Preventing Foil Lifting :: Troubleshooting Stained Glass Edges

In today's video we'll be talking about factors to consider while foiling and soldering to prevent your edges from lifting!
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Timestamps
Intro - 00:00
Patreon Announcement - 01:25
Patron Recognition - 02:41
1. Old Foil - 02:46
2. Foil Backing Color - 03:21
3. Dirty Glass Faces - 03:53
4. Dusty Edges - 04:34
5. Insufficient Burnishing - 05:12
6. Iron temperature and soldering speed - 06:18
7. Lack of flux - 07:50
Outro - 08:26
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[@xDrFireflyMavis]

See Comment below!

[@rcheeks8963]

Great tips for beginners, and you're really good at explaining everything clearly :-)

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Glad you like the video :) Thanks for watching!

[@AmberMkay]

I love all of your videos! You're very god with details and as a beginner it's very much appreciated! Thank you for being so helpful in the glass community 😊

[@allyrolo339]

You’re stinkin awesome. I love your work. Thank you for helping all us newbies.

[@EliasGrimm420]

You are an excellent teacher! I've learned so much from you, and i can't wait to keep learning more from you!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're finding my videos helpful :)

[@mvtaylo]

This is so helpful! As a newbie to stained glass, this has been my biggest pain point. I purchased a kit that came with a Weller iron, but I'm beginning to wonder if I should upgrade to a Hakko already. I'm definitely trying your soldering tip next time!

[@katieshearer4067]

Sooo excited you have decided to do this Patreon trial run with the minis 💗 I just took the first of the 5 spots 🙌🙌🙌 I can't wait to be surprised each month with one of your BEAUTIFUL creations!! 💗😍💗 Great tips btw!!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

YAY! Thank you so much for signing up! I have so many cute ideas and I can't wait to be able to make some exclusive pieces for you

[@lauriebabineau7732]

Nice presentations. Clear images, nice pace. Thank you

[@SCOARTGLASS]

Great Tips Rachel!

[@dennislink7957]

Since I started watching your videos my work has improved immensely! I never thought of cleaning the glass prior to taping, now I clean with alcohol as it takes off all the finger oil, dust and evaporates quickly. This has greatly helped. The last thing I made was a mermaid for my daughter which is my best piece so far. I’ve also started using the foil holder that you use. I had been using a Glastar foiler which although faster, at least for me, wasn’t as precise as doing it in a more manual way. Thanks for all the help.

[@molliedavis7277]

Yay! I’m so excited!! Thanks for the shout out 😸

[@billie869]

Thank you, I can't wait to start my next project :)

[@gnarlycharly1242]

I’m super new to this and this was so very helpful! Thank you!

[@ceceliaweber3942]

You are so helpful. Love your class.

[@MikeLynds]

Great tips. I'll definitely put them to good use!

[@palomavano4705]

Thank you very much. I will apply your tips to my work.

[@marklieberman3596]

Excellent video. Very professional with great explanations.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@mohudson8052]

Great video, thank you. Could you do a longer one on soldering, rather than speeding it up, so we can watch you at work, and follow your lead. Love how you explain things, its really great. Thanks and take care, Mo

[@justhannat15]

Thank you for these videos!!

[@sa1laway]

good tips, nice work with the iron, less is more!!

[@generalthings5075]

Thank you the video is very clear to understand.

[@roselucht4583]

This is soo helpful thank you!!! I look forward to more!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thank you, I'm so happy you found the video helpful!

[@victoriaphillips5539]

i needed this!!!!!

[@heatheranderson2552]

Love that you have identified common mistakes and then solutions. By the way where did you get your heat resistant gloves.

[@sallyjoligocki5011]

Thank you for the video. Very helpful.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Glad it was helpful :) Thanks for watching!

[@Samm6977]

Commenting for the algorithm, thanks for the informative videos!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thanks for watching :)!

[@Highvibin213]

So helpful had a foiling nightmare last night . The silver backing foil does not stick no matter what I do . I will try the black . Thank you 🙏

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Glad I could help :)! Good luck!

