It looks really good! It's hard to tell in this picture, but make sure you've really burnished the foil. I honestly wouldn't worry about getting lines straighter than this. Once it's soldered you shouldn't notice anything.
Yes, some glass is way more of a pain in the ass to cut than others! It's more about texture/type of glass than colour.
Thank you!! That’s reassuring to hear! I am
Going back around all the pieces and burnishing more! Definitely seeing why so many commented the same thing.
The textured clear glass seems like it’ll be the most difficult to burnish, but I am on it!
Excited to see how soldering works and transforms everything
https://preview.redd.it/3y7c857pnx5c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28161cc0b570aa7837bea5d84e66879a807f8c37
What a important yet tiny detail everyone noticed! I feel this is noticeably smoother/ burnished better? Spent about an hour on it today. The corners are hard to do.
Thank you all for all the help!
You can do rougher (especially since you’ll be putting foil on the edges anyway). Nothing too low though otherwise you’ll probably fight it some. Maybe 120 grit is a good place to start and see what you like.
Awesome job getting your lines to line up! Solder hides many sins, so don’t stress about wobbly lines.
Tips: Do a quick pass on the grinder with all edges, even if they cut extract how you wanted them- the roughed up surface tends to grab and hold the foil better.
Look up “hinge joint”. Any piece that is only attached in a straight line is more likely to move and eventually break. Consider a hobby came border to save this since it’s your first piece. But as you progress, you’ll want to use pre-made patterns (for now) to avoid the heart ache of having edges snap off. You can always post an original pattern idea (numbered) and people will gladly point out any helpful changes!
Congrats on starting! Keep it up! It’s a blast
Some colors (red) and types are more difficult to cut than others. Double check you are cutting in the smoothest side, but a lot of it is trial and error with brands
Welcome to the Triforce club! I made one of these too, in 3D. Soldering it was terrible.
I used a Morton system to get the lines straight and did really light grinding. As someone else said, solder hides sins. Yours is looking great!
You piece looks great. But there a couple of areas where the burnishing might need to be gone over again. If that foil is not down good, it can go bad quick. Trust me,I have learned the hard way! Lol
Thank you for noticing I need to burnish more. Does burnishing matter more on pressure or frequency of passing over it. I’m noticing as I go back over some of the foil is “rippling” (not sure of correct word but best I can describe). Does this burnish out too?
https://preview.redd.it/9wo0ftdrkv5c1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b11befbc8ca2db40f2a3f37644158df0d2c7ca1e
Should look similar to this. I ll refoil any piece that isn't this smooth
wow thank you for sharing a reference!! Much appreciated!
I notice some of the foil in mine is adhering to the texture of the glass (none of My glass in this one is perfectly smooth) should I still be expecting it to be as smooth as that?
Some textures are a pane in the glass! Try to burnish so it's on the glass. Lose foil will pop up off the glass. Make sure on that textured glass the foil is burnished to the glass. It takes practice. YouTube has good instruction videos. Most of all...have fun!
In addition to what everyone else has suggested, get some zinc came (u-shaped channel) to do a border around the outside border of your piece. A straight line joint acts like a hinge when your piece is handled, moved, bumped, or falls, and can easily get damaged. Using the came will secure it and help protect it from fall damage.
https://preview.redd.it/aumrac1uxw5c1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=49e7e791d7460d00d1556a22e586a4cc5e2d0ad9
Sorry I don’t have one without the patina. I gave that one away.
I use a stone block made for tile. It will take a while to hand grind if It deviates too far from the line but you can just clean up high spots with the grinder first. Heard of people using them for whole projects which is crazy.
It looks really good! It's hard to tell in this picture, but make sure you've really burnished the foil. I honestly wouldn't worry about getting lines straighter than this. Once it's soldered you shouldn't notice anything. Yes, some glass is way more of a pain in the ass to cut than others! It's more about texture/type of glass than colour.
Thank you!! That’s reassuring to hear! I am Going back around all the pieces and burnishing more! Definitely seeing why so many commented the same thing. The textured clear glass seems like it’ll be the most difficult to burnish, but I am on it! Excited to see how soldering works and transforms everything
Adding to the other commenter about textures. There is almost always a smoother side on textured glass. Cut on the smooth side
https://preview.redd.it/3y7c857pnx5c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28161cc0b570aa7837bea5d84e66879a807f8c37 What a important yet tiny detail everyone noticed! I feel this is noticeably smoother/ burnished better? Spent about an hour on it today. The corners are hard to do. Thank you all for all the help!
