap must be perfect. A diamond or a glass cutter is used to cut the glass. Cutting is done in 2 stages: creating scratches and detach parts.
- Setting : Setting includes every action required to assemble the glasses and leads.
- Welding : Once all the leads are assembled, they are secured by depositing molten tin on each of their intersections. The second side panel is also welded during this step except the surrounding lead.
- Puttying : Filler application, the final step seals the income and consolidated. Small spaces between the glass and seals are filled with a liquid sealant.
This concludes this article on the process of making stained glass. If you are interested to learn more or to acquire a stained glass window, contact a quality glass manufacturer.