STAINED GLASS STUFF
911 Richmond Rd., Ottawa, ON, K2A 0G8
tel: (613) 722-8702, fax: (613) 722-7062
email: info@stainedglassstuff.com

Copper Foiling

1. Before foiling, make sure that the glass is clean, dry, fits correctly, and has smooth, ground edges.
2. You should generally use 7/32" foil on almost all stained glass. If you are using thinner glass or want a smaller solder line, use 3/16" foil. If you are using a heavily textured glass, thicker glass, or just want a heavier solder line, use 1/4" foil.
3. If you are using opal glass, use copper foil. If you are using light coloured cathedral glass and are planning on using black patina, use black-backed copper foil, copper patina, use copper foil, or no patina, go with silver-backed copper foil, in the appropriate size.
4. Wrap the foil around the piece of glass with the backing still on the foil to get the right length of foil. Cut that length off the roll. If you are foiling identical pieces, use that first length of foil to measure off the exact same length as many times as you need.
5. Begin foiling on a corner. Peel a little bit of the paper backing off, center the foil on the edge of the glass, and press down on top of the foil to adhere it to the glass. Keep your finger on it, and pull more of the paper backing off, and center that section of the foil on the glass edge. Keep doing that all the way around, until you are done. Make sure that you overlap the starting point of foil with at least 1/4" of foil.
6. Press down the foil once it is all on with your fingertips, so it wraps around both sides of the glass. Then take a fid or popsicle stick and burnish down the foil. Do the edge of the glass first, the front next, then the back side.
7. If you have any uneven overlap, trim it off with a sharp x-acto knife. Be careful not to scratch the glass.
8. If you find that you are having real troubles centering the foil on the glass, try to apply the foil towards the front side of the glass piece. The overlap will then only be visible from the back side.