Posted by Gary Dodge on November 11, 2002 at 22:04:27:
In Reply to: Jewerly posted by Donna on November 09, 2002 at 21:23:02:
Hi Donna,
It's hard to know what you're doing without being able to see it, but it sounds like maybe you are depending on copper foil for structure. If so, that is the problem.
Copper foil is just a thin metal sheet with an adhesive back that allows you to apply solder to materials that ordinarily would not accept solder. Solder is the structural material of stained glass. Just coating copper foil with solder does nothing. You need to apply the foil in a way that it wraps around material so that it is locked on, then you need to apply enough solder to build a real metal structure that supports everything. If you can just peel it up with your fingernail or even a knife (without exerting extroardinary force), you just haven't built up enough metal.
GaryD
: I have been trying to make some pins out of glass for holiday gifts, but I am having a bit of a problem getting the pin to stick to the back. I put the foil on the back and then soldered but the pin would not stick and the foil was not sticking well either.
: I also tried to attach a few rhinestones to the solder but this also did not work.
: Any help would be greatly appreciated.
: Thanks in advance!