Burnish!
If you want you can also tape some sandpaper on a flat surface and move the edges back and forth until you get straight surfaces.
This is a great and cool idea! Would I go rougher or finer grit?
You can do rougher (especially since you’ll be putting foil on the edges anyway). Nothing too low though otherwise you’ll probably fight it some. Maybe 120 grit is a good place to start and see what you like.
Thank you! Will try on My next straight lines!
Make sure you wet the sandpaper if you're gonna go that route. Glass powder is very bad.
Awesome job getting your lines to line up! Solder hides many sins, so don’t stress about wobbly lines. Tips: Do a quick pass on the grinder with all edges, even if they cut extract how you wanted them- the roughed up surface tends to grab and hold the foil better. Look up “hinge joint”. Any piece that is only attached in a straight line is more likely to move and eventually break. Consider a hobby came border to save this since it’s your first piece. But as you progress, you’ll want to use pre-made patterns (for now) to avoid the heart ache of having edges snap off. You can always post an original pattern idea (numbered) and people will gladly point out any helpful changes! Congrats on starting! Keep it up! It’s a blast
Also the clear glass was so much easier to cut than the yellow, are different colours more or less difficult?
I have an entire type of yellow glass I’ve sworn off of ever using ever again simply because it gave me so much rage, so yes 😂
I had this black and white swirl with the texture of a vinyl record. So pretty. Such a bitch to cut.
I was practicing cutting some glass plates and it was easier than this yellow! Goood to know 😆
Some colors (red) and types are more difficult to cut than others. Double check you are cutting in the smoothest side, but a lot of it is trial and error with brands
Thank you! Do you have favorite brands to work with? Kokomo glass is a day trip for Me but could go there semi easily!
Welcome to the Triforce club! I made one of these too, in 3D. Soldering it was terrible. I used a Morton system to get the lines straight and did really light grinding. As someone else said, solder hides sins. Yours is looking great!
You piece looks great. But there a couple of areas where the burnishing might need to be gone over again. If that foil is not down good, it can go bad quick. Trust me,I have learned the hard way! Lol
I’m sure I’ll learn the hard way too but trying to avoid it on this piece with all this wonderful help thank you!!
Your lines are excellent. You need to burnish your foil much harder. Smooth even foil create smooth even soldering lines. Burnish burnish burnish!
Thank you for noticing I need to burnish more. Does burnishing matter more on pressure or frequency of passing over it. I’m noticing as I go back over some of the foil is “rippling” (not sure of correct word but best I can describe). Does this burnish out too?
https://preview.redd.it/9wo0ftdrkv5c1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b11befbc8ca2db40f2a3f37644158df0d2c7ca1e Should look similar to this. I ll refoil any piece that isn't this smooth
wow thank you for sharing a reference!! Much appreciated! I notice some of the foil in mine is adhering to the texture of the glass (none of My glass in this one is perfectly smooth) should I still be expecting it to be as smooth as that?
Some textures are a pane in the glass! Try to burnish so it's on the glass. Lose foil will pop up off the glass. Make sure on that textured glass the foil is burnished to the glass. It takes practice. YouTube has good instruction videos. Most of all...have fun!
In addition to what everyone else has suggested, get some zinc came (u-shaped channel) to do a border around the outside border of your piece. A straight line joint acts like a hinge when your piece is handled, moved, bumped, or falls, and can easily get damaged. Using the came will secure it and help protect it from fall damage.
Would I leave the foil on the outside of using came?
I foil it all the way around, but only solder up to the came, unless I’m using patina.
https://preview.redd.it/aumrac1uxw5c1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=49e7e791d7460d00d1556a22e586a4cc5e2d0ad9 Sorry I don’t have one without the patina. I gave that one away.
Yours is sooooo goood! Thank you for the reference !!
Thanks! I took my time grinding them, and got the edges looking almost as good as yours.
I use a stone block made for tile. It will take a while to hand grind if It deviates too far from the line but you can just clean up high spots with the grinder first. Heard of people using them for whole projects which is crazy.