[@edythemerchant1933]

Thank you that really helped me.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I am happy to hear it. Thanks so much for watching :)

[@jessicaturner6212]

I love that your nails look just like mine!

[@TheBandidasCompany]

love you videos. I just started doing stained glass. My issue was my soldering looks like it has tiny black spots on it. i tried cleaning the tip but kept happening . any ideas what it could be ? Thanks

[@pj7733]

Do you use anything in the middle of the leaves for a stem? Making your design for my granddaughter. Your design and colors are awesome.

[@RalfNeels]

I use tin without lead with flux inside. works really well, but I do have an expensive digital solder iron from Weller.

[@mindygeist7157]

Thanks so much!...

[@kere9323]

Is the glove you are using actually heat resistant? I love how well it fits, where did you find it, please and thank you. Thank you as well for the tutorial, I too over burnish, but it's my glass and my time, so it doesn't matter, right?

[@kanadakanadakanada]

Where is that waved copper foil purchased at? Looks so nice!

[@Jennifer-jt3tz]

Can you do a video on how to correct foil lifting after you’ve soldered it?

[@JimmyJohnson-mh9gx]

I have made a couple of agate lamp shades. The agate slabs are different shapes and sizes , which creates some wide gaps to fill. Do you have any suggestions for filling the wider gaps

[@theresevarney4715]

What is the gray mat you use when using your x-acto knife? I saw it in another video you made on patterns.

[@courtneym75]

would a natural astringent like witch hazel followed by a wiping-off with a damp cloth work for removing any handling oils from the glass?

[@janelance6622]

Please do you have any tips for when the join, or overlap edge, of the copper foil shows through the solder and seems to resist the solder?

[@jessicaclary7462]

Hey! I absolutely LOVE your videos. I’m just getting started, and your channel is hands down my favorite. I just want to make sure…temperatures are Fahrenheit, correct? Also, I ensure that I foil and burnish well while avoiding skin oil on the glass. I just can’t seem to get my solder to “stick” to my copper foil. Any tips? I’m feeling a bit discouraged 🫤

[@kabella]

are you using flux?

[@elmarochester7031]

Thanks

[@justhannat15]

I have the Hakko iron, 410 didn’t seem hot enough. Do irons differ in the best temp to use?

[@kristycargile6917]

Sometimes when I solder it appears there is ash left behind. It's so frustrating! I finally just gave in and purchased the iron you use... hoping being able to control the temp better will help. Thanks for another great video Rachel! 🌷

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I've had that exact thing happen before! It's usually because my iron tip is a little dirty or my solder is old/has some oxidation. Either way it can be so frustrating! I hope you enjoy the new iron - I absolutely love mine :) Thanks for watching!

[@Artsrock36]

I have a piece where foil has lifted on a long end section is it possible to shoulder over it? I’m “so” bummed out it’s my first big piece is there anyway to fix it or can you suggest what I should do😢? Thanks for sharing your awesome skills love your videos!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

That can be very frustrating! Usually once it's lifted it means the adhesive on the back of the foil has burned up or become compromised by liquid (like flux). You have two options. One would be to remove the section of foil, clean well, and reapply then solder it together. Option two is something I've done a few times for similar scenarios! This also depends on how much it's lifted and will be better for a more extreme case. Carefully lift the foil as much as possible with an exacto knife. Using the same exacto blade, carefully apply super glue to the underside of the foil. This is almost like surgery but if you are careful you'll effectively glue to foil back down! Make sure the glue doesn't get onto the outer solder especially if doing a patina. I hope that helps!

