Posted by Gary Dodge on March 24, 2003 at 00:48:09:
In Reply to: different thickness of glass posted by jan on March 23, 2003 at 15:24:29:
HI Jan,
First we'll get the edge beading instructions out of the way. I have posted them on the web now so you don't have to send away. You can view them here: Edge Bead Instructions.
The last time this came up there was a big rucus about my claim that 50/50 solder is more viscous than 60/40 if you keep your iron a bit cooler. If you have any doubts about it, just make a call to Canfield Solder and talk to Don Porter, in charge of quality control. He'll tell you that at 421 degrees there isn't much difference, but as the temperature drops viscosity increases. At 370 degrees the diference in viscosity is dramatic.
Now, as for that thick piece, yes, you will need to use a wider foil on it or else the solder bead around it will be skinnier than the rest of your panel and will look wrong. You need the foil to overlap the glass about the same amount as on the rest of the glass.
There are different ways to approach this and some if it depends on whether you find that thicker glass pieces bother you. Yeah, I know....you won't know the answer to that until it's too late, but it really doesn't look all that bad and some people just don't let it bother them. Some people solder the panel face down so the thicker glass sticks out the back and the front looks normal. The last option is to place the thick piece into the panel without foil, just as a place saver.
Next solder the entire panel, front and back. Now foil the thick piece and put it back. The panel is now standing up on the solder instead of laying with the glass flat against the table but the thick piece will still fall down flat against the table so it will sit lower in the panel. If the bead is really high and the thick piece seems to have fallen through entirely, you may need to use several thicknesses of paper scrap to hold it up a bit higher in the panel. Once you are happy with the way the glass is sitting in the panel you can solder it in.
GaryD
: dear gary - thanks for you tip about soldering awhile ago - it really helped and im getting the hang of it. this question is about a project im working on that has one piece of glass that is nearly twice as thick as the rest of the pieces. When i foil should i use a thick foil and what is the best method of soldering the panel together(front or back first?)Does the difference in the thickness really make a big difference in the finished work (how will it look?)Im not sure if im asking something that makes no sense.
: Also - i noticed elsewhere on this web page that you were offering a reprint of instructions for Edge Beading with a self stamped/addressed envelope for same if mailed in U.S.- Question - I live in Canada and was wondering if I sent the envelope with the proper postage for canada - could i get the same - i really need all the help i can get in that department as well.
: thanks a bunch - jan