Framing Stained Glass

Steven6095

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
Posts
1,352
Loc
Nicholasville, KY
Hello. I have a small stained glass (12 x 23).
Customer picked out a frame that works with it but the stained glass is even with the back of the frame. She understands it can not be decorative on the back without spending a lot of money.

I am trying to figure out how to hold the glass into the frame. It will be hung from a window via a chain / ribbon.

My thought was to get a peice of acrylic cut to slightly smaller than the outside of the frame. get an acrylic dril bit and take some nice screws such as automotice screws with a recessed washer and secure it to the back of the frame. That way light will shine through and the glass will be held in place.

Thoughts?
 
I've cut slots, at the appropriate distance, in the inside of the rabbet to accept a fillet. Then joined 3 legs of the frame in a U-shape, glued in the fillets, slid in the package (stained glass in this case), and attached the last leg with screws from the top. If necessary a touch of paint on the back will dress up the appearance. This an economical way to finish any double sided art.

Pat :D
 
Pat, your suggestion would only work if there was room in the frame, which as Steven already said, there isn't. He said it was flush with the back.

Steven, your idea sounds just fine. The next time tho, you want to check the depth and rule out any frames that don't allow enough depth to install properly. Picture Woods has a nice profile for stained glass panels and you can have the groove custom cut to fit the thickness of the panel.
 
Wouldn't a thin bead of silicone be appropiate for a small project like this?
 
If you have a table saw or a radial arm saw available, trim enough from the rabbit for the glass to fit into the frame with about 1/8 inch to spare. Place a piece of small diameter rope along the back and attach it with small brads through the rope and into the wood. If you don't have a saw available ask the grumble for the nearest to you.

Jack Cee
 
I wanted to have Vermont make a frame that would have been decorative on both sides and had the channel in the middle for the glass.
Or one normal frame then another one to secure to the back without a rabbit.

Customer did not want that expense.
 
CMI Moulding makes 2 stained glass frames. #1892 is a medium oak color and #1893 is raw oak that you could stain yourself. It is a double sided frame with a channel in the middle
 
Customer wanted an antique silver colored frame. That is all she would have and it had to have some ornatation on it.
 
Originally posted by j Paul:
If the glass is flush with the back of the frame, why not just use turnbuttons? Just set them back far enough that they hid by the rabbet and don't show thru front of glass. [/QUOTE

Bingo jPaul, you beat me to it ! : )

Might pay to do something with the back of the frame though, even just a stain wipe or something to make it look neat.
 
So, my concern before "pretty" is structural. Is the ribbon/chain from which the piece will be hanging attached to the glass piece or the frame?

I know the frame could prob. hold it, but I would attach the ribbon or chain (I'm really hoping y'all use chain!) to small hooks soldered into the back of the piece, hidden in a solder line, near where you would put screws in the frame to do the same thing.

Then the frame is strictly decorative, and there's no real worries if you use turnbuttons, or silicone, or whatever to keep the glass piece in the frame.
 
I like the idea of acrylic backer----will keep most of the critters/dust bunnys out of the package(& being next to a window where it's not likely to be regularly verminized/dusted that's a big plus!) as stained glass canes arent going to be straight in any plane allowing for many gaps around the frame...stop it at the source
 
Two reasons for not using turnbuttons
#1) Stained glass really needed to be repaird. Some joints are loose, etc. The acrylic will help "protect" the back of it.

#2) The acrylic will keep the back of it clean against the window. It will be hung fairly high and it wont receive regular cleanings.

As for the ribbon. You can only yell at customers so much!
!!
I do have her convinced she has to use a chain and she can weave the ribbon within the chain.
Her real response was - just frame it and I will hang it myself. She wants to put that on herself - and YES she will be signing the receipt to the fact that no hanging method / hardware was requested.

....Note: This piece was also sitting around my place for 3 months while she made up her mind then her "designer" had her own ideas........
sheesh.....this is one customers I wish would not come back.......
 
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