| "How do they do that?" |
>FAQ
Cottage Glass
"Putting Imagination in Every Creation!"
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Q. How do you get the color into the glass?
A. Surprisingly I have been asked this question several times. Colored or "stained" glass is made by
a glass manufacturer. There are many manufacturers, such as Spectrum, Armstrong, Uroboros etc.
These glass manufacturers make the glass and add the colors with different ingredients that create
different tints. The glass is then poured out in sheets and if desired, texture is added during the
cooling process. The glass artist then buys sheets of glass from a manufacturer or retailer to use in
their designs.
Q. What is the difference between painted stained glass and colored stained glass?
A. Most liturgical stained glass, especially pieces in famous cathedrals and churches around the
world are stunning examples of painted stained glass. These have been done by true masters of the
trade and highly skilled artists. The paints are a very specific medium that is intended for use on
glass and generally of high quality that is designed to last many years. The degree to which pieces
are painted or actual colored glass varies. Many other retailers that do not specialize in glass will sell
items as "stained glass" because they have that appearance, however the paints used may not be
good quality and eventually may fade, scratch, flake or wear off. Also the item may not, in some
cases, be made of glass but rather plastic or another material.
Q. What is the difference between manufactured designs and custom-made designs?
A. Many of the lamps and other items you see in stores are made in "assembly line" fashion. In
other words "blue goes here, red goes there." They often have the same pre-made pattern, are
assembled the same way and solder joints are sometimes not the best quality. Often they are
advertised as "Tiffany style" however Tiffany hand-selected each piece of glass to create a special
affect. A custom glass artist can create new and original designs and hand selects each piece of
glass. The quality of the finished product tends to be considerably better.
Q. What is the difference between lead and copper foil?
A. Copper foil is a thin piece of copper that has a pre-applied adhesive on one side and is applied to
the edge of the glass then flattened and burnished to conform to the shape of the piece. The adhesive
doesn't actually hold the copper on so each piece must be soldered around all the edges or, if
attached to another piece, soldered along the entire seam. The advantage is that the pieces do not
have to lie flat, so this is often used for lamps or 3-dimensional items. Copper also allows for more
detail and flexibility in a design. Lead is most often used in panels. It comes in long strips with a
channel on each side that the glass fits into. A "cement" or putty is applied between the glass and the
lead to secure it permanently. Lead came gives a more linear or "solid line" effect.
Q. How dangerous is lead in a stained glass panel, figurine or ornament?
A. Not very. The forms of lead that are most dangerous are those that are soluable and unstable . . .
in other words bio-available. This would be lead dust which is present in some paints and lead
fumes which are released during soldering or heating at high temperatures.
Lead in its natural metallic form is basically stable and relatively insoluable. The risk of
contamination through exposure is pretty low. Washing your hands well after handling and avoiding
ingestion should be sufficient to protect against risks of contamination in finished stained glass
pieces.
Refer to MSDS site report: http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Lead-9927204
A. Surprisingly I have been asked this question several times. Colored or "stained" glass is made by
a glass manufacturer. There are many manufacturers, such as Spectrum, Armstrong, Uroboros etc.
These glass manufacturers make the glass and add the colors with different ingredients that create
different tints. The glass is then poured out in sheets and if desired, texture is added during the
cooling process. The glass artist then buys sheets of glass from a manufacturer or retailer to use in
their designs.
Q. What is the difference between painted stained glass and colored stained glass?
A. Most liturgical stained glass, especially pieces in famous cathedrals and churches around the
world are stunning examples of painted stained glass. These have been done by true masters of the
trade and highly skilled artists. The paints are a very specific medium that is intended for use on
glass and generally of high quality that is designed to last many years. The degree to which pieces
are painted or actual colored glass varies. Many other retailers that do not specialize in glass will sell
items as "stained glass" because they have that appearance, however the paints used may not be
good quality and eventually may fade, scratch, flake or wear off. Also the item may not, in some
cases, be made of glass but rather plastic or another material.
Q. What is the difference between manufactured designs and custom-made designs?
A. Many of the lamps and other items you see in stores are made in "assembly line" fashion. In
other words "blue goes here, red goes there." They often have the same pre-made pattern, are
assembled the same way and solder joints are sometimes not the best quality. Often they are
advertised as "Tiffany style" however Tiffany hand-selected each piece of glass to create a special
affect. A custom glass artist can create new and original designs and hand selects each piece of
glass. The quality of the finished product tends to be considerably better.
Q. What is the difference between lead and copper foil?
A. Copper foil is a thin piece of copper that has a pre-applied adhesive on one side and is applied to
the edge of the glass then flattened and burnished to conform to the shape of the piece. The adhesive
doesn't actually hold the copper on so each piece must be soldered around all the edges or, if
attached to another piece, soldered along the entire seam. The advantage is that the pieces do not
have to lie flat, so this is often used for lamps or 3-dimensional items. Copper also allows for more
detail and flexibility in a design. Lead is most often used in panels. It comes in long strips with a
channel on each side that the glass fits into. A "cement" or putty is applied between the glass and the
lead to secure it permanently. Lead came gives a more linear or "solid line" effect.
Q. How dangerous is lead in a stained glass panel, figurine or ornament?
A. Not very. The forms of lead that are most dangerous are those that are soluable and unstable . . .
in other words bio-available. This would be lead dust which is present in some paints and lead
fumes which are released during soldering or heating at high temperatures.
Lead in its natural metallic form is basically stable and relatively insoluable. The risk of
contamination through exposure is pretty low. Washing your hands well after handling and avoiding
ingestion should be sufficient to protect against risks of contamination in finished stained glass
pieces.
Refer to MSDS site report: http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Lead-9927204