[@stephaniekozlovsky4494]

Hi! I just made my first piece, and she's a little lopsided and ugly, but I love her! Thank you for your videos! My question is how do you handle and dispose of your glass dust safely? I've been using my PPE, but I've just been throwing the dust in the trash. I haven't gotten a grinder yet, and I've just been using a grinding stone. I'm planning on getting a grinder in the next month or so, but I wanted to ask what you do for safety in regards to glass dust. Thanks! 😊

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I'm so happy my videos have been helpful to you :)! For my glass dust, I generally throw it away in a plastic bag, such as a grocery bag. I try to empty out my grinder while the sediment in it is still slightly wet, that way you're dealing more with a paste than dust. I use an old gift card to scrap it out of my grinder and then dispose of it in my normal trash. It basically turns into sand, although there can be some larger pieces that are very sharp. For general cleanup, I like to vacuum my floors and grinding surfaces as much as possible, and before grinding I get as much dust out of my drying rag as possible (its a microfiber cloth I use to dry my pieces off after I grind each on so they don't wet the paper). Alternatively, I could rinse it out and let it dry after each grinding session but I'm a tad forgetful haha. Hope that helps!

[@debratoth8604]

Is there a particular use for that wavy foil?

[@joycekingsbury9772]

how do you keep edges of glass from chipping during the grinding process?

[@sgtmarty9682]

Very nice, thanks. What kind of brush are you using for flux at 6:20? Looks durable.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Glad you liked the video! It's just a basic plastic brush - it kind looks like a paint brush you'd give a little kid. I inherited these from my grandpa and wash them regularly so I can keep reusing them :) I'm not certain what they're called or how much they cost, but I believe they are stained glass specific since the bristles are a softer plastic

[@sgtmarty9682]

Thanks so much. I think I'd like them better then typical acid brushes.

[@dennisaustin1079]

I am a newby, forgive a pedestrian question, do you solder both sides of the glass? I mean, so the bead is pretty on both sides of the project?

[@sheilabarger6253]

maybe in your experience...I'm trying to make thicker glass for outdoors by fusing two pieces together. Am I just asking for future trouble?

[@rodschmidt8952]

Yes, forming molecular bonds is the point of an adhesive, it's what adhesives do

[@mayrac7778]

Did you sell pre cut kits

[@rodschmidt8952]

Rinsing in sink -- I'm told that the glass dust will accumulate in your drain and form a sort of concrete

[@susangreen3370]

My foil came up..how do I fix that?

[@NoMSGPlz]

You should mention that your foil start and end should be on an inner side of the glass. Outer starts tend to lift.

[@generalthings5075]

How can i make the colour gold instead of silver please is that possible. I mean i would like to give my pendant gold metal outline rather than silver please

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hi! You can use copper patina, although I am uncertain if that's safe to use for jewelry. I personally dont have anything wearable because I've heard lead free solder is difficult to work with.

[@generalthings5075]

@@sunbearglasscraft8065 thank you for replying

[@tinaabug3426]

Can anyone tell me what surface type she is working on top of? I need to pin my pieces down before soldering them together and I don't know what to use to material to pin them down to.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I used to work on cork board squares - they are perfect for pinning pieces! I believe others also use homasote board for soldering but I have never used it before

[@ArKaeopteryx420]

Homasote works pretty well but be aware it can drink up flux like a paper towel (in case you spill any / set your brush down) and sometimes seems to wick flux off foil (if you set the piece down). (Liquid or gel flux, same deal). If it gets wet right by a pin, they loosen and shift very easily. Pretty good base for pinning with rails or T-pins away from your tack points, though

[@danielleolander8102]

Super noob here are there certain sizes of copper foil?

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hi! Yes, the most common sizes from smallest to largest are: 5/16", 7/32" (most commonly used size), and 1/4". But there are smaller and larger sizes, they're just a bit harder to find

[@sherrycanales3572]

You mentioned waxing. What is it?

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Waxing is applying a carnauba wax based product (like turtle wax) to the glass and polishing to create shine plus protection against oxidation.

[@rodschmidt8952]

wait... you ought to handle it ONLY by the middles, and avoid touching the edges!!! because at this step we're trying to keep the edges clean, and any unsightly fingerprints in the middle can be easily cleaned later. So it's the reverse of the usual, where we care about the appearance

[@irl441]

👀

[@mmo4754]

cotton cloth gloves are not very fancy or expensive.