Build a Stained Glass Workshop
For many stained glass artists there is not a place to designate as their stained glass workshop. When the stained glass pattern is large, and will take a while to finish, the kitchen table is not the best area to use. You can build a stained glass workshop in one of many parts of the house where the project will not take over an area needed for other activities.
Instructions
Basement
1. Use a section of the basement to create a workshop for your stained glass projects. The cement floor makes it easy to sweep up the glass shards which will eliminate the chance of someone stepping on them.
2. Set up one card table for your grinder, stained glass cutter and cutting surface near an electrical outlet, and another table for your stained glass project.
3. Install overhead lights and a table lamp to be able to see without eye strain.
Bedroom
4. Turn a spare bedroom into your stained glass workshop. Being able to close the door gives you the chance to really concentrate on your craft.
5. Remove the carpet or cover the working area with scatter rugs so they can be shaken out.
6. Put shelves in the closet to hold your sheets of stained glass, the patina and other chemicals and extra tools.
7. Find an old table at a thrift store to create your projects on.
Garage
8. Make room in the garage. Better yet, build a room in the garage for your stained glass workshop. Build walls and insulate them so, in the winter months, the room can be heated (see Resource 1).
9. Glue caps on both ends of a 12-inch diameter PVC pipe, 7-feet-long. Cut it in half and hang both halves on the wall, cut side up, to hold the lead and zinc.
10. A work bench can be made that has storage compartments underneath to hold glass and other supplies. Another storage idea, according to WorksofGlass.com, is to "put peg board on the sides or on the back to hang tools on, and don't forget the drawers. Just don't make them too deep, and buy effective gliders for the drawers. (See Reference 1. This website provides a materials list and step-by-step directions for building a work bench for your stained glass workshop.)
"The Mighty Stained Glass Work Bench--Where Magic Happens" provides instructions for a stained glass work bench. (See Resource 2.)
Tags: stained glass, stained glass, your stained, your stained glass, glass workshop, stained glass workshop
