HI Folks

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
wrote:
Hi, can anyone point me at info about repairing a leaded window?

Son managed to bend the pane outwards so much that two pieces of
glass have cracked badly. One of them has a huge hole in it.

I've found some links that suggest you could repair in-situ but they
don't offer much detail.

TIA
Cheers PJ

Ok, Ive not done this but apparently it works.

You have to cut teh leading with a dremel or stanley knife in the corers
enough to lever up a bit to get the old galss out: replacement glass can
be obtained (typically 3mm horticultural) and inserted, and then you
carefully bend the lead back: a blob of electrical solder (soldering
iron or gun: not blowlamp, though if you are careful an oxy torch works
I believe) on the cut parts restores all.


Well - sort of right....

Certainly a stanley knife to cut through the lead (it's called 'came')
in the corners - if it's an old window then you may find that the lead
has become brittle, so be careful.
If you have a glass cutter (the sort with a carbide wheel) then make a
series of radial scores across the broken pieces, and then tap gently on
the other side of the glass with a pair of pliers, screwcdriver handle
or similar. You can then (hopefully) break the broken piece still
further, and wiggle the broken segments out one by one (use pliers or
gloves!)

If the original glass was coloured then you can get replacements from
your friendly local stained glass dealer - they might even cut it to
size for you - or if you want to email me direct then I'm sure I could
find a piece of the right size and colour for you.

The glass is held in the groove of the came, and secured with a putty
mixture (you might get away with silicon sealant as a diy solution).

Electrical solder won't work - you'll need some sort of bar solder (the
proper stuff is called blowpipe solder) and a large soldering iron.
Ideally use a tallow candle rubbed on the joint as flux, failing that
try some Bakers Fluid.

DON'T use a oxy-torch - if you don;t shatter the adjacent pieces of
glass then you'll burn the lead away - remember that it has a melting
point not much higher than the solder you'll be using. If it's possible
to take the window out and work with it flat then you'll find it much
easier...

Your local stained glass shop may well be able to fix it for you - to be
honest it's not the easiest DIY task...

Hope this helps - email me (adrian at inspired-glass.com) if you want
more info.

Adrian