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Stained Glass Repairs
Repairing Stained Glass, Written by Carol Trickett
Repairing stained glass is extremely satisfying. It’s also a great investment.
In the London area today there are many beautiful leaded windows from about 100 years ago in need of repair. You may find that the window is drafty because the cement is crumbling and falling out. Or perhaps the window has a bow in it or a few cracks. Don’t despair; these windows can be given new life.
Often people store cherished and valuable windows or lamps in their basement or attic because they are not in perfect condition. Why not bring them to a stained glass artisan who can give you a free quote on fixing them? Depending on the condition of the piece, it might be well worth your investment. It may be easier than you think!
Let me walk you through the steps that I used in this recent window restoration.
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1 I removed all the putty with a utility knife.
1 I removed all the putty with a utility knife.
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5 Once the window lay flat, a bow was revealed of 3 inches on one half and about 1 inch on the other half. The panel lays flat with a small amount of weight on it to remove the bow.
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2 With a pair of pliers and my feet firmly planted, I pulled the nails that were holding the panel in the frame.
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6 To remove the broken pieces, each piece was scored in multiple directions.
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3 Once I had removed all the putty from the edge of the panel and all the nails, I made sure that the panel was loose all the way around the frame. Then placing a plywood board on top of the glass, I flipped the frame over.
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7 Then after turning over the panel, the scored pieces where tapped to break and pulled out with pliers.
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4 Putty around most of the front was removed. You don’t always see putty on both sides. After removing the solder connections from the centre bar, the window was removed from the frame.
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8 A new piece of glass was cut for each opening and manipulated until it fit.
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9 All new pieces were held in place temporarily with masking tape.
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13 The glass and lead were brushed gently but firmly with a brush to remove cement from textured glass and to polish the lead.
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10 It was discovered that the lead came edging was worn so it was replaced with new.
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14 A sharpened wooden stick was used to outline each glass piece and clean out extra cement that was not needed around the edges.
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11 After all visibly dried cement was scraped away, the panel was cemented. This holds the new glass in place and tightens the glass that bowed in the past.
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15 A vacuum was used to clean up the whitening and then the panel was wiped down with a soft rag.
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12 "Whitening" or saw dust was used to dry the cement and soak up excess.
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16 After the cement had set, the panel was placed in the frame, tacked in with finishing nails at the joints, wired to the support bar, and secured with putty.
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If you have a stained glass item in need of repair, call Carol for a free, no obligation repair quote,
at Trickett Glass, 519-461-0004.
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