I have done quite a few stained glass repairs over the years. Some have been a piece of cake, others have been a bone of contention. I enjoy the challenge of matching glass as close as possible and figuring out how to take the piece apart to do the repairs without losing the original integrity.
This past week I worked on a beautiful lamp that the family treasures. Some of the pieces at the top by the vase cap were popping out form holding the weight of the lamp. When I started to work on it, the 'solder' was not melting like it should. It was more like cooked caulking and the fumes coming off were horrible. There was a student working in the studio and she got a headache and left early. I wore a mask to try to help with the fumes but I ended up with a headache also. After a call to the owner I powered through over the next two days.
I did reach out to other stained glass artists to see if they knew what this substance was. It turns out there is a Chinese manufacturer that uses a polymer based material that can be made to look like solder. He suggested I stop working on it immediately. My first thought was why would they make it this way and they must know it could be hazardous.
The job was finished with pieces back in place and wire "ribs" for support and strengthening the lamp. The owner was happy to have her treasured lamp back home.
This past week I worked on a beautiful lamp that the family treasures. Some of the pieces at the top by the vase cap were popping out form holding the weight of the lamp. When I started to work on it, the 'solder' was not melting like it should. It was more like cooked caulking and the fumes coming off were horrible. There was a student working in the studio and she got a headache and left early. I wore a mask to try to help with the fumes but I ended up with a headache also. After a call to the owner I powered through over the next two days.
I did reach out to other stained glass artists to see if they knew what this substance was. It turns out there is a Chinese manufacturer that uses a polymer based material that can be made to look like solder. He suggested I stop working on it immediately. My first thought was why would they make it this way and they must know it could be hazardous.
The job was finished with pieces back in place and wire "ribs" for support and strengthening the lamp. The owner was happy to have her treasured lamp back home.
So moving forward I will not be accepting any of this manufacturers pieces for repair. It is not worth the chance of health issues or chasing people out of the studio. Lesson learned: know what materials you are working with.
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