| As with all forms of art, its beauty is
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| | to you during your classes, such as the
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| defined by the sensations it arouses.
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| | grinder, which is used to grind down
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| Perhaps the most intriguing aspect in the
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| | excess glass, not removed by the cutting
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| art of stained glass is in its'
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| | process and to polish off the edges of
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| versatility. It's durable, yet fragile,
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| | the cut glass. This last part is
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| challenging, but yielding to the
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| | important because of the foiling process
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| experienced hands of the artist. I
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| | that takes after the glass is ground
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| discovered this form of art some seven
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| | down. Foiling is a process whereby the
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| years ago when my girlfriend and I
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| | copper foil is placed around the edges of
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| decided to take a series of evening
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| | the ground glass. The foil is sticky on
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| classes at a local stained glass retail
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| | one side allowing it to adhere to the
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| store. We took six classes and I have
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| | glass. The purpose of the copper foil is
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| been hooked ever since.
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| | to provide a surface for the solder to
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| If you are in need of a way to take away
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| | stick too.
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| the stresses of everyday life I would
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| | A word on foiling. Most of us are
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| recommend stained glass as great way to
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| | familiar with the traditional form of
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| download and at the same time get into a
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| | stained glass that we have encountered in
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| new hobby. It is a form of
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| | churches which employ the use of a lead
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| self-meditation. The steps you'll follow
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| | came between the glass pieces. Copper
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| in arriving at your finished work of art
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| | foiling is an alternative to the lead
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| will teach you self-discipline, and
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| | came and is no doubt the first place a
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| provide a great sense of artistic
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| | new student to the art of stained glass
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| achievement. And if you're like me, you
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| | will begin. Only after one has mastered
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| will not be able to get enough of it.
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| | the foil, should you proceed to the came.
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| That's when you'll want to expand out and
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| | Besides, foiling is a much easier
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| begin doing projects for others.
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| | process, especially for the beginner. I
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| But be careful, once word gets out that
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| | still prefer this method over the came
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| you're into stained glass, all of your
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| | method.
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| relatives (you know the ones) will be the
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| | There is a little more to the art of
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| first to ask you to make them something.
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| | stained glass than what I have described
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| Actually, it's not so bad at first,
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| | thus far, but the fundamental steps
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| because they make great test cases and
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| | outlined below will give you a basic
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| you'll want to experiment.
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| | outline on what to expect.
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| Where to begin? I suggest a visit to your
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| | Plan your design; will it be for a
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| local stained glass retailer. While not
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| | window, skylight... the possibilities
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| all towns have one (here is a great
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| | will astound you. Let your imagination
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| business opportunity for you) a look into
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| | take you,
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| your telephone book should yield a
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| | Sketch out your design or use a bought
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| location or two or you can perform an
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| | pattern available through your retailer,
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| Internet search for local retailers.
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| | Cut out the individual pieces from your
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| Start by inquiring into whether or not
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| | pattern using those special scissors I
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| they run classes. Most retailers usually
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| | mentioned earlier,
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| do because it's a source of increased
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| | Apply the cut pattern pieces to the glass
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| revenues to them (they know that you'll
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| | to be cut,
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| probably be buying your supplies from
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| | Using the glasscutter, score and break
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| them). Cost of classes will be relatively
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| | (not in the literal sense) each piece
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| moderate for the same reasons. Check out
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| | Grind off the excess glass
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| your local County Colleges as well. My
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| | Foil each piece of glass
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| instructor also taught night classes
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| | Solder the pieces together
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| there.
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| | Clean your work, and
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| TIP: Bring a friend with you; it will add
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| | Display your masterpiece!
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| to the fun and you'll be able to compare
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| | You will soon come to discover your own
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| notes.
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| | favorite step in the art of stained
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| The place you'll be taking the classes
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| | glass. For some, it will be in the
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| from will no doubt also provide you with
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| | designing stages, that challenge of
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| the basic beginners kit, which will
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| | coming up with your own unique design.
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| contain the tools needed to get you
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| | For myself, my love for the art lies in
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| started. Expect to find a glass cutter;
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| | the cutting of the glass. There is a
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| there a variety of types and you should
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| | final moment of truth that comes after
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| choose the one that your most comfortable
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| | you have scored the glass with the glass
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| with. I have tried a variety myself but
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| | cutter; this is the part where I hold my
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| in the end settled for the basic non-oil
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| | breath. As you force the glass to run
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| filled type. A breaker, similar to
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| | (I'll explain that in another article),
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| pliers, is used to snap off the glass
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| | you'll begin to see the glass crack along
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| after being scored. A specially designed
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| | the scored line as you hoped it would.
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| scissor is used to cut out your pattern,
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| | With all things in the universe being
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| and of course a soldering iron is used to
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| | wonderful, the glass breaks as you had
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| join the cut pieces of glass together.
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| | intended. Occasionally it won't; that's
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| Expect to pay somewhere in the
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| | the breaks! But don't worry, glass is
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| neighborhood of $100.
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| | relatively inexpensive and you'll get it
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| There are other items that you'll need
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| | the next time.
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| along the way, but they will be available
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