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Sunrise Beach
Lake of the Ozarks Missouri
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Water-filled
Glass Cubes
Glass
Artist: Sandy Johnson |
Project Details
These items are available for sale in the
Stained Glass Pages
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Glass beveled water cubes
WOW! What a response! We had no idea
these would be so popular...there was one person who ordered 20 of them!
She said they made GREAT gifts and the large one made rainbow prisms
4" x 7"! Cool!
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Step-by-step photo's of the current project (and comments
from the artist):
1. Bevel edges |
First, to make the assembly easier,
I beveled the edges of the bevels with the grinder. The bevel on the
left has not been beveled, to show the contrast. Also, notice that
one bevel has the top cut off. This will leave a place to put the
water in. |
2. Foil the edges |
Second, using the appropriate copper foil, tape all
edges. Copper foil comes with copper, black or silver backing.
Because you can see through the bevels (and see the back of the copper
foil tape) you should use the appropriate color you plan on finishing the
bevel with. In other words, if you plan on applying a black patina,
use a black-back tape.
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3. Crimp & burnish foil |
This step shows the foil being crimped by hand around the
beveled glass. After crimping by hand, burnish with a burnisher
wheel or use a clothes pin or similar tool to make sure the foil is stuck
down to the glass well.
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4. Apply flux |
Apply flux to foil.
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5. Tinning |
Apply a small amount of 60/40 solder to your soldering
iron tip and quickly run it along the fluxed copper tape. If you
edges lift, carefully re-burnish. Note that the solder will only
stick to areas that have been fluxed.
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6. Tape together |
A great cabinet-maker taught me this trick using wood...I
figured it would work with glass just as well. It did! It's
called a "tape miter" and it holds all the pieces together as it
is assembled. With wood, it's glued. With glass, it's
soldered.
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7. Solder together
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I start with spot soldering along all the edges where the
pieces come together. Then I go back and fill in all the joint
lines. Be careful not to use too much solder - it will melt through
and form a clump on the inside of the cube - making it impossible to get
out.
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8. Finished cube |
Add a wire or hoop to top for hanging, then clean well.
I use fishing line to give the illusion that it's hanging in space.
Place near a window. I don't recommend using a suction cup, because
of the weight. We have several decorative solder styles -
check them out in our Stained Glass Section.
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OPTIONAL:
9. Apply patina |
An optional step is to apply a color patina to the
foil. Patina options are: copper, black, or green. Make sure
the project is cleaned from all flux (I use soap and baking soda).
Any parts that are not clean will not take the acid.
Using a brush or small cloth, apply the watery acid to the
solder lines. DO NOT get on skin - and of course - wear your safety
glasses! This is acid!
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Clean thoroughly again, apply a wax and hang.
NOTE: you can hang as is and get white sparkles, or add distilled water
and get a sparkling rainbow effect.
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This photo shows:
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large bevel with copper patina (I also etched a rose
on the front bevel)
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left small bevel is silver (no patina)
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right small bevel is black patina
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For a custom designed piece, send us an e-mail, fax, or snail mail it with
the desired design and desired colors. Refer to each glass
manufacturer for a sample listing of colors available. We will then
quote you a price for your custom designed glass piece. We will make every
effort possible to match your desired color choices.
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