Hinge Joint

Hinge Joints are a construction defect in Leaded Glass works where a single joint spans across the project from any one side to another side in any direction, as a straight or mostly straight line.

Why is this a problem?

Hinge joints are a weak point that allows the work to flex in ways that they shouldn't. Vertical hinge joints can allow works to fold over time while horizontal hinges can allow blow out that can worsen exponentially as the weight above pushes down on the lower section. You can also find these on the edge of a project where it is being hung from, edge issues are especially problematic as the work can separate from the hangers and fall.

Cause

Joints like this are not caused by anything but are rather are introduced during the pattern or idea creation stage.

Fixes

Hinge joints can be treated in a number of ways and a pattern rework is not always required! Here's a table of some options you can use to mitigate this issue. These can be mixed and matched within any single work to achieve the required strength. The goal of any fix is to intersect the hinge with something strong to prevent the folding.

Fix Type	Difficulty	Strength	Where it Applies
External Joint Reinforcing	Easy to Hard	Varies greatly depending on material used and path taken	Anywhere!
Bar Reinforcing	Medium	Strongest option possible	Only can be used on works mounted inside of frames or other solid locations.
Internal Join Reinforcing	Easy to Hard	Varies greatly depending on material used and path taken	Generally anywhere, though some came profiles will not allow internal reinforcing. Complex geometry may limit the possibilities of internal reinforcement also.
Panel Conversion	Hard	Very strong generally	Only applies to standalone shapes that are free floating like what is often seen as a "suncatcher". Can be difficult and time consuming as a whole new pattern is being created.
Edge Reinforcing	Medium	Medium strength, also depends on material used.	Applies to all projects but has lots of ways to be achieved depending on the construction of the work. Most often done by framing or wire wrapping.