Stained Glass FAQ

This is a list of common questions asked specifically about Stained Glass and all the processes it has. It will be broken into categories so it's easier to find relevant to you information.

Tools

Soldering Iron

• How to pick a Soldering Iron?
  • Soldering irons can be hard to compare as there's many types of them. Your best bet is to purchase an iron model that stained glass supply stores offer. Stained glass requires an iron capable of working with lots of mass. Thus the vast majority of electronics irons will not work.
• What wattage for a Soldering Iron?
  • Wattage is not always a good metric for picking a soldering iron as it's only part of the requirements. There's also two types of Electric Irons, Wire Wound and Ceramic, which can't be compared with each other. If you insist on using wattage generally anything 60W or greater should be sufficient for glasswork. You can read more about irons on the Soldering Iron page or use the How to Pick a Soldering Iron page for more information.
• Do I need a temperature controlled Soldering Iron?
  • Technically no. THOUGH not having a temperature controllable iron is a great disadvantage. Wire Wound Irons without a built in solution you can use a Rheostat otherwise for Ceramic Irons they generally already have electronics and include controls of some type.
• What temperature do I use?
  • This depends on the Solder Alloy you are using. The manufactures should provide a melting range and you will want to be over that by a small margin. One thing you can do is start near the temperature and slowly turn it up until you like how the solder flows.

Pliers

• What are combo/combination pliers?
  • This is just an alternative name for Grozing pliers as they are two tools in one. Grozers and Breaking Pliers.
• Where do I place Grozing Pliers?
  • Grozing pliers being used to break glass are placed with the end of the head parallel to the socore. When using to groze the pliers should be near the edge of the glass to be removed.
• What side of the Grozing Pliers does what?
  • Flat Jaw is for breaking, Curved Jaw is for grozing. You can read more about how this tool works on the Grozing Pliers page.
• Where do I place Running Pliers?
  • Running pliers are placed over the score line with the concave (downward curve) side on top of the score and the convex side (bump side) on the bottom. The edge of the pliers head should be on either side of the score, then lightly squeeze the handle.
• What is the difference between Grozers. Breaking Pliers and Running Pliers?
  • The shape of their jaw and the specific use they are for. Grozers have a flat and curved jaw with serrations that are used for breaking off small bits of glass and grozing away material. Breaking pliers have smooth jaws that meet only at the tip that are for holding onto small areas of glass and breaking it off. Running pliers have a curved jaw or a bump and pit to apply force directly on the bottom of the score and further away next to the score which is used for starting Runs or breaking relatively straight bits of glass completely.

Grinder

• Do I need a Grinder?
  • Technically no. If you can manage to cut the glass accurately enough you can use a Carborundum Stone instead, though a grinder is extremely recommended.
• When do I change my Grinder Bit?
  • This is somewhat of a difficult question. Unless the the bit has bare spots that are another color than silverish or has no gilittery specks there's no guaranteed way to know. You just need to go by feel, as bits wear they will grind slower and be less effective, often causing people to push harder. Though you need to take into consideration what grit you are using. Higher grit numbers grind slower regardless of how used they are.

Scoring Tool

• What handle is best?
  • None! The handle that is best is the one that works best for you. They are all the same in function otherwise though they may have specific requirements for how they are used. There's more information on the Scoring Tool page.
• What side of the glass do I score?
  • You score the flattest and smoothest side. The only exception to this is when working with Coated Glass, some coatings like mirror should be cut on the side that isn't coated.
• Should I hear noise when I score?
  • Not always! Often a smooth zipper sound is made when scoring the glass correctly but some glass will not make much or any noise. It entirely depends on the maker, type and color of the glass.
• How can I tell if my score is good?
  • There isn't a guaranteed way to know if a score was good or not until it's broke, Even then it can sometimes be difficult to tell. One of the easiest ways is to look at it and feel it. Good scores in most cases won't have any white powder, slivers of glass, or sand like material left behind. Then if you run your fingernail across the score generally a good score should be something you can easily feel that your nail catches in.

Materials

Glass

• What Glass can I use?
  • Anything! You can even use things that aren't glass! Pretty much if you can stick Foil or slot it into Came and whatever it's made of will survive the sun and soldering iron it can be used in glasswork!
• How to store glass?
  • Glass Sheets should be stored vertically, Glass Scrap can be stored in boxes or totes safely. Stacking or storing glass horizontally can easily lead to breaks from multiple causes.

Foil

• What size foil do I use?
  • Whatever size you want! Within reason anyway. When using foil you need a small amount to wrap around both sides of the glass to hold the part in place. It doesn't take much but the more it wraps around the sides the wider the Joint will be in the end.