Shop Area: Stained Glass

Requires in-person training: Yes

Procedure Number

Date

2/23/2

GENERAL

The Stained Glass Studio provides shared workspace and tools for copper foil stained glass construction and finishing.

This orientation establishes required safety practices, workspace expectations, and shared studio responsibilities.

Members must complete orientation before working independently. All users are responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, and functional environment for the community.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Before working independently in the Stained Glass Studio, members must complete required training and demonstrate basic competency in stained glass workflow and studio safety practices.

Required Training Playlist

All new users must watch the Stained Glass Tutorial Training Playlist prior to independent studio use.

This required video series walks members unfamiliar with the process of stained glass through the complete stained glass process from start to finish and establishes a shared baseline of knowledge for studio users.

The playlist covers:

Tools and material overview
Preparing stained glass patterns
Safe glass scoring and breaking
Grinding techniques
Copper foiling methods
Soldering fundamentals
Finishing and patina application
Project preparation and workflow

Members are expected to arrive at orientation familiar with these processes.

Required Skills

Before independent use, members must demonstrate understanding of:

Safe glass handling
Glass scoring and controlled breaking
Proper soldering temperature control
Grinder operation and cleanup
Chemical handling awareness
Workspace cleanup procedures

Introductory Project

New users are encouraged to complete a small introductory project demonstrating:

Cutting glass pieces accurately
Applying copper foil
Soldering seams safely
Cleaning tools and workspace
Proper storage of materials and projects

Completion of a small project helps confirm readiness for independent studio use.

Independent Studio Access

Independent access may require:

Completion of the required training playlist
Participation in in-person orientation
Demonstration of safe studio practices

The goal of orientation is to ensure safe, confident, and respectful use of the shared studio environment.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Required

Safety glasses
Closed-toe shoes
Awareness of hot tools and sharp materials

CHEMICAL SAFETY

Common studio chemicals include:

Flux
Patina
Cutting oil
Cleaning compounds

Users must:

Use chemicals only in designated areas
Keep containers closed when not in use
Avoid contaminating shared supplies
Clean spills immediately
Wash hands after handling chemicals

Do not dispose of chemicals in sinks unless approved.

MATERIAL USE

The stained glass studio operates using a combination of shared supplies, member-provided materials, and community donations.

Members are expected to use materials responsibly and support the sustainability of the studio.

Consumable Materials

Consumables are materials intended to be used during normal studio work and replaced regularly.

Examples include:

Flux
Patina
Cutting oil
Cleaning supplies
Shop paper towels
Polishing Wax

These materials are provided for general studio use.

Members should:

Use consumables reasonably
Avoid waste
Close containers after use
Notify a steward when supplies run low

Non-Consumable Materials (Member-Provided)

Non-consumable project materials must be provided by individual members.

These include:

Copper foil tape
Solder
Glass
Personal specialty supplies

Members are expected to bring and maintain their own materials for ongoing projects.

Do not assume these materials are communal unless explicitly labeled as shared.

Glass Use Policy (Mixed Material)

Glass is considered a shared but limited resource.

Vector Space glass primarily comes from donations and is intended to support learning, experimentation, and small projects.

Shared Glass May Be Used For:

Practice pieces
Small projects
Skill development
Occasional project needs

Members Planning Large Projects

If you are completing a large project or using significant quantities of a single glass color, please:

Bring your own glass whenever possible
Use shared glass sparingly
Avoid depleting commonly used colors

Supporting the Studio

If you notice you are using a large amount of a specific glass type or color, consider contributing back by:

Donating glass sheets
Replacing frequently used colors
Contributing surplus materials

Glass may be purchased:

Online from stained glass suppliers
At local craft stores

Community contributions help keep the studio accessible for all members.

Shared Studio Tools

Shared tools are equipment used to fabricate stained glass projects and remain permanently in the studio.

These tools are not personal property and must not leave the space.

