We’ve been using layout frames in the Glassola studio for years, so we know how useful they are in making stained glass pieces with less time and effort. Our founder, A.S. Cheung, is a self-confessed perfectionist, so in developing these tools she has saved herself a great deal of time and hassle.
When we show our layout frames to stained glass artists, though, they sometimes don’t see the use of them. They are used to the way they make glass already; why would they need a layout frame to make glass now?
Glassola Tools were designed by a veteran stained glass artist, and it shows. Here are some of the ways we know our layout frames can save you time and effort in every single piece you make.
Zero Setup Time
No matter what shape you’re laying out, if you’re using rails or another guide, you’re going to spend significant time getting yourself set up. Even right angles take time to ensure they’re correct. And if they’re off, you’re going to have a lot of rework to do!
Glassola Tools layout frames take all that setup time away. Place your pattern on your workboard, line up the frame, and secure it with pins or nails through the conveniently placed holes. And that’s it! You’re ready to start making your glass.
Perfect Curves
One of the most challenging tasks when you’re making stained glass is to keep a perfect, even curve in your piece. Whether you’re grinding your glass or soldering it together, a regular, even curve is difficult to achieve. That’s why many artists resort to nailing each and every piece in place on the curved side - and even then, a perfect result is far from guaranteed.
This is another place where Glassola Tools layout frames provide a significant advantage. You’re no longer spending your time measuring, remeasuring, and securing your glass (not to mention your time spent cursing the glass!) - instead, you simply place each piece inside the frame, and line them up with the curve that’s already built for you. Circles, arched windows, and even teardrops are a breeze with a layout frame.
Thinner Lines
The mark of a truly skilled glass artist is the thin, even lines of solder throughout their piece. But as you cut and grind your glass, errors can creep in. Every gap means more solder, which means a thicker, less even line.
When you’re building your glass art in a Glassola Tools frame, thin, even lines are much easier to achieve. You can tell where the pieces fit tightly together, and where there are gaps. What’s more, when you start soldering, the pieces stay exactly in place. Almost everyone has had the problem where a last-second jiggle sets one piece of glass slightly askew, then messing up the lines for all the seams in the entire work. If you’re using a layout frame, this simply never happens!
Easy Soldering
One of the biggest advantages with layout frames is when you’re soldering the final piece together. At this crucial stage, you don’t want pieces moving around as you’re trying to get the solder on them. But if they’re just lying loose on your workboard, a slight touch with your iron or an errant movement of your solder wire can nudge all your pieces out of place. The result can be pure frustration.
If your pieces are held tightly in a layout frame, though, you’ll avoid that frustration. The pieces will stay completely still, and they are virtually impossible to move out of place. You can concentrate on your soldering technique and make the piece you want to make.
The Glassola Tools Advantage
Hundreds of stained glass artists have discovered the advantages of using Glassola Tools stained glass layout frames to help them make better glass art, more quickly, and with less hassle. From the first piece you grind to the final bead of solder, layout frames make the entire stained glass process better.
Whether you are just starting out or you are looking to replenish your storefront, if you want more professional looking and consistent stained glass, and you want to make it more quickly, more easily, and with less hassle, try Glassola Tools stained glass layout frames today.