Back lighting

[JoanFrances]

De you did a wonderful job

[TodB]

I'll add a caution, based on a few years of experience. It's always better to secure a panel with a stop around the entire perimeter rather than a few mirror clips or wood blocks. The only acceptable exception (IMHO) is with one framed with zinc. These will probably last fine with clips or several blocks.
In all cases, however, the clips should be nearer to joints rather than against any wide, unsupported piece of glass (think fulcrums & levers - or running pliers!).
- Tod

[Wayne]

That is a good point, Tod!
When lead is used for the perimeter came, the stop should press against the lead at the point there is glass inside (under the lead leaf).  Installing it that way eliminates most of the problem described.  There are exceptions to this when you use something other than H lead for the perimeter came.

[ct4mom]

De I have to agree with the others...this turned out awesome and Im sure even though he is a contractor he will find nothing wrong with this but to love it!!! Great job!!!  

[meaco]

Looks great, De...the panel looks awesome and thanks for showing how the box is built :)

[PiscesGlass]

Another method that can be used to secure the panel into the frame is:

Once the 4 sides of the box are put together, take  .5" x .5"  strips of wood (or 1/4 round molding, though it will have to have mitered corners)and cut them to form a frame on the inside edges of the front of the box. Secure them with small brads and wood glue. This will give the glass panel a surface to rest against when placed in from the back. Once the glass is in place, install a few small blocks of wood, or use mirror clips positioned against the zinc or lead frame of your panel, to hold it secure against this new small wooden frame you just created.

Good advice Tod, This is a zinc framed piece, and I put the clips close to, but not centered on the seams of the piece, but neither are they positioned on the long expanses of glass.  If I were to do this again, I would run the supporting wood strips all the way around though.  Thanks!

And the only diffusion was to paint the interior white..I believe that I'd probably put two light strips the next time..one on top as I've done it, and another on the bottom.  In my case I'm a bit electrically challenged and the light strip I purchased may have been able to be wired to the other...but I wouldn't have known how to accomplish it. 

@Mal..sure I'll drive to your place and help you out with it. LOL.

Thanks everyone for their kind comments, much appreciated.

De

[glasisfun]

I made a back lit stained glass for our basement.  We put in a projector and screen for watching movies and I made this for the room.  My husband built the "box" and then framed it to match the wood molding in the room.  We went with florescent lights after laying it out on a couple different types of lights (the ones we did not use went back to the store). I found that placement of the lights based on the pattern was key.  I did not want the lights to show through when lit. We put some "air holes" in the bottom of the box and top of the box out of site to keep any heat from building up in the box.  It has been up for three years now and still no problems.  One picture is the finished glass, one is the glass framed and hung lit up and unlit.  Hard to take pictures in the dark, but I am sure you get the idea.

[Kev]

This rocks! What a great piece, and what a great job you did with it! I love it!

[Audrey]

How cool is that!

[TodB]

glassisfun:
What a good piece for your movie room and it looks like there are quite a few techniques which could be discussed here (somewhere). Probably a new thread ...

What I especially love, though, is your comment that you tried several types of lighting, including varying positions, before deciding what to use. This step is super-critical and not one to be left to chance or assumption at the last minute.
Nice work - Tod

[ct4mom]

What a great piece for a movie room, Awesome job glassisfun!!!
 

[Tre V]

I'm so glad to read these postings. When our house is done (this summer, I hope), I want to do a panel for behind the bar in the saloon portion of the Man Cave..which is in the basement..no windows..

[memaribeth]

WOW...nice!!

[Anne]

that's a GREAT panel glasisfun!  So fun! And thanks for the info!

[Malinda]

wow....really nice panel! did i miss the thread on how long you've been doing glass and what types you do in all? you do very nice work!

[glasisfun]

No, you did not miss anything.... but since you asked,      I have been doing stained glass about three years.  I have tried hot glass a time or two, but have stayed with stained glass.  I have a couple Mosaic pieces and enjoy that too.

The popcorn panel is cut out in glass, glued to a sheet of glass bought at the hardware store and grouted in black grout. Making the popcorn pieces was my first sawing project, and the kernels are glass glued to the piece.  The decorations on the popcorn box are cut from glass and glued on the white background glass. the string of tickets is mirror glass.  It all started when I found a 1" black and white clip art picture on line.  I enlarged it and went from there.

It was my first piece of stained glass.

[Kev]

Very nicely done. Being that it was your first piece, I am sure you were thrilled with it and inspired to do more. ...Now that's a good thing!

[Malinda]

I agree with Kev...

[Barbara]

Very nicely done and innovative too!