Stained Glass Panels

I have tried soaking the glass pieces in Circa 1850, Dad’s, Easy Spray and in Acetone and then brushing with a tooth brush. It’s not working very well, and it’s very time consuming. There has to be a better, more effective and quicker way. Please help.

TURPENTINE OR PAINT STRIPER

I’m looking into the hobby but need to know the dangers of working with the lead. Thanks!

From personal and anecdotal experience I would say that no, you don’t need to worry about lead poisoning from stained glass work.

As far as I know, you actually have to injest lead (as in children eating lead paint chips causing the lead paint laws). In stained glass you touch lead came, but it’s solid and you obviously won’t be putting it near your mouth.

There are fumes from solder, but you can buy lead-free solder. But industry folk usually say it isn’t necessary, as solder is mostly tin and aluminium anyway.

If you’re just a hobbyist, and not a high-volume studio, the amount of lead is not going to be enough to be a problem. Even so, simply take sensible precautions like latex gloves, face mask, and a well-ventilated area. And don’t eat food in your studio and wash your hands after you finish working.

I think stained glass is a fun and safe hobby. Oh, and keep some bandaids nearby too!

I am making a stained glass panel as a gift and need to send it UPS. Has anyone ever tried using Great Stuff expandable insulation foam as packing material for fragile items? I was thinking of wrapping the panel in bubble wrap and then filling the space around it with Great Stuff.

If you take it to your local UPS store, they will wrap it for you.

Expandable foam is a mess to work with and to remove, but it may work if there is another layer of packing to protect the glass from the foam. Easy does it - a very little goes a long way and there is a curing time.

Maybe you could preform the foam. Something like this - http://www.lpsind.com/Instapak.htm