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Lead Stained
Glass
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Lead construction
involves using "H" shaped lead strips which lie horizontally,
creating channels for the glass to be fit into. The outside edge of the
panel typically is a "U" shaped zink or lead strip. The pieces
are held in place by horseshoe nails until the panel is soldered. |
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Soldiering
lead only differs slightly from foil-wrapped stained glass. First, each
joint where solder will be applied is cleaned using a wire brush. Next,
a small amount of flux is added and then the joint is soldered. Once all
the joints on the front are soldered, the panel is very carefully lifted,
turned and the process is repeated. |
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The major
difference in lead glass - besides the look - is that there is at least
one more step after the piece is soldered before it is finished. Each
of the glass pieces acutally float in the channel of the lead. Because
of this, a cement putty is worked in between the glass and lead channel
on both sides of the panel. Once the cement hardens, it stabilizes the
glass pieces, and waterproofs the panel. If the panel is very large, or
will be used in a motion-prone device like a door, the last step is to
solder reinforcing bars horizontally across the back of the panel to prevent
the panel from bowing and the glass cracking. |
