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Amber
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« on: May 04, 2009, 02:29:18 PM » |
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Alright, I've dug myself into a mess and I'm a tad bit scared of hating how this thing will look in the end and I need some profession repair advice before I make things worse! Basically I designed this piece and had just been putting the final polish on it when I noticed an area that had cracked sometime in the making, what a shame to get that far and then notice something is off :(. So I put it down for a day and did a couple searches around for repair tips and thought I could jut go ahead and remove the cracked glass and replace it with a fresh square......... now I think I've gone too far and that I'm just making a big mess. Here are some photos of the current state of things, what I've done is score and remove the glass but I still have some buildup in a few spots. Figured on that coming out easier after applying a hot iron tip and removing the excess solder and the layer of foil. While trying to remove some of the extra foil that wrapped the 'bad' square, other foil that was on the surrounding pieces also started coming off. Well now it's just awful, a patchwork of foil here and there, and I don't know what to do next. Do I fight to take off all the rest of the foil and then rewrap any open edges of the surrounding glass pieces? HELP? What else should I do and is it just going to end up looking like the piece doesn't really belong there?    |
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DESG
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« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2009, 02:39:47 PM » |
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Foil the new piece and put in place then come back with foil and lay over the top matching the original solder line. You are basically creating a "flange" or "dutchman" on top of the desired solder bead. Trim the foil with an exacto knife if needed. The other option is using very thin wire and create a faux solder bead. The wire will act as a guide for the new solder.
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Rebecca
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« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2009, 04:20:48 PM » |
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Beautiful piece, Amber! I love the way the color moves!
I wouldn't do a Dutchman. I would clean up the edges of the good glass and re-foil it. Overlap the new foil onto the old, remaining foil. If the only remaining foil is at the seams, that's okay, just so there is no bare glass. As you solder the new foil, it will solder to the old foil that is remaining.
Cut the new piece, make sure it fits, then foil it. You can put a couple of pennies under the new piece to raise it up to the same level as the old pieces. (Or you can just hold it up with your fingers if they are made of asbestos.) Then solder as usual. It makes a stronger and better looking repair than a Dutchman or pieces of wire.
Rebecca
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DESG
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« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2009, 04:28:52 PM » |
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My Dutchmen are flawlessly un-noticeable.  A hell of alot easier than trying to get the foil around those old edges. The wire technique is actually easier and stronger... Use a light gauge 16 or thinner and you'll never know the piece was repaired. I also use this technique for straight out flanges where you can mold the wire to look very natural instead of a foil overlay. |
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« Last Edit: May 04, 2009, 04:32:11 PM by DESG »
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PiscesGlass
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« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2009, 04:39:34 PM » |
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All very good tips, personally I do exactly what Rebecca does, pennies from heaven and all.
What a great piece Amber! You can do this and it's going to look wonderful! You'll also feel so good that you got it repaired!
You go Girl!
De
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ct4mom
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« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2009, 04:59:12 PM » |
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Amber, I have some repairs that I have to do. Boy I wish I was a brave as you to jump right in. But is good to hear the techniques. Great piece by the way
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Malinda
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« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2009, 05:13:46 PM » |
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Amber,
I procrastinated on a similar first repair but in the end it was easy peasy and I did it the same way Rebecca describes. You can't even tell in the end and I think you'll be amazed once you have it done.
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Vic Rothman
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« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2009, 05:33:10 PM » |
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Beautiful piece, Amber! I love the way the color moves!
I wouldn't do a Dutchman. I would clean up the edges of the good glass and re-foil it. Overlap the new foil onto the old, remaining foil. If the only remaining foil is at the seams, that's okay, just so there is no bare glass. As you solder the new foil, it will solder to the old foil that is remaining.
Cut the new piece, make sure it fits, then foil it. You can put a couple of pennies under the new piece to raise it up to the same level as the old pieces. (Or you can just hold it up with your fingers if they are made of asbestos.) Then solder as usual. It makes a stronger and better looking repair than a Dutchman or pieces of wire.
Rebecca
I agree with Rebecca too |
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Rebecca
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« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2009, 05:49:37 PM » |
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Your Dutchman may be flawless, but there is no solder between the pieces of glass. If the foil is dislodged, there is nothing holding the glass. It is just as easy to foil the edges if they are clean and the solder will go between the glass and hold it all together from both sides of the window.
Rebecca
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Graham
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« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2009, 06:53:37 PM » |
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Probably the best description of repairing foil breakages is by Dale Grundon. I hope this thing will attach a PDF file. If it doesn't show up below - go grab it at http://www.dalegrundon.com/ it's in his "How To Papers". I too go along with Rebecca. The dutchman would not head my list of options. |
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Amber
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« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2009, 01:23:13 PM » |
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Well, after reading everyone's replies, checking the links and just plain old thinking about it I went back today to finish the damaged area. I'm happy to report that it worked AND looks good. I was really concerned about hating it all when it was done and lucky for me I had some sound advice thanks to all of you! The Dutchman technique sounded good and I'll admit I like the simplicity of the fix, for this piece though I just felt I had to go all or nothing in the repairs so I went with the majority on this one and crossed my fingers for good luck *smiles*. I think had it been something smaller like a suncatcher I wouldn``t go through as much trouble. Unlike the Dale Grundon I had already, and unwillingly I might add, removed too much surrounding foil and just felt it would be too weak to make a flange like cover. All in all, a very good lesson and now after seeing it done I feel more confident about doing it again in the future...... not too say it was easy though *lol, just do-able. This is definitely a keeper for how to`s by the way!!! (also my keyboard is acting up with the settings so don```t mind the obvious *lol.)  |
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Amber
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« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2009, 01:29:44 PM » |
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ack! Don`t mind the messy deck in the back either *lol, we`ve been spending the last few days stripping the bases of all our porches & decks and going at it with the pressure washer, next we start with sanding and then more washing and then staining. Hopefully a couple more goes at it, as long as the rain doesn`t get silly, and we`ll have it all done for the may long weekend.
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Anne
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« Reply #12 on: May 05, 2009, 01:55:36 PM » |
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You did a great job Amber, and this is a really attractive piece!!
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ct4mom
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« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2009, 02:13:59 PM » |
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Great job Amber and it is very pretty.
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Bleedy Pokes
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« Reply #14 on: May 05, 2009, 03:28:28 PM » |
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Your repair is invisible! And your finished piece is very cool!
Go Amber! Great job all around!
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Malinda
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« Reply #15 on: May 05, 2009, 03:30:52 PM » |
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AWESOME!
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Amber
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« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2009, 03:47:11 PM » |
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yeaaaahhh  I'm just so glad it worked! |
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JoanFrances
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« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2009, 04:16:57 PM » |
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Amber, I just love the way the colors flow. Great job.
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Lou Ann
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« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2009, 07:29:01 PM » |
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yeaaaahhh I'm just so glad it worked! Amber, that repair more than worked... you can't even see it... very well done Lou Ann |
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Rebecca
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« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2009, 09:12:46 PM » |
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All in all, a very good lesson and now after seeing it done I feel more confident about doing it again in the future...... not too say it was easy though *lol, just do-able.
It's beautiful! You did a good job. And it gets easier. Rebecca |
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