The first step after cutting out the pattern pieces is to apply them to the glass. Getting the right section of glass for each piece is very important. Some tulip flower pieces ready to be cut from the sheets of glass. A pen size tool with a small carbide wheel is used to score the glass to cause it to crack along the resulting fisure. This piece is ready to be ground to the exact size. More pieces ready to be ground to size. The grinder allows you to achieve an exact fit.
After grinding, each piece is wrapped with copper foil tape. The copper tape is burnished flat against the glass. This piece is ready to be placed on the fiberglass mold. Rachel is applying glass pieces to the mold with a tacky wax. The pieces are added as they're foiled. The hands of a young artist.
The lamp is just a few pieces away from being ready for soldering. Applying flux in preparation for soldering. The jig I work with can be turned in any direction allowing for a level surface upon which to solder. One of us is actually doing something...can you pick out the pretender? The outside has been soldered. The inside is next. Once the outside has been soldered the lamp needs to be released from the mold. The heat gun softens the wax so the lamp can be separated from the mold
I've configured the lamp in the jig to solder the inside. Cleaning the flux from the lamp after soldering is completed. Applying a patina to the solder. A polish is applied as a final step. The only thing left to do is to photograph the lamp...I'll save the explanation of that process for another day.    

Click on the thumbnails to view the process for making this lamp beginning in the upper left.

Full View  |  Closeup View  |  Overhead View

 About Us  |  Lamps  |  Windows  |  Religious  |  Home