I've also been SG crafting for a long time (47 years) and a few things you do make me cringe (as watching me would do to you, I'm sure). For me it starts with your long nails and oodles of jewelry that can be damaged or get caught on something. Also wear disposable gloves when working with chemicals and solder, which has lead in it. Only beginners need to tape or tack patterns down and also waste a lot of glass positioning pattern so far in, especially since you are using a grinder. I like a light table I made to eliminate having to cut out pattern pieces, but whole pattern shows through most glass pieces. No need to snap bits off on end of a table, so much faster using your hands or even using running or smooth-beak breaking pliers. I also tap gently on the underside of the cut with a cheap cutter with a ball on the end to make sure it will start the run well - not smack the top of the glass down. I wash the glass pieces in hot soapy water before wrapping with copper foil to make sure all cutting oil (kerosene and oil mix) is gone as grinding doesn't always get rid of it all and there is often a slight residue from the grinding. Another thing the mask is good for is when grinding. Even though a lot of water is used, there will be a fine dust of glass around you - just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Start wrapping your foil in the middle of an inside curve, not outside area. I have your identical fid, but prefer a wider wooden one most of the time. Softer wood feels better than hard plastic when smoothing foil. When doing a lot of soldering, you need either a proper mask respirator and or a vent or fan and open window if possible. I use all precautions and look like SuperFly with pink respirator for lead fumes and goggles/glasses. Again, you are breathing fumes from flux and lead in solder. Obviously you can't do that and do the video at the same time. I only use the 'chalk' cleaner on larger lead came pieces and use a window cleaner or hot soapy water on paper towel or rag cloths on the suncatchers. For making more pieces of one pattern, like flowers, kites, feathers, etc. cut whole pattern pieces in one color and others in other colors and switch or mix glass pieces to get a good result. Plan colors that will work together as the wrong combination will look awful. You then don't have to stop as much to find glass pieces and have three or more of the same item (like the feathers) yet they seem more unique because they are of different glass combinations. Another thing I have learned is to not waste time on a plain, boring piece of glass, but instead use like or opposite colors like your other feathers behind you. People make the mistake of using cheap glass without any oomph and then realize how washed out it looks when sunlight hits the glass. The copper or black patina I use depends on the colors of the finished piece - warmer colors (red, orange, yellow) look good with the coppery color and black is used for cool colored glass (blues, greens, purples). You can also leave it without a finish and let it oxidize/antique on its own.
@@AlexeyKobzunenko Thanks, but I'm not that clever to do my own videos. I just viewed my original post again - good grief, what a lot of blabbering on I did. I do learn a lot from those who share their experiences though and appreciate all of them. It is just that doing stained glass can be hazardous if a bad habit is repeated and the best thing is to learn as much as you can from everyone. My father died because of not protecting himself enough from the chemicals he used at work and got a type of blood cancer/leukemia from it. Nobody could figure out what was wrong with him until a 'House M.D.' (Dr. Gregory House type of super medical diagnostician pinpointed what it was, so I can't help but warn people of using proper protection. I'm still learning from others even at my late stage of crafting. Someone always comes up with a new idea and we can learn so much from others.
you probably dont give a shit but if you're bored like me during the covid times you can stream pretty much all of the new series on InstaFlixxer. Been watching with my girlfriend lately =)
there are fluxes that are water soluble, just ask for them, and instead of having that white dust you can just wash it with water. great video, thanks.
Lisa Howard, black patina would be great. You don’t need Calcium carbonate for foiling. Wash well and line with copper foil, burnish, solder, patina and voila!
