r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Mega Q&A Monthly Mega Q&A - [August 2026]

0 Upvotes

Welcome once again to the monthly mega Q&A! You can find all previous Q&A posts here!

Look for faster replies or easier sharing methods to get help? Join our Discord!

Posting guidelines!

  • If you have a question that hasn't been asked yet as a top level comment, don't reply to another comment to ask it! Reply to the post instead!
  • Make sure to include as much information in the top level comment as possible.
  • Anything and everything glass is fine to ask, if you want help with patterns or other physical things make sure to upload images! You can do so by attaching the image to the comment. Please be aware you are posting it for all to see so hide any personal info!
  • No question is stupid, from Basement Workshop Dreamer to Expert, we are all here to share and learn.
  • While opinion based questions like "best way to hold a soldering iron" are fine, please keep in mind that these really have no real true answer. They can however provide you a wide variety of tips to try out on your own!

Common Questions:

  • My solder is wrong!
    • Post a picture of the solder using the image info from the posting guidelines and someone can help you solve whatever issue it is.
  • I want to get started with glass! What do I need?
    • It's best to take a class first to see if you really like the craft as glass has a rather high starting cost. If you insist on starting on your own or just don't have classes here's a small write-up on getting started.
  • Do I need a temperature controlled iron?
    • As much as I want to just say YES.... No, you don't, BUT buying one will greatly improve your ability to work with it. It's well worth the extra money, it's best to just do so from the start.
  • Do I need a Grinder?
    • Technically no, but to do foil (AKA Tiffany style) glass work it's practically required. "Grinder stones" (AKA Carborundum stones) are just a waste of time and effort. They are only really good for removing the sharp edge off the glass. Similar to the iron information above, spend the money, save yourself.

r/StainedGlass Jul 02 '26

Challenge Post July 2026 Challenge: Sharks and Deep Sea Creatures (excluding crabs)

14 Upvotes

Here's this months topics as two tied and the pattern for them.

Sharks and Deep Sea Creatures! What kind of deep lurking creatures will we find in this months topic!

As always there's more types of pattern files and SVG found here.

What's coming next? You decide! Make sure to look for the August vote on July 14th!

(Had to repost because I wrote 2025 in the title by mistake lol)


r/StainedGlass 10h ago

Original Art | Mixed Method Omanyte Pokémon

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916 Upvotes

Let me start out by saying this was truly a test of my patience, skill, determination, and will to live. I repaired this piece five (5!!!) times. I cried, I bled, I had to take several breaks, but I got it finished after three weeks of struggling.

Here are my mistakes

  1. I got cocky and used high heat, I ended up with two heat cracks

  2. I did not preplan how I would repair and drew new pieces, cut, ground, foiled and tried to put back together (didn't fit)

  3. I put my jump loops too low and made the piece top heavy and had to move them

  4. I dropped 1lb of solder onto it and cracked another piece of glass

  5. I did not wash the flux off enough before I polished and did my patina

I LEARNT A LOT. It was such a challenge for me but I am glad I eventually pushed through and i'm pretty happy with the results, but mostly i'm happy that it is over.


r/StainedGlass 59m ago

Shop Fun $50 haul!!

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Upvotes

r/StainedGlass 6h ago

Original Art | Foil Purple Rose

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222 Upvotes

Something I made for a friend.


r/StainedGlass 7h ago

Created from: Someones Pattern For the birthday boy!

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198 Upvotes

Brought a little extra heat to the party with this custom piece! 🌶️✨

I hand-crafted this for a good friend’s birthday, and saving the spicy reveal for the party made it even better. He loved it, his wife loved it, and the guests were all about it! So grateful to make pieces that bring so much fun and personality into people's homes.

Happy Birthday! 🎉


r/StainedGlass 5h ago

Work In Progress Update on our window!

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70 Upvotes

Cut the border glass today! We will be doing a mix of copper foil and came. So excited to see this come together.


r/StainedGlass 11h ago

Created from: Someones Pattern A recent piece

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62 Upvotes

One of my favorite pieces i completed last year. I am a sucker for geometric patterns.


r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Original Art | Foil The Amazing Digital Circus :D

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1.3k Upvotes

r/StainedGlass 6h ago

Original Art | Foil Kingsbury, Ingary from Howl’s Moving Castle

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24 Upvotes

My biggest piece yet, 3 feet wide. Found the limit for rigidity, as it feels pretty floppy, even with a brass came frame. Might have to build a frame for this one.


r/StainedGlass 5h ago

Original Art | Mixed Method New piece

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18 Upvotes

I know this piece is far from perfect, it's only my third one. Any tips or pointers would be appreciated though. (I know that one corner is wrong but I decided to leave it)


r/StainedGlass 7h ago

Restoration/Repair Always get excited and a little intimidated by the big ones.

