Making

The way I make glass panels is very traditional. I outline the process below. The tools and materials I use are also very traditional and a medieval glazier would recognise the process.

Firstly, different shaped pieces of glass are trace cut using a glass cutter and a light box. Then a paper “cartoon” is placed on a wooden making board and lengths of lead "came" are cut with a special lead knife to form a matrix with the pieces of glass being held in the lead using horseshoe nails as the pattern is built up.

Once all the pieces have been assembled it’s time to solder. Soldering involves preparing the joints with tallow which acts as flux and using a soldering iron to allow a small amount of solder to flow onto each joint. (Vegan/Halal flux is available on request)

Lead cement is then brushed under the lead cames to hold the glass pieces tightly within which makes the panel rigid and waterproof. Whiting (calcium carbonate) is then applied to aid curing. Once the panel has cured any excess cement can be removed and the panel can be polished in preparation for installation.