Stained Glass Project Sheet

Why is a project record sheet useful?

 

A record of a project helps to set down the client and maker agreements, estimate quantities, determine prices, review past practices for successes and record possible changes for the future.  Even if you do not have clients, comparing the record sheets over a period can give you information on how quickly you work, the amount of glass you use in relation to size and complexity, information for costing, etc. It can give you confidence in stating - and sticking to - your prices.

 

What should be included? 

Desirable elements include the following.  You may have others to add according to your individual practices.   

Initial project information

• ·        Project description - including dated sketch or photo or reference to cartoon
• ·        Intended location – autonomous, primary glazing, encapsulated, attached, etc.
• ·        Dimensions for both two- and three-dimensional projects.
• ·        Delivery date. This may be an estimated or firm date.
• ·        Price or estimate – indicate which. 

Materials

·        Number of pieces. Approximate the number, if a numbered cartoon is not available. You can add the actual number later.

·        Glass type and codes that you will (or have) used, in case additional glass is required.

·        Amount and cost of glass used during completion. This is not simply the amount used, but also the amount you would require to replace the glass stock.   

·        Joining materials: came, copper foil, lead light cement, patina, adhesives, wire, mountings, etc.  These should once again include what needs to be purchased with their costs, rather than just the amount used. The whole roll of copper foil, the whole tub of lead light cement, etc., need to be accounted for on the form to give an accurate idea of costs.

·        Solder manufacturer, type, composition, and quantity purchased, and costs, rather than what is used. 

Process methods

Cleaning, Polishing, etc. descriptions. 

Time

The time used to complete the project should be noted as you go along.  It can be divided into various process – such as cutting, fitting, foiling, soldering, cleaning – or as a simple cumulative amount of time on the whole project.

Description of project results

A critique of the project including what might be done differently, the successes, the discoveries, should be written up at the end of the project. 

 

What does all this record keeping provide me?

Recording this kind of information provides a record of how various projects went, how you met any difficulties, what the successes were.  This is useful to look back on when similar projects arise. 

This information is invaluable in assessing materials costs, and time required for various styles and complexity of projects are requested.  It enables a quick and assured way of estimating the costs of a project when a commission is requested.  It gives you assurance about your pricing and valuation of projects you have completed for craft fairs or friends. You don’t have to be apologetic about the price of items, because you know the costs. 

A possible form might look like this:

 

 

Project information 

Name of project:

Date:                           Clients:  

                           Contact details:

 

Due date:

Project title and description (photo?)

 

 

 

 

Dimensions  2D                                        3D

       Opening:                                   height:

       Glazing:                                     width:

       Sight:                                        depth:

 

Number of pieces:

 

Materials required

Glass descriptions,         codes              quantities       costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper foil - maker:       size               rolls               costs

 

 

Came – maker        dimensions     lengths                  costs

 

 

Lead light cement – type, recipe, amount,                   costs

 

Solder – Maker        composition           length/rolls     costs

 

Adhesives – maker     amount                                  costs

 

Miscellaneous materials – description     quantity         costs 

 

 

Summary of Costs of Materials                      _______

Processes

The starting and finishing time, including any attention to equipment should be recorded for each working session.  The actual hours and minutes can be added up later.  You can simply record the times for each project regardless of process, e.g.:

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;

… 

Or you can record by process, e.g.

Cutting and fitting glass:   times , e.g.

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__; etc. 

 

Leading - times

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__; etc. 

 

Foiling -times

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__; etc. 

 

Finishing – times

__:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__;  __:__  to __:__; etc.  

 

Summary of time:                                   ___:__ 

 

You will, of course, develop your own form of recording your project materials, costs and time used for the project.  But it is important to keep some record of what amount of effort and cost has gone into each project.  Over time, things seem easier and less costly than they actually did.  A record of the project reminds you of the actual matters.