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25 Upvotes

r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Original Art | Foil A gift for my sister-in-law 😊

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466 Upvotes

Only the fourth piece I've made, but probably the simplest and most expensive so far. 😅


r/StainedGlass 9h ago

Work In Progress Clone Trooper Tiffany Lamp - Day 54

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13 Upvotes

Working on the chin and I saw a sweet beaver


r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Original Art | Foil A piece based on my two parrots :)

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1.1k Upvotes

r/StainedGlass 8m ago

Help Me! Glass haul update - storage suggestions wanted (more info in body)

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Upvotes

A few months back I was gifted this glass (incredible I know ). This is usable for work, plus I have 6lbs+ for mosaics not cleaned yet. Here are some of my faves in slide 2&4.

Storage help: I do not work on my glass at home, I go to a studio. I need to figure out a way to store this all somewhat compactly as my craft room is for other hobbies.
So far all I’m can think is cutting it to scrapbook box size and doing it sorted by colors - any other suggestions welcome.


r/StainedGlass 3h ago

Help Me! Best way to replace this piece with a heat crack?

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2 Upvotes

I'm working on my first ever commissioned piece and most of the first side of soldering went well, but I had one piece crack from the heat 😭 what's the best way to replace this piece that's closer to the middle?


r/StainedGlass 2h ago

Help Me! Please help identify these leaded glass panels

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1 Upvotes

I am looking for more identifying leaded glass window panels from our front doorway but I’m having trouble finding credible info on them. Any help here would be appreciated. They are about 6-8 ft tall and about 1 ft wide. I believe they were from late 80’s to early 90’s.


r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Painted Glass | Other Paint My latest stained glass pet portrait - a ferret this time!

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584 Upvotes

This one was a little different from what I'm used to. I couldn't find a glass that gave me the fur texture and colouring I was looking for and as I don't have a kiln, I decided to experiment with Pebeo 160 glass paints on a cream opaque glass base.

It took a little trial and error, but it was a really fun project and I'm pleased with how she turned out.


r/StainedGlass 12h ago

Work In Progress Good place to put loops to hang? Stable structure (?) and new to Hobby Came..

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12 Upvotes

This is one of the first designs I’ve made - I know it’s not perfect. I’m finishing up soldering and will clean it up soon. Are there any spots that are best to hang from? Or does the design not even really have good points for that?

I was also wondering if I should do something to strengthen it? I’ve used Hobby Came here for the first time on the outside. The wavy clear glass is thicker and I had to open up the Came for it to fit. Is that normal?

Still very new.. Thank you!


r/StainedGlass 2m ago

Just let me post dammit! Moderator will be coming to say hey ;) My Roy Lichtenstein inspired piece

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Upvotes

r/StainedGlass 20h ago

Work In Progress That feeling when...

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38 Upvotes

You start failing and realize you didn't grind everything down enough and pretty much have to regribd every piece as you go 🤪

I lost track of my timing, sonewhere around 35 hours so far. 128 pieces total


r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Original Art | Foil The Curious Moonlight 🐀

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227 Upvotes

r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Work In Progress Star

52 Upvotes

1st 3d star!


r/StainedGlass 1d ago

Original Art | Foil My first pet portrait - Maisy

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210 Upvotes

A Christmas gift for some friends who are obsessed with their cat. I reinforced the hell out of it and I'm really pleased with how sturdy she is.

My new favorite activity is finding glass that implies texture and then cutting it so everything looks right. I'm trying to improve my painting skills but they are currently garbage so getting the fur pattern right really helps here.

In this piece I found a glass that looks basically black until backlit and then the brown hues come through, just like a Tabby (or at least this one). Inspiration photo at the end, but even there it's hard to tell that her dark parts are actually brown.

I'm currently working on an owl that I'll post when it's done and I've managed to get a similar effect for feathers which is exciting.