There is no fool like an old fool, they say. I qualify in spades!
I have taken on the restoration of a 120 year old piece of leadlighting
which contains some stained glass (colored but not art work), It has been badly neglected in storage over the last 40 years, and was in bad shape. The ties to the support bars had let go, and a two and one half
inch displacement had developed.
I have persuaded it back into the one plane, and secured the panel to the support bars, and it is looking good.
The problem is the putty, As would be expected, time, movement, and
stretching have resulted in the original filler escaping. As there is a possibility that this panel, a gothic arched spandrel, may wind up in a heritage rated modification to this beautiful old Church, replacing the putty will be an imperative.
Can any of you guys help out by identifying the ingredients of the characteristic black colored putty? I would be very grateful for this information.
Lapun.
Replies
If I recall correctly, it's plaster of Paris and lampblack and maybe one other ingredient (besides a little water) I can't remember right now. You slop the mixture on--its's quite dry--and push it into the joints, then rub it with an old towel or burlap (like you do with tile grout (which may also work, it seems to me) to get it off the glass. Ask at a hobby shop or a place that sells stained glass. I got the info I gave you from a TV show on stained glass I watched a couple of years ago. Anyway, this will get you pointed in the right direction until someone more knowledgable comes along.
Danno,Thanks for the prompt response. Lampblack is the logical source for the carbon black. I'll check that out in the morning. The plaster of parisow uld be good for cleaning, as it would not smear the glass like linseed oil as in putty.This is not the first crack at this kind of thing, but the last time was fifty years ago, and all the materials were provided by the insurers as a part of their discharge of liability for shipping damage - I was just the keen youngster keen to see the finishing touches put to the church in Apia, Western Samoa - three years after it was opened.Not the youngster now - and obviously none the wiser either.I am grateful indeed.Lapun.
You're welcome--glad others here could help you with sources of supplies. Best wishes on your project! I was thinking that it might also have whiting in it, but whatever you order will have all the ingredients that you need in it.
Edited 3/14/2007 11:35 am ET by Danno
Here's a site that may have what your looking for...
<http://store.whittemoredurgin.com/cemforleadgl.html>
The last item on the page "Cementing a STained Glass Window" is free with an order or SASE. No endorsement of their product implied...
It looks like google turns up quite a few resources DAGS "Cementing stained glass"
Rip
Thanks for your references. The Whittemore group certainly have the bases covered. I will send off for their ' new revised cementing formular'. It takes a while for snail mail to Oz.The people in the industry here are not as liberal as one might think,
which makes me doubly grateful.Lapun.
Glad I could help.After I get my house built...I REALLY want to add some leaded glass work in a few places...and hope to learn what you've been doing for years. Who knows, maybe I'll be asking you a question or two!If you have the means, post some pictures...it sounds like a fascinating project.Rip
Rip,I may have misled you in my efforts to be brief. I have only ever touched two leadlight projects in my life, and they were fifty years apart. Both were repair jobs, waiting for an adventurous and over confident volunteer to happen by. However, I must say that in both cases I have been lucky enough to achieve acceptable results.I will see if I can post some pics.Lapun.
More in your line of work - I can easily e-mail pics direct to you from iPhoto, but I"m having trouble getting the same pics onto this pane. Any advice?Lapun.
Ex-mac user here...if you'd email them to me at [email protected], I'll post them to the message for ya.
Test Test Test - If I've got it right, there should be three pics.If not, I'll just have to try try again.Lapun.
Wow, that is one large piece of work. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your renovation!Rip