Tips For a One-Handed Glass Worker

by Ken
(Chattanooga,Tn)

I know this is long but please read. I am looking for tips or suggestions on working with stained glass with one hand. I lost my right arm in a motorcycle accident in 1970.

I recently finished a 107 piece of a frog on a limb using the copper foil and solder. My wife and I like it alot, but it would be about a 4 in the stained glass world.

I know I should have started with something alot easier, but I tend to jump in the deep end first.

Sue's tutorials helped me a great deal and would of helped even more if I would have taken the time and found them before I finished.

Being one-handed, I have to teach myself how to do most things but if anyone out there has any tips or tricks I can try, I would love to hear from you.

Yes, I had trouble with just about everything and that practice and lots of patience will cure most of it but a couple of things I need help with.

After breaking many of my cuts, the glass would break at an angle that I would have to grind down some.

Does anyone have tricks on foiling? I use a small projects vise to hold the glass. I don't know if the foiling machine would be worth it.

My soldering looks like a mountain range in places. After lots of time, I was able to get it to rolling hills. My soldering iron is one temp and high heat and it seems that helps by keeping the solder liquid longer. I know motion keeps the solder from building up but I need tricks on how. Would a temp control iron be better?

I know I have rambled on but I'm not sure what to ask. Any help would be welcomed.

Thanx,
Ken

Reply
To anyone reading this, I suggested to Ken that his questions would probably bring quite a response if he asked for help here. I know, from previous submissions and emails, that there are some very creative people out there, so please, if you can think of any ways to make working with glass easier for Ken, put your ideas in the comments section below.
Thanks,
Sue