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Solder will not adhere to glass, copper foil is wrapped around
the edges, leaving only enough exposed surface for the solder
to stick. A neat, even foil wrap will give a base for a neat,
even soldered joint. The solder is the framework of the shade
that holds it together, not the copper foil.
Copper foil is available in rolls in several widths, coated with
a special pressure sensitive glue which adheres to the glass,
holding it in place until the soldering operation is completed.
This eliminates the old method of cutting strips from sheets
of foil and wrapping without the adhesive backing to hold the
foil in place.
Stained glass varies in thickness, but it is generally about
1/8 inch thick.
 
For glass 1/8" thick or less use 3/16" wide foil tape
For glass up to 5/32" thick, 7/32" width tape can
be used. For heavily textured or rippled glass it is recommend
that 1/4" or wider tape be used; this allows sufficient
width to cover the edge of thicker glass and to cover a break
that has some slant.
Trimming Copper Foil
The foil strip is easily trimmed with scissors if the paper
backing is left on. The untrimmed edge is placed on the outside
for a nice even seam. As a rule the width of the foil for very
small pieces is trimmed much closer than for larger pieces. Make
wider foil wrap near the top
aperture opening so strong solder seams can be made.
As you remove the pieces for foiling do not pull the pins all
the way out; pull them just far enough out so each glass piece
can be tipped up, removed, foiled and repinned.
Pull pins part way out to remove parts. Foil wrap and repin.
In wrapping, remove the paper backing,
position the strip and anchor the end firmly at a corner with
your forefinger. To prevent uneven overlaps, cut the foil at
a sharp corner without an overlap.
Press with forefinger
Hold the parts edgewise; learn to look at the corners of the
piece and position the foil evenly at each corner. The space
in between will automatically be even.
Center and wrap around the edge of the stained glass piece
To fold over grip the edge with
the thumb and forefinger, push toward the center, work all the
way around. Lay the piece flat against a small piece of plate
glass or other hard flat surface and press down firmly on each
side to flatten the stubborn corners.
Smooth and rub (burnish) with a
pointed section of hardwood dowel or any smooth pointed tool.
Burnishing flattens any air pockets or stubborn corners. If you
are working with rough-on-one side glass, the pointed hardwood
dowel is of great help.
Smooth foil with a pointed section of hardwood dowel
Foiling Rippled or Drapery Glass
Examine the edge of the rippled glass. Use copper foil that is
at last 1/16" wider than the widest point. As you wrap,
look at the flat back side and leave about 1/32" overlap.
Do not crimp the rippled side until you have contour trimmed
the foil with small pointed scissors. Trim leaving about 1/32"
above the edge on the rippled side.
Foiling Jewels
In many of the antique lamps, smooth round glass jewels were
used to represent clusters of grapes and accent points. Ruby
red was the color used most often in the old lamps.
When installing jewels, rough the edge with a grindstone so the
copper foil will adhere better. Only a very narrow strip of foil
is needed. Copper foil is easily trimmed with scissors.
The jewels will show up better if they are positioned slightly
above the surface of the form. Place pins under them so the rounded
part of the jewel is held above the flat stained glass.
Hand pressed jewels, turtleback tiles and scarabs have a lip
around the base of the jewel that makes foiling easier - just
foil the prepared lip.
Hand pressed jewel - foil the prepared lip
Care of Foiled Parts
Copper foil will oxidize and turn reddish with age. This is not
a problem, flux will clean the foil for soldering, but if you
apply flux and do any soldering, you must clean the excess flux
off with a damp cloth or the foil will turn green from oxidation
and need to be replaced after a few days.
Black and Silver Backed Copper Foil
Use these foils with lightly colored cathedral and clear glass
to hide the copper foil color and to create special effects.
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