How to Solder Stained Glass Like A Pro

This online version is provided courtesy of Inland Craft Products, Inc. You can view the complete manual and obtain a PDF version from the "How To" section on the Inland Craft website.

Cleanup After Soldering

After soldering, you will need to remove all flux and solder residues from your solder lines and glass. The best cleaners to use are ones that neutralize the acid property of fluxes. To properly clean your project, you will need a good flux cleaner, very warm water and a soft scrub brush. Thoroughly brush the cleaner into every corner of your project, front and back. Follow this with a long rinse in clean, warm water and then towel the project dry. This step is very important because any flux that remains will continue to react with the solder, causing oxidation. If your project looks good after the initial cleaning, but the solder lines have a white or green growth on them after a few weeks, it generally means that all of the flux was not removed from the project. You can use 000 steel wool to remove the patina and finishing compound and thoroughly clean the project. Then reapply the patina and finishing compound.


A small stiff scrub brush is the best way to clean the entire project. After the initial cleaning, you may find some areas that need additional attention.	You may find small pieces of solder stuck to the glass. You can easily remove these using your fingernail, or 000 steel wool. Be careful not to scratch the glass.	An old toothbrush can be helpful for cleaning in tight intersections and right up against the solder line.

Occasionally you may find that after applying patina, certain types of glass acquire a "rainbow" effect. This is most likely to occur on hot colors, black, white and iridized glass. It is one of those things that is unpredictable and difficult or impossible to remove. You can try to remove it by using a paste made from baking soda, but it doesn’t always work. The only way to prevent this occasional problem is to be very careful not to get patina on your glass. Use a cotton swab to apply the patina only to the solder lines of the project. If you have this problem, it is a good idea to make note of it on any remaining glass, so you can be more careful the next time you use that particular glass.

Finishing

After cleaning your project you should use a finishing wax or compound to keep it looking it’s best. A good quality carnauba wax or pre-mixed wax and cleaner should be applied to all of the solder lines. A nice side effect is that the wax also enhances the color of the patina making it either rich black or shinny copper. You may find it helpful to reapply the wax after a few months. (If you would like to change the color of the solder, see the section about patina on page 16.)

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