Soldering your stained glass project
It’s hard to believe but I’m nearly done with my stained glass project now. It’s been a really great class that I’ve very much enjoyed. One more class and we’ll be done!

This past week we finally started soldering our projects. First off we discussed some safety precautions.
- Soldering irons run at about 700 degrees Fahrenheit and you can’t tell from looking at one whether it’s on or off, so always assume that it’s hot!
- Solder is comprised of tin and lead, so no eating or drinking or smoking, while soldering
- Always wear closed toe shoes and non-flammable trousers. Hot lead dropped on exposed body parts can be very painful!
- Be sure that you have good ventilation. Those of you who are particularly sensitive to fumes, may want to purchase a flame trap
- Flux, which is used to help stick your solder to the lead, is acid based. You do not want to get in on your skin and you do not want to leave it for prolonged periods of time, on your glass, or it will etch your glass. Work in small areas at a time and neutralize the acid when you’re done soldering.
Solder, as I mentioned before, is made up of tin & lead. It typically comes in:
The first number represents the percentage of tin and the second number represents the percentage of lead in your solder. The lower the amount of tin in your solder, the longer it will stay molten and the longer it will take to harden. 60/40 will fill gaps easier because hardens faster. 63/73 is most often used for decorative soldering.
You can also find solder that contains no lead. This is typically used for jewelry and other items that are worn next to the skin.

Tip 2 - Dipping Your Sugar Cookies

Obviously, you don’t have to ice your sugar cookies but they sure are pretty when you do and if you’re going to make them for gifts then I’d highly recommend you take the time to ice them.
It is my humble opinion that the sweetest valentine is the one that is home made and what kind of crafty gal would I be if I didn’t have a few suggestions? Well, of course I do!
Earlier in the week my classmates and I each found the time to stop by the glass store and choose the glass for our project. It’s amazing how different the same pattern can look when done with different colors and types of glass.
As with any new craft, this one will require some tools. Here is a list of basic tools you’ll need:
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve just started a new stained glass class. For those of you who’ve never done stained glass there are basically three styles for creating stained glass art:





