Gomm Studios   (385) 392-7989
Gomm Stained Glass
  • Home
  • Projects
  • Classes
    • Learn More About Studio Classes
  • STORE & RESOURCES
    • Art 4 Sale
    • Amazon Shop
    • Etsy
    • Tips Articles >
      • Fixing Windows >
        • Repairing Severe Damage
        • Repairing A Broken Piece Of Glass
        • Fixing A Small Break In A Big Piece Of Glass
        • Faking A Repair
        • Doing A MAJOR Repair
        • How To Repair A Leaded Panel
        • How To Repair Stained Glass That Has Separated
        • How To Rebuild A Leaded Glass Window W/ Copper Foil
        • How To Repair A Moderately Broken Art Glass Panel
        • How To Repair An Insulated Stained Glass Window
        • Changing the Border Glass In a Leaded Panel
        • Repairing A Stained Glass Panel For An Artist
        • Repair Using A Dremel Tool
        • Quick(er) Lead Repair
      • Tricks Of The Trade >
        • Insulating Glass So It Can Be Hung In A Door
        • Moving And Handling Glass
        • Cutting Diamonds On Very Rough Glass
        • How To Add Coining To A Panel For A Very "French" Look
        • How To Shorten A Stained Glass Panel
        • How To Trim And Cut A Stained Glass Panel That's Too Long
        • How To Build A Jig To Help Cut Bevels
        • How To Cut Stained Glass Without A Pattern
      • Reinforcing and Framing Glass >
        • Reinforcing A Large Panel
        • How To Aggressively Reinforce A Window
        • Soldering A Zinc Edge On A Panel
        • How To Solder A Reinforcing Edge On A Curved Panel
        • How To Put Metal Around An Octagon Shaped Panel
        • Building A Frame For Stained Glass Shutters
      • Shipping Stained Glass >
        • How To Ship Big Stained Glass Panels
        • How To Build A Solid Shipping Crate
        • How We Crate Same Size Multiples of Glass
        • How To Build A "Double Foam" Crate
        • Loading Glass On A Trailer
      • Lighting Projects >
        • Installing Art Glass In A Pool Table Lamp
        • How To Build A Panel For A Backlit Space
        • How To Reinforce A Stained Glass Skylight
        • Creating A False Skylight
        • Building A Four Sided Lamp
        • Repair A Cheap Lamp Shade
        • Building A Stained Glass Lamp With A Worden Mold
      • Installing Stained Glass >
        • How To Install Stained Glass in an Existing Window Frame
        • How To Install Stained Glass In A Cabinet Door
        • How To Hang A Stained Glass Window
        • How We Install A Panel In An Arched Window Opening
        • What Ttype Of Caulk To Use
      • Sandblasting Stained Glass >
        • How To Sandblast Stained Glass
        • How We Sand Carve A Stained Glass Transom
        • Setting Up A Sandblast System
        • How To Sand Carve A Rose In Glass
      • Organizing Your Studio >
        • Build Your Own Work Bench
        • Chemicals We Use In Our Studio
        • Getting A New Glass Order
        • Build Your Own Stained Glass Rack
        • Converting To A Lead Free Studio
      • Bring New Life To Windows >
        • Removing Corrosion From Stained Glass
        • Re-Apply Patina To Stained Glass
        • How To Clean A Really Dirty Window
        • Clean And Apply Patina To Stained Glass
        • Cleaning And Adding Patina To A New Stained Glass Panel (revisited)
        • Easily Clean Corrosion Off Of Stained Glass
      • Unusual Projects >
        • Building A Stained Glass Globe
        • The Painted Leaf Project
        • How To Paint A Face On Stained Glass
        • Fusing A Stained Glass Necklace
        • Building A Stained Glass Picture Frame
        • Building A Stained Glass Jewelry Box
        • Make Stained Glass Charms
        • Repairing A Stained Glass Angel By Making Our Own Glass
      • Soldering Techniques >
        • Fix or Reinforce Glass With A Solder Bridge
        • How To Solder For A Stained Glass Repair
        • Reclaiming Old Flux Core Solder For Use In Stained Glass
        • Soldering Technique-Fixing A Foil Problem
      • Basic Skills >
        • How To Cut Stained Glass
        • How To Cut Stained Glass with a T-square Cutter
        • How To Cut A Tight Curve In Stained Glass
        • Cutting Very Thin, Irregular Stained Glass Pieces
        • Cut Glass Using A Straight Edge
      • Advanced Craftsmanship Skills >
        • Cut Glass Using A Taurus Ring Saw
        • Drill Holes In Stained Glass With Diamond Drillbit
        • Drill Holes In Stained Glass With A Grinder
      • Business Tips >
        • Marketing Stained Glass
        • Helping Your Stained Glass Business (And Yourself) Survive With Style
        • Mistakes Happen To Us All (And Then We Fix Them)
        • Converting To A Lead Free Studio
    • YouTube Videos
    • Free Patterns
  • About Us
    • Instagram
    • Shows And Galleries
    • History Of Our Studio
    • Articles About Us
    • Links
    • Contact Us
Picture

