Is it hard to do stained glass?

No, in fact it's suprisingly easy. After taking one beginning class, you will have the skills to make panels in any size except for very large pieces.

Does stained glass take a lot of time?

Not necessarily. Small pieces can take a short amount of time once you know how to do it. However, as with any other hobby, you will probably find that doing stained glass will become addicting. As you become more comfortable working with stained glass, you will probably want to choose more challenging projects, and you will devote more time to your new hobby.

Is working with stained glass expensive?

No, our beginning class fees are quite reasonable, and include many of the tools that you need to work in stained glass on your own. However, as with any hobby, as you continue to work in this medium you may want to acquire more tools and machines to better equip your home working area. A well-equipped home work shop can be set up for a relatively small amount of money compared to many other hobbies.

Are there health hazards associated with stained glass?

There are some hazards, but these are well known and can be minimized or eliminated by taking some simple precautions.

What are some of the health hazards and how do I avoid them?

Anyone who has ever worked with stained glass knows that small cuts to the hands and fingers are almost unavoidable. The use of gloves and simple care when handling glass can almost eliminate this hazard. The major health hazard is probably exposure to lead, mainly through the soldering of pieces. This is avoided by using good ventilation and/or a fume trap to avoid exposure to fumes. Also, good hygiene practice is common sense. Do not eat, drink or smoke in your work area, and always wash your hands, preferably with a soap that is especially formulated for removal of metal particles, before eating, drinking, or smoking after soldering. Another hazard is the possibility of heat burns. While soldering, it is possible to drip hot solder on yourself. Also, if you are not careful with the soldering iron, you may burn yourself by mishandling it. The way to avoid these hazards is simply by paying attention to what you are doing during this phase of the process. Finally, some of the cleaning agents and patinas can be corrosive to the skin. Simple use of protective gloves helps assure that this is not a problem.

Isn't the glass itself very expensive to buy?

Stained glass can be expensive, but most of it is very reasonably priced and you will probably not be looking to buy the more expensive kinds for most of your projects.

Isn't there a lot of wasted glass?

Careful planning of how you cut the glass and working to improve your cutting skills can minimize waste.

Don't I have to practically be an artist to design my stained glass pieces?

Definitely not. Many people with very little artistic talent have made beautiful pieces. This is due to the fact that there are literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of pattern books that cover almost every imaginable subject. We offer a very large selection of these pattern books, and if we don't have a book with a pattern that you like, we can probably get one within a few days. Finally, there are many good computer programs that will help you design your pieces. Some of them will also let you fill in the piece with actual samples of stained glass so you can see how your finished piece will look.

Can I teach myself how to work in stained glass?

It is possible to do that – we even sell a kit that is designed to help you. However, we believe that there is no substitute for learning under someone who knows what she is doing, and is there to give you help and guidance.