A COLLECTION OFFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANDHELPFUL HINTS FROMTHE DAILY GRIND: THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF STAINED GLASS LAMP ARTISTSCompiled and edited by Carol ContiCopyright The Association of Stained Glass Lamp Artists, 2006. All Rights Reserved.TABLE OF CONTENTSLIGHT TABLEImportance of a light table and construction ideas.7LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION MOLDSOdyssey Lamp Systems.9Worden System.9Comparing Worden & Odyssey methods of construction.9No oxidation with this method of construction.10Grouting a mold.10Alternatives to grouting.10Add stability.10Draw directional guidelines.11A hint about using Worden molds.10Protecting styrofoam molds.11CHOOSING GLASSMaking glass choices.13“Bleeding” colors.14Choosing backgrounds14Finding flowers in glass.16Art glass & lighting a shade.16Iridescent glass.16Textured glass.16Hot spots.17Variation in Glass Thickness18Glass Terminology18PATTERN PREPARATION“Windows”.19Use “windows” to purchase glass.19Use “windows” to lay out pattern.19Special background considerations.19Remedy for cutting problems.19Holding copies.19Reference copies.20Glass easels.20Laying out mylar pattern.20Follow pattern.20Final look at the easels.20HINTS ON PATTERN PREPARATIONColor paper patterns22Removing outlines.22Cutting “windows”.22Mastic instead of glue stick22Reduce a pattern.23Use a computer & scanner to make copies.23Make more than one lamp with the same pattern.23Easel hints.23Laying our glass at night.24Storing glass pieces.24SCORING/BREAKING GLASSIdeas on successful cutting.25Grozing.25Morton System.25Mosaic cutters.26Protect wheels.26Solving cutter problems.26Tips on cutting glass.26Cutting special glass.28GRINDINGGrinder Bits.29Direction.29Sequence.29Rubber finger do-dads30Drilling holes in glass30Removing grinder sludge30“Stuck “ bits30Dont get cut!.31Mark the Bit31Saws.31Preserving lines.31Make your own saw.32FOILINGDetermining width.33Restoring adhesiveness.33Differences in adhesiveness.34Protecting foil.35Process.35Foiling ripple glass.35Foiling jewels, globs.35Foiling a “valley”35Burnishing.36Burnishing surface.36Separating feature on dispenser.36Hold dispenser in place.36Eliminate oxidation.36FITTING GLASS ONTO THE MOLDCut to the pattern.37Check spacing.37Turntable.37Tacky Wax.37Final check.38Make your own wax.38Alternatives to wax.38LAMP POSITIONERSComparison of levelers40Lessons learned41Wire basket41SOLDER/SOLDERINGDifferences in solder.42Flux.42Tinning.42Beading.42Thin solder lines.43Eliminate dripping solder.44Protect your lamp between sessions.44Irons & tips.44Care of the tip.44Lead-free solder45Solder not “taking”45Gaps & bronze wool46Soldering discussion46Reinforcing.47SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONSFitting glass, brass crown and branches on the Wisteria.48Dont tin Odysseys caps, crowns.48Cobweb/Apple Blossom.49Special considerations for cast branches.49Turtleback shade.49Lighting the Turtleback base.50Spider lamp.5022” Dragonfly.50Chestnut design51Reinforcing the Laburnum51FILIGREEAttaching filigree52Filling gaps on Dragonfly lamps.53ATTACHING FLEXIBLE BRAID.55RELEASING A LAMP FROM ITS MOLDRelease methods56Joining sections & releasing tucked shades.59INSTALLING & LEVELING THE RING AND RIM.61Use heavy-duty iron on brass.62Tin with a torch.63Irons & tips.63Hold rim in place.63Cut & sand with Dremel tool.63Tools for finishing a rim.5264ATTACHING BALL CHAIN .65REMOVING A BROKEN PIECE.67CLEANING THE SOLDERED LAMPClean-up methods68FILING THE RIM & RING.69PATINA.70Copper patina.72Brown patina.72Re-patinating73POLISHING HINTS.74DETAILING A COMPLETED LAMP.75SPECIAL APPLICATIONSMake your own jewels.76A quick COE fusing lesson.76Fusing iridescent glass.77Slumping.77How to make a slumping mold.78Make your own lamp mold.78Make a mold from a photo.78Make a mold for $2.00.79Make a mold from a squirrel baffle.80Make a mold using wood, styrofoam & fiberglass.80Plating.81Mosaic work on bases.82Make your own glue chip.83Make your own filigree.84Painting on glass87Inserting panels into brass frame.87Hanging a shade upside down88Pebble-cluster shades.88Ring Lotus Pattern.89How to build the Ring Lotus.89Casting jewels90TOOLS, AIDS, ETC.Labeling your lamps.91