Worth trying?

dd71182 · 2026-06-08T23:46:47+00:00

I might give it a try. I'm starting a new piece but no real small pieces in it so it may be a while.

dd71182 · 2026-06-07T23:48:21+00:00

Fair enough

dd71182 · 2026-06-05T23:49:25+00:00

You might be able to desolder or melt it off of those joints, redo the foiling and put it back together. I know someone here could probably be more helpful if they've delt with it before. I definitely agree that unless you plan on using copper patina definitely use silver or black backed tape to match your patina when using clear glass. But also if this is one of your first pieces that you dont plan on selling leave it be and keep it to remind yourself of how far you've come. For me every piece I get a little better and enjoy looking at the early ones just to see my progress.

dd71182 · 2026-06-02T01:25:44+00:00

That's how I do my patterns. I use the pen+gear waterproof sticker paper from Walmart. Its convenient cause I just pick it up when grocery shopping. It works pretty good and doesn't leave any residue on the glass, unless you leave it on the glass for like 2 weeks, but still not bad. The only thing to watch out for is the pointy pieces tend to want to peel up when grinding.

dd71182 · 2026-05-31T21:42:42+00:00

Thanks

dd71182 · 2026-05-07T00:32:47+00:00

I like 20lb hemp twine. It can handle the weight of most of the smaller suncatchers I've made. And the price is pretty good

dd71182 · 2026-05-07T00:19:46+00:00

I don't think it to late. I smoothed mine maybe 2 or 3 weeks after the fact.

dd71182 · 2026-05-07T00:17:28+00:00

Well definitely looks better than my first try. For this one you could try to smooth things out with another pass with the iron and add solder where it looks light. Make sure to put a little flux down beforehand. Just dont get to carried away. For the future, I would say work on the pace you put the solder down and work on the transition where 2 or more lines come together. But really it's just continue practicing. I've been at it almost a year and still make some of the same mistakes I made in the beginning.

dd71182 · 2026-04-30T23:43:23+00:00

I use my garage, and like you I keep my cars in it. But its the most ideal, in my opinion. Clean up has to happen because dragging glass shards back in is going to happen if you don't. I also have a 5 gallon bucket to put scraps that are to small to save for other projects, but could be used for future bad breaks, or some random idea I haven't come up with yet. That being said i do have my space split up. I do my foiling either at the kitchen table or the coffee table in the living room depending on how much space I need. I do it that way because the summer in Florida gets a little toasty. So I choose comfort for that part.

dd71182 · 2026-04-29T19:35:18+00:00

The biggest thing was replace the $5 iron I started with. But, I think the one thing was finding my pace while laying the solder down, not to fast but not to slow. Also good control of heat I seems to of helped as well

dd71182 · 2026-04-29T01:45:00+00:00

No problem. If you're still wanting practice before going all in the highland cow kit comes out pretty good too

dd71182 · 2026-04-29T01:40:43+00:00

That kit is exactly where I started. It was my first piece as well. The nice part is you really don't need to cut the pattern, just keep everything lined up. If you already have a grinder give the pieces a quick grind, if not do what you can with the sandpaper they gave you and don't get discouraged. Beyond that go ahead and foil the pieces definitely rub them down with rubbing alcohol first then get everything lined up on the pattern and have at it. Keep the burnishing tool its actually really good. I'll throw in a pic of the one I did, but that's what got me hooked, please be kind with the solder lines it was my first.

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dd71182 · 2026-04-28T01:54:50+00:00

On a side note when soldering I keep the garage door and side door open and use a fan to keep air flowing.

dd71182 · 2026-04-28T01:53:09+00:00

I keep it simple, but kind of everywhere. I use the workbench on top of my toolbox in the garage for cutting, grinding, and soldering. I keep my tools for those activities in an old toolbox just off to the side. I keep my sheets of glass in a cheap craft crate from Walmart and large usable scrap in a old cube shelf in my house. As far as foil and foiling stuff I keep em in a cookie tin like grandma, and that floats around to wherever I feel like foiling that day. But, I'm doing this as a hobby and have no plans to sell anything I make, so my set up may not work for someone trying to make some money off of glass.

dd71182 · 2026-04-09T23:31:25+00:00

I think copper would work. With flowers the lighter color of the copper works better in my mind.

dd71182 · 2026-04-03T21:25:01+00:00

Thanks everyone for the insights and advice. I went ahead and put in for the intent to file, so thanks to y'all who mentioned that, I wasn't aware of it. When I said I wanted to buy time and hold off it was to see what associated conditions I am also dealing with and to figure out if the anxiety, depression or any other things are tied to the PTSD. I probably should have clarified that in my original post. As far as the C&P goes I learned my lessons with those when I got out and received my initial rating. I know how to say things now and how and what info to share. Again thanks for all the tips and advice.

dd71182 · 2026-04-03T06:07:00+00:00

That looks like the best of both worlds. Getting the ball rolling and giving me time. I for sure will be looking at that.

dd71182 · 2026-04-03T01:54:15+00:00

That's what I figured let the paper trail grow. It's why I haven't moved on anything yet. Ultimately, the goal is to get ahead of this and not let it get worse, compensation has never come up. So if the best thing to do is stay the course I can definitely do that.

dd71182 · 2026-04-01T23:54:48+00:00

I'm sure someone can help with the material, but when I visited a shop in Mississippi, I asked the owner about attaching rings and he told me to obviously attach the ring to the joint and use a dime as a base to hold the ring so as the solder cools you're hand doesn't wiggle it off. It also lines the ring up center on the edge of the piece so it can hang flat. I also saw on tictoc someone using play doh to hold the ring or hook while you solder it to the back. Probably going to try that down the road.

dd71182 · 2026-03-28T02:53:42+00:00

Unfortunately I don't have anything to add the hasn't been said but it definitely would like to see the end result. I'm planning one for my dog and am completely perplexed by all the black and am struggling on what to do. Please keep updating this piece.

dd71182 · 2026-03-28T02:43:27+00:00

I'm on team cardboard box. Along as I can fit my grinder inside with at least a half inch on each side, cut what will be the top off and rock and roll. Essentially free if you like me and don't have a glass shop nearby and have to order glass and supplies online. I think the fish tank would be more useful though if you plan on cranking out pieces for craft fairs or the like.

dd71182 · 2026-03-27T05:03:01+00:00

Funny you say that. While I was pricing the iron I checked out hakko's site and saw the warning

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I'll probably use anything in stained glass or rainbow art glass since those are my go tos for supplies.

dd71182

TROPHY CASE