Showing posts with label Hinges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hinges. Show all posts

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Hinges


What are hinges in stained glass?

As the glass is the strongest part of a leaded or copper foiled panel, the joining materials (lead, solder) are the places where the panel can flex. If you have long straight or nearly straight lines extending to or toward the edges of the panel (vertical, diagonal  or horizontal), this is the place where the panel can completely bend (hence "hinge"). It provides a danger in handling that the panel will break. Even if the lines do not run all the way to the edge, any significantly long line will put pressure on the glass pieces at the ends of the hinges, such as a series of formal border pieces or narrow central pieces. It will be a weakness in the long term whether it survives the studio processes or not.

However, we all have seen leaded glass windows with single or multiple hinges that survive for many decades, and only as they loose support from firm cement and the ties to the saddle bars break away, does the panel begin to self destruct.

It is important to recognise where these hinges are to be able to place reinforcements on the panel.

But the real solution for making a panel that will last, it is best practice to avoid designing hinges into the finished work.

Monday 10 October 2011

Cutting Box Hinges

Cutting the brass tubing for box hinges is best done with a saw.

The manual version is to use a fine toothed saw - similar to those used by jewelers – with very light pressure.

The power solution is to use a Dremel or similar hobby motor with a cutting wheel attached. This cuts through the tube cleanly and quickly.

In both cases, a fine rat's tail file can clean up any burrs within the tubing.

If you use the internal tubing you can cut both at the same time. However, it is quick and easy to use the appropriate sized copper wire to insert and then bend down onto the corner of the box. This gives greater flexibility and avoids waste.