There are two basic techniques to fabricating items using stained glass. Tiffany is credited with developing the copper foil technique, the more modern method of making stained glass lamps and windows. The leaded technique of fabrication dates back to the 11th. century.
To fashion a window or lamp one must first create a design, sometimes referred to as a cartoon. Then with either method of construction, sheets of glass are cut up to fit each element of the design. (Glass is purchased "pre-stained" from a glass supplier. The glass arrives at the supplier from the factory already coloured. The colouring process takes by adding specific chemicals to the molten form of the glass.)
When all the stained glass is cut and fits the design assembly can begin. If one is using the copper foil method each piece of clean glass is wrapped with an adhesive backed copper tape pressing the foil firmly onto the edges and front and back of the glass. When all the pieces of glass are foiled then they can be soldered together, cleaned and polished for hanging.
When employing the leaded technique of assembly a simple "jig" is set up by nailing two wooden strips to form a right angle one corner of the design. Lengths of "Came", lead channeling (shaped like an "H" on it's side) are stretched and cut to the appropriate length to cover the length and height of the panel. These strips are set in place next to the wooden jig and the first pieces of glass are fit into the lead came. Other pieces of lead are cut and fitted along the edges of exposed glass until one by one all the pieces are fitted together. To hold all the pieces of glass together, he lead is soldered at each of the intersections. The window is then "grouted" using a special "cement" . This final process strengthens, weatherproof and cleans the panel.
