I sell a couple of instructional pattern books and classes to help you get started:
The class handout includes the process steps from the books. The books include printed page-size patterns which are also on CD so you can print them full size and tape pages together. $24.95 per book includes US shipping and taxes. If you don’t have access to a CD reader I can email the PDF of the pattern you request after you receive the book.
Glass on Glass is aimed at beginners and has patterns for 14 round tables. Garden Light has 5 small square table patterns to get you started then goes dimensional with 4 birdbaths on glass pie plates and 11 lanterns on spaghetti jars. An option for adding solar power to the lanterns and copper legs to tables is also included.
FAQs:
How is stained glass appliqué different from mosaic?
In appliqué the pieces are cut to the shape of the design. In mosaic the small pieces are used to fill the areas of the design. This results in quite different looks even though the basic materials may be the same.
Stained glass appliqué uses the same initial tools and process as making a stained glass window (glass cutter, breaker/grozzer, running pliers and grinder). In fact it takes longer because you should grind around every edge of every piece, something you don’t do when the edge of the glass will be covered with metal in a window.
Mosaic starts with small cast tiles of glass (tesserae or smalti) or sometimes with bits of stained glass and uses nippers to break off pieces. This tends to cause the edges to be rough unless they are tumbled before use or grouted very carefully. Because of this breaking process, you don’t often see curved individual pieces in mosaic. Almost all the pieces in my appliqué designs are curved, which results more “waste” glass and therefore higher materials cost.
How long does it take to make a table top?
Once I have the design worked out and the glass in hand, it takes me an average of 10 minutes per piece of glass A beginner should probably double that. The design process can take a couple of days or a couple of years until I’m satisfied. Picking out and buying the glass is another large variable.
The following rules of thumb may be helpful:
You don’t need to glue all the pieces at once but don’t stop in the middle of a motif.
150 pieces a day is my limit on the grinder.
Grouting only takes an hour or two but allow 4 to 6 hours because you will want to fuss with it to get a smooth finish.
What glue do you use?
Clear GE Silicone II caulk, usually “advanced formula” (until they change it again) because it adheres a bit better. The vinegar smelling Silicone 1 also works but may rust metal it comes in contact with while curing. Silicone 1 is also more viscous than Silicone II so it traps more bubbles.
What grout do you use?
Home Depot’s Custom brand Polyblend cement based sanded grout for outdoors, Epoxy Grout for indoors
Where do I get a table to use as a base?
No matter where it comes from, choose a base table in which the glass does not flex or your grout will crack.
Glass topped tables are available year round in the Seattle area at thrift stores etc. Between mid-February and July 4th you have a larger selection available from department stores like Fred Meyer, Home Depot, Lowe’s etc.. Garage sales, thrift stores, consignment shops etc. are also worth checking.
If you find the glass but need a base many wood workers and metal artists will also be glad to make a base for you (see the next question for glass sources)
Contact me if you are having trouble — preferably by phone (206-525-1577 between 9am & 5pm Pacific time) and I may be come up with other suggestions.
I have a table to use as a base but the glass broke — where do I go to get another piece?
On tables up to a foot or so in diameter, you can use 1/4″ plate glass from your local glass supplier. The supporting glass on a large table usually needs to be tempered or very thick ( more than 1/4″, how much more depends on the size of table). Tempered glass is 5 times stronger than the untempered glass of the same thickness. Tempering requires a large furnace so it’s a specialized industry (by the way, you can’t cut tempered glass, you have to cut the glass and then temper it). One problem with tempered glass is that you really want a metal or other edge protecting it because if you hit it on the unprotected edge of the glass, it may shatter.
https://www.glasstopsdirect.com/ sells both tempered and untempered glass
https://www.onedayglass.com/ is fairly local: Vancouver, Washington so shipping is probably less expensive if you’re in the NW.
Usually any place that sells automobile windshields will also sell glass for table tops.
The other thing to consider is that an inexpensive new table may be less expensive that a custom piece of glass (see table source question above). On most tables it is easy to swap the glass if you prefer your existing frame so measure carefully when buying a table with this in mind.