Stained Glass Class Kaleidoscope Made Simple: Lesson Four in the Zero to Hero Journey

Lesson Four in the Zero-to-Hero Journey: Stained Glass Class "Kaleidoscope" Made Simple, Three Mirror Kaleidoscope.
Now that you know how to do the basic steps in stained glass using the Tiffany technique, let master stained glass artist Stellathena of Athena's Stained Glass guide you step-by-step in constructing a three-mirror kaleidoscope.
Learn what it takes to work with the very fragile front surface kaleidoscope mirror. This is the fourth in the five-class Zero-to-Hero journey.
Tools:
Single blade disposable razor
Exacto knife
Tape
Morton Cutting board with modifications
Oil hardened, precision cut, machine ground stainless steel bar ¾”x 1½” x 24”
Framer’s square
Dremel with cutting head
Glass cutter
Soldering iron with stand
Solder
Grinder with medium grit head
Cleaning supplies:
Paint Thinner
Homemade sanding
Champfor/Lapping foil
Automotive wet/dry 600 grit sandpaper
Automotive wet/dry 400 grit sandpaper
Smooth surface to mount sandpaper
Masking tape
Water spritzer
Soft toilet paper (no perfume, no print)
Supplies:
Front Surface mirror
Scrap window glass
8 different pieces of scrap translucent cathedral glass
Opaque glass
Kaleidoscope axel kit
OR Homemade axel kit: 1/8” x 2” grass screw, two eyelets or washers to fit, one acorn nut to fit, 7/32 .125 mil copper foil; liquid flux, 60/40 solder
Patina (optional)
About the artist: Stella Vartheyanyos Gregory is an experienced artist who specializes in creating stunning stained glass art pieces. Her passion for this beautiful art form has led her to become an expert in the field, and she takes pride in offering unique services to her clients. As a juried artist at Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, Stella’s pieces are highly sought after. This video project is supported in part by the National Foundation for the Arts and a grant by the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts.

[@SusanKing-m1l]

Excellent instructions!

[@athena9325]

Thank you so much for watching and responding to my videos. I am glad you found them helpful.

[@dicooper4240]

Did I miss it? What did you do with the glass wrapped in toilet paper? Great instruction! Thank you ❤

[@athena9325]

Thanks for watching. I used it to gently clean the surface mirror. Apply just a little oil free paint thinner. Always use according to the safety instructions. Use in a well-ventilated area and away from the possibility of ignition. Do not use around children, vulnerable individuals or pets. Start at the top and gently make one stroke from top to bottom to remove any dust or smears. The mirror scratches very easily, so use the softest oil and fragrance-free TP. Best of luck with your glass adventures.

[@barrypimlott3029]

Thank you for making these tutorials. They are excellent.

[@athena9325]

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for watching and responding.

[@jkv5558]

very usefull, many tips, thank you !

[@athena9325]

Thank you for your comment. I am glad it was helpful!

[@maggiebice7295]

Thank you for sharing your process! I keep getting moisture under the eyepiece and fogging up the mirrors. You mention in the video that you can use silicone to seal the seams. Do I put just a bit of silicone in the gap between the foiled edges and then solder over top of it? Will that compromise the strength of the join?

[@athena9325]

Thank you for watching my videos. If you are new to soldering, you can carefully tack solder the corners then put a little silicone on the edges. There is no stress on the eyepiece so you can do this confidently. Do not solder over the silicone. Once you become more confident in your soldering ability, you will not have an issue soldering the whole thing. I hope this helps. Let me know how things go

[@maryellensmith9728]

Thank you for making these lessons. I have watched all of them. What is a good source for purchasing the mirror glass?

[@athena9325]

That is a good question. I used to be able to find lots of it. Since the pandemic, however I struggle to find it. Here is a link to Amazon: www.amazon.com/Mirror-Front-Surface-Kaleidoscopes-Crafts/dp/B0BMJN2LVL? You may also try Delphi Glass: asc_source=01GTER1X19F274KT48MCTDGTQG&tag=namespacebran383-20www.delphiglass.com/search?searchtext=front%20surface%20mirror Also try Anything Stained-glass. It is also on Amazon. If you are not set up with a Morton cutting system as described in my kaleidoscope video, you may want to find precut front surface mirror. Do not get the flexible type. It has to be glass. Other wise the image is not as pristine. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you.

[@maryellensmith9728]

Thanks

[@athena9325]

Were you able to find some front surface mirror?

[@feonixartistry1354]

Does the other kind of glass work on these

[@athena9325]

I am not sure what you mean by "other kind of glass". If you mean: will regular looking glass mirror work? The answer is no. The mirror must be front surface mirror. The image will be blurry and have lines. I hope this helped. Let me know if I misunderstood your question. Good luck!

[@msullivan3531]

Your instruction is great but you could pay more attention to being in your camera field. You miss a lot of coverage in the lower field.

[@athena9325]

Thanks for the tips! Thank you so much for watching and for your feedback.