Shaping Lead Came

How do I put lead came around glass pieces that are not straight? I am making a candle and holly leaf pattern, cannot get lead around the pieces neatly.

Answer

I will assume you are using hobby came and are wrapping the entire piece of glass. If I'm wrong, please give me more information as to the type of lead you are using, what size it is, and how you are constructing the holly and leaves.

Use this tutorial as the basis for the technique of wrapping lead around a piece of glass. The tutorial is for a circle, but it will work for any shape.

Make sure the lead is absolutely straight before you start. Any lead that has twisted, is almost impossible to straighten. You can try to straighten it by stretching it. If it's badly twisted, don't use it.

Cut a piece of lead that is slightly longer than the perimeter of the glass you will be wrapping it around. Press the lead onto the glass with your fingers, bit by bit, working your way around the glass. When you get back to where you started, use the illustration in the tutorial for the method to cut the lead to make the ends meet. When you have completed wrapping each piece, solder the two ends together. Be quick, but make sure the solder joint is smooth and flat. Hobby came is very thin and melts easily.

If you have more questions about this, please ask them in the comments section, just below.