Lead came and copper foil glasswork 3453723 223629413 2008-07-04T23:46:17Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Mergefrom|Copper-foil glasswork|date=July 2007}} {{dablink|This article is on the techniques of lead came and copper foil glasswork. For a general overview of stained glass art, see [[stained glass]].}} [[Image:jonquildaffodil2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A typical copper foil [[Louis Comfort Tiffany|''Tiffany'']] lamp, with a jonquil daffodil design]] '''Lead came''' and '''Copper foil''' glasswork are the [[arts and crafts]] of cutting colored [[glass]] and joining the pieces into picturesque designs. The traditional method uses [[lead]] [[came]]. This is the method used for centuries in [[Europe]], mainly in [[Religious]] buildings such as [[cathedral]]s, [[church]]es and [[monastery|monasteries]], and including wealthy or [[aristocracy|aristocratic]] homes. An alternative method, replacing the lead came with [[copper]] [[foil (chemistry)|foil]], was invented in the 19th century, enabling creation of [[three-dimensional space|three-dimensional]] works, in addition to [[two-dimensional]] ones to which the lead came method is limited. The copper foil artwork is commonly called [[Louis Comfort Tiffany|''Tiffany'']] stained glass, even though there is a debate about whether [[John La Farge]] or [[Louis Comfort Tiffany]] invented this alternative to lead came glasswork. ==Overview== In both lead came and copper foil glasswork, cut pieces of stained glass are joined together in a framework of lead. In the lead came method the pieces of glass are embedded into the channels of the came, and the joints between the came strips [[soldering|soldered]] together. In the copper foil method, the edges of the glass pieces are wrapped with adhesive copper tape, and [[soldering|soldered]] together along the adjacent copper strips. ==The process== [[Image:Lead came and Copper foil Glasswork Flowchart.png|thumb|right|277px|The steps in creation of Lead Came and Copper Foil Glasswork]] ===Design=== The first step for both techniques is to create a design on paper. This draft must consider constraints such as reduction of buckling risk, overall structural integrity, limiting the convergence of lead lines, and cuttability of each piece of glass within. The next step is to make a template copy of the design for cutting the glass. The width of the lead came or the copper foil that separates the pieces of glass may be compensated for with double blade pattern shears that remove a thin strip of material on the template copy. For large designs, a scale model may be made, which is digitally photographed and further modified with [[AutoCAD]]. After measurements and other notations are applied, the full pattern is printed on a [[large-format printer]]. ===Transferring the design to glass=== Four methods may be employed. *The cut paper may be glued to the glass before cutting it *The cut paper to may be pressed against the glass and its outline traced on the glass with a marker. *The pattern may be affixed to a light box or light source. Sheet glass is placed over the pattern, and traced with a marker. *The edge of the pattern piece may be followed with the cutter. ===Cutting the glass=== The glass is scored using a [[steel]] or [[tungsten carbide|carbide]] wheel glass cutter lubricated with cutting oil. Glass is broken at the score using [[breaker-grozier pliers]], running pliers or built in groziers on a traditional glass cutter. This works because glass breaks along its weakest point when it bends. The ball end on many glass cutters is used to break complicated cuts in a piece of glass. Tapping the ball end along the score on the opposite side of the glass sends a vibration through the glass that helps it break along the score. Also, the notches in most basic glass cutters can be used to grab small bits of glass for breaking. ===Grinding the cut glass=== At this stage, the cut glass pieces have sharp edges and inaccuracies in their shape. The glazier can use an electric glass grinder with a [[diamond]]-coated [[grinding wheel]] to smooth the glass pieces, or a [[carborundum]] stone. ===Glass saws=== An alternative to the cutting and grinding steps is the use of a ring saw or [[band saw]]. Such saws permit the cutting of shapes impossible with a wheel cutter. ---- This is where the processes for each of the two methods split. The next section describes the steps for the lead came method. The equivalent copper foil steps are described in the [[#Copper foiling|copper foiling]] section below. ==Lead came technique== [[Image:AndelysTheophile.jpg|thumb|left|204px|A 16th century lead came glass window, church Notre Dame, Les Andelys, Normandy, France]] The lead came has channels into which the glass pieces are inserted. There are two types of lead came: for the [[circumference]] of the design, came with a U-shaped [[cross section (geometry)|cross section]] may be used, as it takes glass only on one of its sides. For the middle of the design, came with an H-shaped cross-section is used, taking glass on both its sides. The channel or "heart" height of lead came is available in different thickness to allow for thicker or thinner glass as well as the "face" (profile) in various sizes for design options and construction. ===Preparation of lead for assembly=== Traditionally, lead came strips are stretched for straightening and stiffening using a lead vice attached at the edge of a work bench. The need for this is controversial. On one side there is a view that stiffening of the lead is crucial to achieve maximum lateral tensile strength to