If you have always been entranced by the colorful windows in churches and older homes you may be thinking about adding similar pieces to your own home or place of business. Unfortunately stained glass windows New Jersey can cost quite a bit of money because of the materials and the crafting time that goes into making even a small window. One way to get around the cost is to make your own. If you would like to start your first piece, here are some tips and tricks that may come in handy.
If you look at some extremely complex designs you will be amazed to see that they can be made of thousands of pieces that have been shaped carefully and then fitted into a pattern. Many times the windows seen in a church was donated to that house of worship and may cost thousands of dollars. Older windows may have been made as a form of worship and dedication.
Patters can range from simple, geometric ones to very complex designs that may have thousands of small sections. If you are a beginner, look for designs that have straight edges on the individual sections. Repeating geometric designs can be incredibly beautiful and may be easier for you to work on. It is hard to cut sections with curved edges and so patterns with these shapes may be better completed once you have more experience.
While glass is the main material used in these types of windows there are other materials that are required as well. A section of the design will be cut, sanded and wrapped with tape. The pieces are then soldered together. In the past, lead caning was used to form the metal band that fit between individual pieces of glass. If you are shopping for a window, make sure this metal strip is not overly thick or uneven and that the pieces are joined together as securely as possible.
A store that specializes in this art form can be extremely helpful. You will be able to buy materials and patterns there, see what different colors will look like when they are placed side by side, and will also be able to get advice and tips from the staff in the event that your project does not go as well as you had hoped it will. There may even be classes that you can attend or work space that you can rent.
Finding patterns that are easy to read will also be helpful. Eventually, you may be able to start designing your own pieces but in the beginning it is a good idea to have a pattern to work from. Get used to scaling them up and down in order to create windows of varying sizes.
Start out by working on patterns that have larger pieces, straighter edges and fewer sections. Practice transferring patterns to the surface of the glass in such a way that they will not shift or move while you are trying to trace or cut around them. Get used to cutting gentle curves until you learn how to make rounded edges without breaking or cracking the sheet underneath.
If you want to know more about this art form taking a class might be a good idea. Some community centers or colleges will offer workshops that may vary from beginner to advanced. You may be able to find workshops if you ask at craft stores or shops that specialize in stained glass tools and materials.
If you look at some extremely complex designs you will be amazed to see that they can be made of thousands of pieces that have been shaped carefully and then fitted into a pattern. Many times the windows seen in a church was donated to that house of worship and may cost thousands of dollars. Older windows may have been made as a form of worship and dedication.
Patters can range from simple, geometric ones to very complex designs that may have thousands of small sections. If you are a beginner, look for designs that have straight edges on the individual sections. Repeating geometric designs can be incredibly beautiful and may be easier for you to work on. It is hard to cut sections with curved edges and so patterns with these shapes may be better completed once you have more experience.
While glass is the main material used in these types of windows there are other materials that are required as well. A section of the design will be cut, sanded and wrapped with tape. The pieces are then soldered together. In the past, lead caning was used to form the metal band that fit between individual pieces of glass. If you are shopping for a window, make sure this metal strip is not overly thick or uneven and that the pieces are joined together as securely as possible.
A store that specializes in this art form can be extremely helpful. You will be able to buy materials and patterns there, see what different colors will look like when they are placed side by side, and will also be able to get advice and tips from the staff in the event that your project does not go as well as you had hoped it will. There may even be classes that you can attend or work space that you can rent.
Finding patterns that are easy to read will also be helpful. Eventually, you may be able to start designing your own pieces but in the beginning it is a good idea to have a pattern to work from. Get used to scaling them up and down in order to create windows of varying sizes.
Start out by working on patterns that have larger pieces, straighter edges and fewer sections. Practice transferring patterns to the surface of the glass in such a way that they will not shift or move while you are trying to trace or cut around them. Get used to cutting gentle curves until you learn how to make rounded edges without breaking or cracking the sheet underneath.
If you want to know more about this art form taking a class might be a good idea. Some community centers or colleges will offer workshops that may vary from beginner to advanced. You may be able to find workshops if you ask at craft stores or shops that specialize in stained glass tools and materials.
About the Author:
You can get a summary of the things to keep in mind when selecting an installer of stained glass windows New Jersey area at http://www.kdstainedglassart.com right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment