Some finished things

[Alan]

Now that the mornings have cooled off enough to allow me to work in my workshop (garage) I was able to finish off a couple of boxes.

Used Spectrum Burgundy Baroque on this one:

This colorful one is for my teenage granddaughter:

[Lou Ann]

very nice Alan...

I love baroque glass and I really like the design of the heart box (however, the colors wouldn't be my choice but I'm a little past the teenager days)

[Alan]

(however, the colors wouldn't be my choice but I'm a little past the teenager days)

Me too - I actually shuddered when she picked out those colors.

[Anne]

it's one of those gotta be different things right?  Nice boxes tho Alan. Have to say I prefer the baroque one too.

[Barbara]

Really nice Alan.  Your work is nicely done.

[Kev]

These are fantastic Alan...what a nice job you did on these. I love them both and actually love the colors of the heart box.

[nansea121]

You're in box mode! Nice pieces:)

[Becki]

Really nice, Alan.  I like the colors in the heart box too...it reminds me of sugar candy!

[Elizabeth]

Love them both!   And I really like the way the  reflections bounce back from the mirrored bottoms through the bevels when the lids are closed!!

[JoanFrances]

very nice Alan.  I like them both equally.

Alan, how did you attach the zinc to the box part of the boxes?  Did you cut and bend it so it was fit?  I can't tell looking at the pictures. 

[Marsha]

Beautiful!!

[Alan]

Thanks everyone - seems that the only things people are asking for are the boxes and the flutterbys

[gws732]

Nice, Alan... I like all of them.  The flutterbys are pretty too. I can see why someone would want them.

[AglassAct]

Love the heart box and the butterflies. Really pretty.

[Glassic]

I wish I had the paitience to make a box or three.
I like the green and orange too, it goes well with my fish'n' frog room.[guest bathroom]

[ct4mom]

Love the boxes Alan...and the flutterflies are great.I have been wanting to make them since I started glass....someday!!!

[PiscesGlass]

Wow, those boxes are beautiful and I love your use of zinc for the box top edges and edges of the box itself, what a nice professional looking finish!

I've always loved this butterfly pattern, very cool, I can see why people would be requesting you to make more of these. Lovely Alan!!

De

[Marsha]

I had those same butterflies cut out and when I wasn't looking, hubby took all of them and put them in cement around some planters!!  I wasn't very happy with him!!  He also messed with my sun/moon panel and got all the sun pieces out of order!!

[Judy K]

  Bad Hubby!

I like the boxes and butterflies too.

Your grandaughters needed a little 'Harvest Gold' to be a perfect 70's retro piece.

[Audrey]

Very nice boxes, and I love the  glass you chose for the flutterbys.

[Malinda]

I love the boxes Alan....you're reminding me of the 4 I have started and never put the lids on because the tubing got me frusterated BIG TIME. I also love the use of the zinc on the boarders.

[Alan]

I love the boxes Alan....you're reminding me of the 4 I have started and never put the lids on because the tubing got me frusterated BIG TIME. I also love the use of the zinc on the boarders.

With me using zinc came for the borders - the following is the method that I use...
The hinges are made up of:

• 1 - 2" length of 1/16" x .014" copper tubing inside 'pin'
• 2 - 1" lengths of 3/32" x .014" copper tubing outer hinge body

Initial positioning and careful soldering are the keys to this type of hinge - I have the box upside-down with the lid very slightly overhanging the back side (the lid is LARGER than the box by about 1/8" to 3/16" all around), place all of the pieces on the overhanging lip (with the inner 'pin' in place) with a slight gap between the outside pieces of the hinge - held in place with a bit of painter's masking tape (the blue stuff) on one end of each hinge set, carefully tack solder one of the outer pieces to the lid ONLY, remove the tape and tack solder the other outer piece to the box ONLY, repeat for the other side. Remove the 'pins' from the inside of the larger tubing and very carefully solder each outer hinge piece making sure that NO solder gets on the inside of the tubing and that the tubing does not move. Once all soldered, reassemble the hinges and carefully solder the inner 'pin' to the outer tubing - ON ONE END ONLY of each hinge set (I usually do the outside end - it's easier to reach and control the solder), if you solder each end of the hinge set - you no longer have a hinge - rather you have a lock!

Probably not the best method - but it does seem to work OK me and like soldering takes some practice to get a good looking hinge.

Found the two different sized small copper tubing at my local TrueValue hardware store in their hobby metals section - 3 pieces in each package 12" long.

[Malinda]

This is going to seem so stupid Alan....I got the 2 tubing pieces as part of the box kits like with the rubber pieces for underneath. Specifically my problem is cutting the outer tube without it collapsing and allowing the inner tube to still fit through end to end....dumb huh?

[Rebecca]

Malinda, you can us a little hack saw with fine teeth to cut the tube, or you can even score it with a file and break it.  Or you can leave the smaller tube inside the larger one and cut both at once.

Rebecca

[Alan]

Like Rebecca - I leave the two pieces of tubing together when I cut off the 2" piece using my little 2" chop saw from Harbor Freight (originally purchased to use on zinc came) - then I take the inner 'pin' out and using the chop saw - whack it in half. Sometimes I have to take my pen knife and clean out a bit of a burr on the outer piece.

[Malinda]

I'll have to give it a shot again...I would REALLY like to finish the boxes and get better at them.

[meaco]

Beautiful boxes!  I especially love the baroque one...very nice!!