Beading

by Margaet
(mahe seychelles)

I have just started stained glass and having problem with the beading. How can I get it right.
Many Thanks,
Margaret

Answer:

Hi Margaret,
Thank you for asking this question. I'm not sure if you are talking about edge beading or getting smooth, rounded solder lines, so I explain both.

This article will give you my edge beading technique: Edge Beading.

If you are talking about your solder lines being smooth and round, practice is the most important piece of advise I can give you.

Wrap foil around some scrap pieces of glass and practice soldering them together.

Don't use a temperature controller, just plug in your iron, wait for it to get hot and start soldering. Don't stay in one place too long...keep moving along.

Use enough flux. Many instructors tell you to use it sparingly. I say the opposite. Pour a small amount of flux into another contained and use it from that container rather than the bottle. Dispose of any that is left when you're done soldering. Flux gets contaminated by the brush being dipped into it, so if you use it straight out of the bottle, the entire bottle will be contaminated. The contamination causes spitting (and then holes) as you are soldering.

Run a bead of solder all along on solder line, then try using a touch and lift method to make it smooth. Touch all the way down so you feel the tip touch the foil, then gently lift the soldering iron straight up, out of the solder. The next touch down should just slightly overlap where the solder stopped flowing from the last touch. You can get a nice rhythm going as you touch and lift. That is my preferred way of soldering.

Experiment with the touch and lift method, and see if your solder lines look better...they should.

I hope this has helped you,

Sue