How Do You Make Lead Stained Glass?
Leaded stained glass is assembled using strips of lead came that are in the shape of an “H” or “U.” The glass is fit into the channels, each joint is soldered, and putty is used to hold everything firmly in place. This is the original method of making a stained glass window. The alternative method, copper foiling, was developed much later and popularized by Louis Comfort Tiffany. It is somewhat more difficult to use lead came for small pieces of glass, which is one reason copper foiling was developed. These methods can be used in combination to make a larger, strong window, with the detail of copper foiling. Design your piece. The pattern for lead stained glass must be precisely designed and measured, especially if the piece will be fit into an existing window. The design must take into account the 1/16 inch space that will be taken up by the “heart” of the lead came. Each line should be as close to 1/16 as you can make it. You must also take into account the border that will be used f
