What is stained glass? Stained glass is a bit of a misnomer, "leaded glass" being more accurately descriptive. Stained glass techniques involve the cutting of colored sheet glass into smaller pieces that are later assembled into a lead framework. The process begins with the creation of a model, a line drawing that takes into consideration the cuttability of individual pieces and the overall structural soundness of the ensemble of the lead lines. Each piece on the model is trace upon the sheet glass, which is then scored with a glass cutter and broken along the score lines by hand or with pliers. The glass edges are fitted to the model with the help of a grinder, and are then ready to lead. There are two ways to lead the glass. The first is with lead came, in which "H" or "U" came is variously used to gradually form a framework around each piece, gradually working from one side of the model to the other. The came is soldered only at the joints, after which putty is inserted in the small spaces between the glass and part of the came that covers edges of the glass pieces and hold them in place. Excess putty is removed by sprinkling whiting and brushing if off. The lead came method is favored for the evenness of the lead lines and any window application that will be subjected to temperature extremes. The second method is with copper foil. Copper foil, sold in rolls of tape and with adhesive backing, is wrapped around the ground sides of the pieces of glass, and the excess width of copper foil is folded over the glass with a burnishing tool. The lead framework in created by melting lead to fill the narrow voids between pieces and structural strenght is created by melting enough solder over the lead channels to create a rounded back. The copper foil method is favored for projects made up of very small complex pieces, or lampshades. Leaded glass may be enhanced with a variety of advanced techniques that can be worked on flat glass, such as glass painting, beveling, engraving and sandblasting. It may also be improved with the use of fused, lampworked, blown (rondels) and even cast glass and pāte de verre. What may I create with stained glass? window panels lampshades boxes various domestic objects such as clocks, tissue cozies, etc. What equipment is needed for stained glass? carbide wheel glass cutter grozzing/cutting pliers grinder soldering iron, flux, flux brushes 60/40 solder flat glass What other techniques might I combine with stained glass? Anything that you can do to flat glass can be used to enhance stained glass. sandblasting beveling engraving pāte de verre fusing glassblowing (roundels) flat glass Where do I learn stained glass? Nearly every supplier of stained glass material also offers classes. Simply look up the Yellow Pages. Exemplary websites: Judith Schaechter Bogenrief Studios More information: Make your own model Art of Stained Glass Enter Forums