limit bowing of the window in the future and that the integrity of the lead is not compromised. However, it is the opinion of some practitioners that stretching is an undesirable practice as it might weaken, rather than strengthen, the lead [http://www.debrady.com/technical/articles.htm#Stretchinglead]. Lead came is available in 5-6 foot pieces and on dispensing rolls for smaller gauge lead. Lead came is commonly cut with lead dikes or glazing knife. Table top chop saws are also used where repetitive sized pieces are needed or when working with a zinc based lead or zinc came. Cut lead came is also done in angles to allow for proper mitering where the stained glass design requires it. ===Assembling the lead and glass=== [[Image:Lead came cross sections02.png|thumb|right|333px|Schematic cross-section drawing of two glass pieces embedded in three lead came pieces: 1 - U-shaped came; 2 - H-shaped came; 3 - glass]] Each piece of glass is set in place upon a glazing drawing, with came shaped around it to make a matrix. Horseshoe nails and scraps of lead are used to hold the already-assembled pieces to the work surface. Horseshoe nails are used, because the steel is not tempered, and therefore has less chance of breaking the edge of a piece of glass. Sometimes on a delicate piece, a scrap of lead will cushion the glass from the nail. The glass and lead are assembled gradually, beginning from one corner of the work, and building-up away from it. The ends of the came are tucked under the ears of the other lead it meets. ===Soldering the lead joints=== The lead came is soldered at the joints between strips with lead/[[tin]] solder. This is in contrast to the copper foil method described below, where the whole length of the copper strip is soldered. ===Cementing the lead and glass panel=== The final step is applying a waterproofing putty made of linseed oil and calcium carbonate ([[commercial whiting]]). The glazing compound is worked into the space between the glass and lead, to strengthen and [[waterproof]] the work. Lastly, the ears are pressed down against the glass, securing the piece and further waterproofing the panel. Whiting is reapplied to window sparingly for cleaning and removing excess oils left from cementing. ===Adding reinforcement bars=== [[Lead]] is one of the heaviest metals, and because of its [[malleability]] and ease of soldering, is perfect for the stained glass art. But because of this, stained glass panels can be very heavy. These windows from [http://beyerstudio.com/windows_for_sale.htm Zettler Studio of Munich, Bavaria] were made in 1928 for a church in Philadelphia, now closed. One of these sections alone can easily weigh 80 lbs and use a matrix of 7 bars in some examples. Because of this, the original installer have included copper wires soldered onto the window to be twisted around bars set into the frame. These round bars and wires help carry the weight and prevent buckling, a fatal problem for stained glass windows if not caught. The copper wire method is obsolete now, though still used in historical preservation. A preferable technique is that of soldering a flat bar perpendicular to the window. The ends of this bar will set into the frame and prevent deflection. <gallery> Image:Buckled_lead_came_window_01.jpg|A lead came window that buckled because of lack of reinforcement bars Image:Buckled lead-came window-front-view 02.jpg|Front view of the buckled window shown on the left</gallery> ==Copper foil technique== The steps of the copper foil process are depicted in the images below. * The edges of the glass pieces are wrapped in copper foil. This is similar to the lead came method, where the edges are inserted into the came channels. The foil is then burnished onto all three glass surfaces. *[[Flux (metallurgy)|Flux]] is applied to all visible copper sparingly. * The copper-wrapped glass pieces are soldered together. A bead of solder is run across every spot of visible copper foil, in contrast with the lead came method, where only the came edges called "joints" are soldered together. * A finishing patina is applied to emphasize details or to quickly achieve the natural black patina that all lead develops with age. <gallery> Image:CopperFoil glasswork wrapped before soldering.jpg|Glass pieces wrapped with copper foil, before soldering Image:CopperFoil glasswork soldering.jpg|Soldering the copper foil wrapped pieces Image:CopperFoil_glasswork_tinted.jpg|The finished work, after tinting with dark patina </gallery> [[Image:Tiffany glasswork Hanukkah menora02.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Copper foil glasswork [[Hanukkah]] menora]] ==Tools and materials== ===General=== * [[Safety glasses]] * Sheet glass * Pattern shears * [[Adhesive]] or [[paint pen]] * [[Glass cutter]] * [[Cutting oil]] * [[Glass pliers]] * Electric glass [[Grinding machine|grinder]] with [[diamond]]-coated [[grinding wheel]] * [[Soldering iron]] * [[Solder]] * [[Flux (metallurgy)|Flux]] and applicator brush ===For lead came work=== * Lead came * Lead [[nippers]] * [[Glazing hammer]] * [[Fid]]s (tapering pins) * [[Cement]] for lead came glass (glazing compound) ===For copper foil work=== * Copper foil * [[Patina]] *Solder 60/40 tin lead *Soldering Iron ==See also== * [[Architectural glass]] * [[Beveled glass]] * [[Breaker-grozier pliers]]. * [[Cathedral glass]] * [[Drapery glass]] * [[Fracture glass]] * [[Fracture-streamer glass]] * [[Leadlight]] * [[Ring mottle glass]] * [[Rippled glass]] * [[Rose window]] * [[Stained glass]] * [[Streamer glass]] [[Category:Glass types]] [[Category:Windows]] [[Category:Glass art]] [[ar:زجاج معشق بصفائح النحاس]]