Do you have to grind glass before foiling?

Foil actually sticks better to a cleanly broken edge than to a ground edge. You do not need to grind every piece of glass. It's okay to only grind to fit.

Do you have to grind the glass for stained glass?

Owning a grinder is a necessity if you're going to make stained glass projects and unfortunately its one of the most expensive tools you'll have to purchase.

Does foil stick to glass?

The foil sticks better if the glass is warm.

Whatever method you choose, make sure there are no hot spots. Work in a warm room and make sure the glass stays warm.

Is aluminum foil on windows illegal?

Emergency management agencies specifically recommend using aluminum foil-covered cardboard that goes between windows and drapes.

Why do you foil stained glass?

Because solder will not stick to glass, foiling each piece establishes a surface on which the solder will adhere. It is critical for the foil to be wrapped smoothly and evenly along the edge of each piece. If not, the solder won't lay evenly and solder seams may look awkward.

Stained Glass Tutorial Part 2: Glass grinding and copper foiling

Can you use a Dremel to grind glass?

You can use the Dremel rotary tool to grind glass with special bits designed for use with glass, such as the diamond or silicon carbide grinding stones. Apply water to the glass while grinding for safety.

Can I sand glass with sandpaper?

Fortunately, you can easily use either sandpaper, Dremel, drill, or even silicon carbide powder to sand glass edges easily.

Can you use sandpaper on glass edges?

Fortunately, you can easily use either sandpaper, a sanding bit and power tool, or even silicon carbide powder to easily smooth glass edges.

What is flux for stained glass?

Flux allows solder to bond to copper foil or lead. Good flux will create a solid bond with a minimum of unpleasantness. Both paste and liquid fluxes work well on lead, foil, zinc, brass and steel.

Do I need a glass grinder?

Whether you are a stained glass hobbyist or a professional glass artist, you should look into adding a stained glass grinder to your workplace if you don't already have one. Glass grinders are a necessary expenditure to consider as part of your many art glass supplies as it can be used for many stained glass projects.

Can you grind glass with an angle grinder?

Angle grinders will follow some of the same routines as flat lap grinding but with a few more steps. Since it is difficult to cover the entire area in one grind like you can with a flat lap grinder, you'll generally want to add more steps to the grinding process to make a smooth transition on the glass.

Can you Wetsand glass?

Wet both the glass surface and the sanding paper with water to provide a lubricant. You do not want to do this completely dry. Using a circular motion, scrub the entire surface of the glass. You will immediately begin to sand out those stubborn scratches.

What is 5000 grit sandpaper used for?

Pro and enthusiast detailers can use the 5000 grit foam backed sanding discs to level surface texture, orange peel and deeper swirls and scratches. The sanding mark pattern left behind is easy to buff out of even the hardest, factory baked on paints by simply compound or polishing.

Can I file down glass?

You can dry sand woods, and metals in addition to glass. Glass traditionally requires wet sanding. However, if you're looking to increase or decrease opacity, you could only do so with dry sanding. Be sure to use superfine sandpaper when smoothing glass edges.

What is cold work in glass?

Coldworking, as it sounds, is changing the shape or surface texture of glass using tools and processes that do not rely on heat. Coldworking methods include grinding, carving, engraving, polishing, sandblasting, and other techniques.

What size copper foil should I use for stained glass?

3/16” – 1/4” foil works well for most standard copper foil stained glass pieces. If you have a wider overlap you may find that the width of the solder is too wide when you start assembling the piece together.

Do you have to solder both sides of stained glass?

Generally, you will hold your piece on the edges near the center. Turning your piece over from the top can sometimes cause your piece to bend in the center. The second side of your piece doesn't need to be tack soldered. Simply apply a light amount of flux to the seams and solder as you did on the first side.