See through frame for stained glass

shaunmcdaniel · Post by **shaunmcdaniel** » Sat 04 May, 2013 7:10 am

Hey folks
A customer has given me a small home made stained glass panel, about 30cm x 20cm.
She wants to hang it in her window and for the frame to be see through. The piece is off-square so she wants the frame to square it up. She wants it in a matt silver moulding without any glazing.

My idea was to make two frames and put them back to back, with a brass chain fixed to both the top edges of the frame for hanging.

Does any one have any ideas or tips on how I could fix the stained glass into the frame so it looks neat and you can't see the rebate gaps? Or would there be some better method of doing this job.

I've searched about online and on this forum but can't seem to find anything.

Thanks
Shaun

GeoSpectrum · Post by **GeoSpectrum** » Sat 04 May, 2013 9:08 am

How of square is it? Enough to be hidden in the rebate? Perhaps they could use glazing lead to square it up before framing?

shaunmcdaniel · Post by **shaunmcdaniel** » Sat 04 May, 2013 9:30 am

Its about 8mm off on one corner (it was her first attempt at stained glass)
I reckon I'm going to have to cut into the rebate a few mm so that I can square it up, but that means she will loose a fare bit of the artwork in the rebate.
I was wondering if any one had ever seen any clear plastic grips that could cradle the artwork from all four sides so that it appears to be floating? It would still be off square but that way none of the work would be lost in the rebate, I think this way would look better. I've tried to fine examples of this but can't.

Post by **prospero** » Sat 04 May, 2013 9:54 am

You might be able to fabricate some brackets using thin aluminium sheet. It's easy to work with. You can cut it with scissors (well nearly - tin snips are better). It would also match the lead where brass would stand out. Two little 'grips' on each side would hold it inside the frame.
With a bit of jiggling about you should be able to get it to float inside the frame with maybe a little bit going behind the rebate. Not easy though.
A nicer way would be using metal rods (coat-hangers?) You could then offset it about an inch from the inside of the frame. Forming the ends might be tricky as you have to grip the glass, but not too much.

. Although if there is lead around the outside then this would act as a cushion.

I wouldn't use any plastic fixings. Being in the sun would probably turn them very brittle after a while.

shaunmcdaniel · Post by **shaunmcdaniel** » Sat 04 May, 2013 9:59 am

Here's a picture.

: image.jpg (2.9 MiB) Viewed 3573 times

shaunmcdaniel · Post by **shaunmcdaniel** » Sat 04 May, 2013 10:03 am

Thanks for the reply prospero, very helpful. Good thinking about the plastic becoming brittle, I never considered that.

GeoSpectrum · Post by **GeoSpectrum** » Sat 04 May, 2013 11:17 am

I saw some ally profiles in B and Q the other day. A small U shaped one might be able to be used to construct a simple frame to hold the item, then fix that into the rebate?

Post by **prospero** » Sat 04 May, 2013 5:02 pm

Clothes pegs? The proper wooden sort hand carved by Gypsies.

Just a brain-byte.

shaunmcdaniel · Post by **shaunmcdaniel** » Sat 04 May, 2013 5:16 pm

You are right prospero I really should help fund the gypsies elaborate weddings by bulk buying their pegs and lucky heather

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See through frame for stained glass

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