Glass Tips & Tricks 

Newsletters from our past converted to fresh articles about stained glass.
Picture

Converting To A Lead Free Studio 
Click Here For The YouTube Video

Picture
Recently Jeanne attended a health fair and they offered a blood-lead test for a small fee. She took it out of curiosity and found that she had 0.06 (6 micrograms) of lead per deciliter of blood. The old standard was 0.10 or higher in children and 0.40 in adults was considered dangerous. Recently the CDC has lowered the standard for children to be 0.05 


 No amount of lead is safe and 0 is normal. So we decided to get rid of it.

Picture
When soldering using lead free, the iron must be hotter, we use the same flux and the solder doesn't flow as readily.

Picture
Here I'm using 50/50 solder and it flows easier.

Picture
With the lead free, I have to drag the solder along and baby sit it every step of the way.

Picture
The tip seems to get dirty faster than with leaded solder and so you have to work to keep it clean.  


 Electronic manufacturers report that tips don't last as long in their industry now that they've converted to lead free soldering


Picture
I use a water soaked sponge to keep the tip clean. I also use a sal ammoniac block to keep the tip "tinned" well.

Picture
I can tell that this method takes a little more work, but it will probably become easier as I get used to the new techniques. 


 The flow is different, it's almost like you forgot to flux.


Picture
With the lead free I have to put the solder right on the tip. It doesn't flow off easily.

Picture
The lead free costs about 50% more than solder with lead, but it is very shiney when applied. Folks who make sun catchers and jewelry will love the results.

A postscript to this article is appropriate. We find that this type of soldering is much harder than that with lead. I did a 3D box and found it so difficult that I told Jeanne that any 3D work I do will be with solder containing lead. Then we had a huge commission come up and decided that it wouldn't be cost effective to use lead free on it. Gradually, we have elected to go with lead based solder on most projects, but we have tightened up our shop standards so that we can better avoid lead exposure.


We've also heard that cilantro in the diet can help heavy metals to clump and be able to then be filtered by the liver. We know know how accurate that is, but we now allow a little cilantro into our food.

Home

​
Stained Glass Books
​

Stained Glass Videos

​Links Page

Stained Glass
Art Therapy

​Studio Classes

OnLine Classes

​Portfolio

​Etsy Patterns

​UCAB Sourcebook

Build Your Own Table

Kaleidoscope




Tips & Articles

Patterns
Mosaic Patterns

​Contact Us

Art For Sale

​Free Videos

Creativity Quotes
​

Date Night
​
​
History Of Our Studio

​Articles About Us

​Shows And Galleries

​Join Our Email List

5 Ways To Thrive
​​

Copyright © 2016-2025