Stained Glass Pelican Pattern

by Shara
(Cincinnati, Oh)

Pelican Stained Glass Pattern

I couldn't resist and had to add one more stained glass pattern/project to the list.

Click here to see Shara's stained glass butterfly pattern & project



Here is the quick rundown of how to produce the pelican stained glass piece of art from this stained glass pelican pattern.

I had fun with this design since I love the beach so much. This pelican always “puts” me on a beach when I look at it.

I thought you might be interested in this pattern to make for yourself.

Here are the basic instructions:

1. Enlarge your pattern to the desired size: you can either do this with a computer by scanning or using a copier printer.

2. Choose the glass that you would like. I liked using textured glass for the pelican,multi color gray as well as the poles, brown shades, he is standing on. I chose wavy, multi blue glass for the background. I am offering these ideas but the choice is yours.
(Remember when using the textured glass- keep the texture flowing the same direction).

3. Mark your pattern pieces with a number. You can then take your glass and mark it with a gold or black maker, over a pattern piece for cutting. Or you can trace each pattern piece with paper and cut them apart (when I do cut out the pattern pieces on paper I still number them and the pattern itself for each assembly).

4. Cut and break your glass pieces with the cutting tool and the tapping ball for curved pieces.

5. Number each piece as it is cut.

6. Grind the glass edges to make them smooth – to prepare for the copper foil.

7. Once all the pieces are cut and you've done the grinding, you are now ready for the copper foil. Apply along the edges.

8. Use the fid to smooth the foil on the edges and the front and back. Put each piece back on the full design.

9. Before fluxing and soldering, align your design by squaring it up by using an “L” shaped ruler pushing the design into the corner of the square. Then place another straight edge against the opposite side. I like to use a clamp to keep the design square.

10. Flux and solder the outer edges of the design to keep it square. Then run your solder all along the seams using either 50/50 solder or 60/40.

11. Make a zinc frame for the edges, so leave about 1/4" to leave room for this frame.

12. Create the eye of the pelican with a thick drop of solder. Be sure to clean off the flux residue.

13. Cut and miter the zinc frame to make the frame around the design. Take each zinc piece and slide it into one edge of the design. Once all edges of the frame are attached be sure to clean before soldering the corners. Then spot solder along the edges of the zinc frame and the glass.

14. Now that all the corners of the frame are soldered, clean the front of the entire design. I use copper patina to apply to the frame and the solder seams.

15. Flip over and do the back the same as the front with the flux, solder and patina.

16. Clean and polish the glass completely.

17. Cut 2 pieces of copper wire, loop it in 2 sections of the top of the frame and solder to attach.

18. Cut 2 pieces of chain for hanging. Use 2 eye hooks screwed into the wood window frame for hanging.

Hopefully you will think of the beach each time you look at this design- ENJOY