DIY Glass Case tutorial. (with pics)

[Hoss0902]

This is my first time building a glass case so bare with me.

Materials:
5: 8x10 Glass panels
Glass cutter and oil
pliers with electrical tape wrapped around the tips.
Soldering Iron
Solder
Flux
Masking Tape
Square
Adhesive copper foil tape.
Copper patina
window scraper.



Figure out how you want to case to stand. Do you want it long, or tall?
With this case I went with tall. It will house a dove on a pine branch and a snow scene.
Clean the glass, and scrap any glue on the glass. Then wrap the copper foil tape around the glass and press it down around the sides evenly.
you only have to do three sides, as the bottom will be covered by the base.


Tape the glass pieces together to make the walls of the case.


Make sure it is square.


You need the measure for the top piece and place the measurement on the top of the fifth piece of glass.
take the square and score the glass with the glass cutter.


Hang the glass over the edge of a table and with the pliers grab the hanging side of the glass and with your other hand press down on the glass and table.
with a quick jerk downward with the pliers. the glass should snap along the scored line.



Now with the top piece of glass, wrap the copper foil around all side of it. and place it on top and tape it down.

Apply flux to all the joints, you just need to brush it on. and you don't need a lot.
Now, with your soldering Iron and solder, solder spot on all joints, just to hold the glass pieces in place.


After you have finish all of that, turn the glass case along its side and solder a bead along the joint of the whole side.
Repeat on all joints.
It should look similar to this.


after all joints are soldered, clean the joints with hot soapy water, dry, and apply the cooper patina to the joints
now you have a very nice glass case.


Cost:
Glass 8X10= $1.72 x 5 = $8.60
Cooper foil 36 yards = $5.50 used roughly 4 yards = $0.61
Solder $9.00/ lb used (at max 1/2 oz) $0.88

With out adding power usage, water, time (45 mins)
this project cost me $10.09
Tomorrow I will be building the base for it.
I bought 2 select grade 1"x2"x8' pine, which cost me $2.32 each, so at max in a glass case of this size, it would cost me $14.73.
I would sell it to my customer for $100.00-$120.00, depending on who it is.

Hope this helps someone,
Hoss

[little fred]

cool,can't wait to see it done!!!!!!

  i bet you can put a few quail in that

fred jr

[Hoss0902]

Thank you Fred

[Bobbi Meyer]

nice job Hoss....I love the fact that you aren't afraid to try doing new things!

[Hoss0902]

why be afraid? This is how I learn. glad to see your back Bobbi!

[Bobbi Meyer]

never went very far....I was just lurking! LOL

[sarahdj]

Thanks much!!

[joeuhuh]

heya david i like this  jsut owndering did u soder the inner and outer joint or jsut the outer

thanks joe

[Hoss0902]

Just the outside.

Hoss

[aimeeoutdoors]

Awesome topic, thanks very much for posting it.  I know I can't afford to buy glass cases for my own stuff, so this is a great option.  I will have to try to attempt it one of these days!

[trophybirds.com]

i cant tell from the pics but the ones ive seen, made and had done, the inside edges/corners of the glass should touch and create a v notch for you solder or silicone to go in.this will give oyu more surface area for these adhesives to contact with.

[Hoss0902]

Trophybird I not really sure I know what your asking, but I have drawn a diagram.

Blue= glass

Burgundy= copper tape.

Gray= Solder

This is how mine is setup.

[Newmarx]

Thanks Hoss,I've seen this done before but never gave it a try,thanks for the tip!

[fougair]

Nice ,looks great. thanks for the info 

[trophybirds.com]

nice diagram, im not that talented. if you slid the top piece over where the edge met up with the side running up and down it would create a > for your solder to go into and give more surface area to bond.the lady that has built mine owns a stained glass shopa nd this is how she told me to do them when i started myself.just an option and like anything, there is always more than one way to skin a cat.