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Small Piece Lamp Shade Construction.
Lamp shades that can be constructed on worden frames, are assembled the same way that Louis C. Tiffany, founder of the Tiffany Glass Co., made his famous original small piece stained glass shades in the early 1900's. The Tiffany lamps and many other shades manufactured at that time were variations of round, flattened globes and cone shapes. These round shapes lend themselves to the construction of strong, durable, family heirloom type fixtures. The stained glass parts are held together by wrapping a very then copper foil strip around the edge of each piece. Foil wrapping allows intricate, delicate designs to be made.
A special solder alloyed for a low melting point and toughness will then adhere to the copper foil to encase each part. The solder makes a durable framework, welding the many pieces together.
Making small piece lamp shades can be a very satisfying hobby. The proper tools are simple and inexpensive. Each project should be carefully planned and the glass chosen with care. A large selection of quality glass if available. Many unhurried hours will be needed to do the work correctly. The amount of detailed work that mus go into each project makes the completed piece very available. Price imported mass produced fixtures and you will find that you can make a much larger Tiffany style shade worth several hundred dollars, or more, for much less than the price of a small import.
In constructing small piece foil wrapped shades it is not necessary to make long accurate curved cuts. You will find it is much easier to learn to cut small pieces than large ones. Scoring and breaking glass takes practice. The hardest part to master is the proper amount of pressure to apply when the score is made. Most people have a tendency to press to hard. An even smooth score is made with even smooth pressure coming from the shoulder, not the fingers.
For the true artist, each WordenSystem™ form/shape is available with a grid for self lamp designing.
Much enjoyment can be found in this easy-to-learn craft. There are many books on stained glass available at stained glass dealers, libraries, and book stores.