copper foil version of daisy garden stakes

[Lou Ann]

Here is my interpretation of the same pattern Anne used for her fused daisy garden stakes...

These are this year's end of year teacher gift

the stake I used on these is not the same peony cage stake Anne used but what they call a "loop stake" - has a 1" loop at the top which lends more support to larger pieces (these are 6")

[Anne]

I like these too LA!  I recall seeing those stakes at HD too.  They're 36" right?  Do you use them full size?

[Elizabeth]

Love them too, Lou Anne.   Really must move my stumps and try some!!

[Lou Ann]

thanks guys

I recall seeing those stakes at HD too.  They're 36" right?  Do you use them full size?

Just checked the tag on one and they are 28" and I do use them full size and recommend that people put them in the ground a little further than the smaller stakes so that the weight of the glass is supported good in a heavy wind or rain...

I generally use this size for my hummingbirds and anything that is over 6" but with the extra glass on these I thought they could use the extra support and I also wanted to keep the look of the facet in the center (the smaller stake would have completely filled the facet in from the back)

[ct4mom]

Wow I like them Lou Ann. I love this pattern so many ways to use it and all great....we could use some more of these...hint, hint!!!!

[Lou Ann]

Thanks Di,

the pinwheel pattern works up really easy too... I've done that in a bunch of color combinations as well

LA

[Becki]

Nice job, LA!  Very springy!

[Kev]

Rock on LA!!!!! These look fantastic..love the nuggets in the center!

[Kev]

I hear ya Di...LOL...maybe tonight I'll work on a few.

[Lou Ann]

thanks guys

[Audrey]

They are simply great, LA.

[Evelyn]

Lou Ann

those turned out great I'm going to have to take a trip to find these stakes - great idea

[Lou Ann]

thanks Evelyn

Lou Ann

those turned out great I'm going to have to take a trip to find these stakes - great idea

around here Walmart has the loop stakes only (if they have any), Home Depot has the Peony Stakes (they are 3 stakes on a large circle and the stakes slide ride off) and sometimes the loop stakes and Lowe's miraculously had both when I bought mine a few weeks ago...

[JoanFrances]

very pretty LouAnn

[Anne]

around here Walmart has the loop stakes only (if they have any), Home Depot has the Peony Stakes (they are 3 stakes on a large circle and the stakes slide ride off) and sometimes the loop stakes and Lowe's miraculously had both when I bought mine a few weeks ago...

actually when I bought mine (in Washington) Home Depot had both the peony stakes and the loop stakes - but the loop stakes I saw were 36". So it's probably worth checking all those places in whatever area you're in.

[PiscesGlass]

Another very sturdy alternative for plant stakes are braising rod, which I've purchased at places like NAPA.  They can be bent fairly easily (if you have a vise & hammer) and can be soldered to, but I've always added wire to the back of whatever I've soldered to it and wound it around the braising rod and then soldered.

De

[mona]

So using the stakes, how are you attaching the glass piece to the stakes? 
De, you wrap wire around the rod and then solder the wire to the rod? 
Just thinking, these would be good Christmas gifts for some family members this year, and I have nothing glassy going right now, so it would get me into the shop. 

[Lou Ann]

Mona,

I've attached the plastic covered stakes 2 different ways with equal results...

the first year, I wrapped the part of the stake that would be attached to the glass in foil and put a relatively thick tinning of solder all over the foil so that there were no ridges visible and the foil wouldn't lift, then I soldered it to the stake

after that, I started gluing the stakes to the glass using "Glass, Metal & More" glue (blue tube, yellow writing in the mosaic aisle at Michael's, label says it is indoor/outdoor and UV resistent); have had these outside in TN going on 2 summers with no issue. The only issue with the glue is when transporting the stakes to shows, they can't be the first item in the car and last item out because the TN heat that builds up in the car is too much and causes the glue to get tacky...

Lou Ann

[PiscesGlass]

So using the stakes, how are you attaching the glass piece to the stakes? 
De, you wrap wire around the rod and then solder the wire to the rod? 
Just thinking, these would be good Christmas gifts for some family members this year, and I have nothing glassy going right now, so it would get me into the shop. 

I wire brush the braising rod as well as I can first, wrap the wire around the rod and use lots of flux and solder away.  They seem to hold up fairly well.  I have one butterfly that I kept in my garden and other than the wing that broke (my fault, being my usual clumsy self) it's held up fine.

Definitely give them a go, Stained Glass in the Garden is a wonderful thing!

De

[Wayne]

I wire brush the braising rod as well as I can first, wrap the wire around the rod and use lots of flux and solder away.  They seem to hold up fairly well. 

De

Instead of wire brushing the rods, you can sand them with 1/2" x 2 -3" piece of sandpaper.  It is very quick.
If you use zinc chloride flux, you won't have to do either.

[PiscesGlass]

Oops, thanks Wayne, Good Tip!  I'll try that the next time..would the black sandpaper work best?

And where do you find Zinc Chloride Flux?

De

[Wayne]

Oops, thanks Wayne, Good Tip!  I'll try that the next time..would the black sandpaper work best?

And where do you find Zinc Chloride Flux?

De

I use which ever fine sandpaper I have on hand, wet or dry, makes no difference.  I usually sand brass caps and things which will be getting a patina next.  I use Soldermate 2 flux which is zinc chloride based for all of my soldering except on lead.