Examples include:

Glass grinders
Soldering irons and stands
Glass cutters and specialty cutters
Beetle bit tools
Studio hand tools
Work surfaces and assembly areas

Shared Tool Expectations

Members must:

Return tools to their designated locations
Clean tools after use
Report damaged or malfunctioning equipment
Never modify tools without approval
Never remove tools from the studio

Shared tools exist for community use and must remain available to all members.

TOOL CARE EXPECTATIONS

Soldering Irons

Use appropriate soldering temperature around 410 degrees or lower to avoid burning your glass
Clean tips regularly during use by wiping on a wet sponge and brass wool tip cleaner
Tin tips before shutting down
Never leave powered irons unattended
Return irons to stands when not in use

Proper maintenance extends tool life for all members.

Glass Grinders

After each use:

Remove glass debris
Rinse grinder surface
Maintain proper water level
Wipe surrounding workspace

Grinding residue must not be allowed to accumulate.

Glass Cutting Tools

Use cutting oil correctly
Do NOT put oil in cutters
Avoid creating oil spills
Clean tools after use

Improper oil use creates safety hazards and workspace contamination.

Specialty Tools

Includes:

Beetle bit tools
Band saw glass cutters

Use only after instruction or orientation approval.

CLEANING & STUDIO MAINTENANCE

Every user is responsible for studio cleanup.

Before leaving:

Wipe work surfaces
Return tools to storage
Sweep glass fragments
Dispose of scrap properly
Clean soldering area
Empty personal materials

The workspace should be ready for the next member immediately.

GLASS HANDLING & DISPOSAL

Proper glass organization keeps materials usable, reduces waste, and maintains a safe studio environment.

Members are responsible for sorting glass correctly after cutting.

Glass Storage Categories

The studio maintains designated storage areas based on glass size.

Large Glass Panes

For:

Full sheets
Large remnants suitable for future projects

Store vertically in the designated large glass rack.

Medium Glass Panes

For:

Clearly usable project pieces
Pattern-sized remnants

Place in the medium glass storage area.

Small Glass Pieces (Scrap for Future Use)

Small pieces are valuable for:

detail work
small pattern elements
mosaics
test cuts

Glass approximately 1–2 inches or larger should be saved and placed in the small glass containers.

Before discarding glass, consider whether another member could reasonably use the piece.

Glass Waste Disposal

Only unusable glass belongs in the glass waste buckets.

Dispose of glass when it is:

Smaller than approximately 1 inch
Extremely irregular or unsafe to handle
Cracked or unsuitable for future work

Never place usable glass into waste containers.

Safety Requirements

Do not overload scrap containers
Sweep cutting areas after use
Keep floors free of glass fragments

Safe sorting protects both materials and community members.

Studio Guiding Principle

When in doubt, save usable glass — but organize it properly.

PROJECT STORAGE

The stained glass studio provides limited shared storage for active projects and materials.

Proper labeling and organization are required to maintain safe and usable workspace.

Approved Project Storage

Projects and materials may be stored on the designated project shelves.

These shelves include large 2×2' slab surfaces intended for active stained glass work.

Requirements:

Label all projects with name and date
Keep materials consolidated and organized
Store only active projects currently in progress

Storage Restrictions

No storage underneath work tables
Work tables must remain clear for shared use and safe movement
Do not spread projects across multiple areas

Unapproved storage locations may be cleared (notice is sent on slack + grace period to retrieve your materials will be offered)

Abandoned Projects

Projects left inactive for extended periods may be considered abandoned.

Procedure:

A notice will be posted in the Vector Space Slack channel
Members will be given an opportunity to retrieve materials
Unclaimed items will be removed to maintain studio availability

Additional Member Storage

Members needing longer-term storage should use:

Vector Space Member Storage

The stained glass studio is intended for active work, not long-term project or material holding.

Shared Studio Principle

Storage space is communal.

Leave room for the next maker.

SINK USE & CLEANING PROTOCOL

Sink use varies depending on whether you are cleaning glass residue or chemicals/materials.

Kitchen & Bathroom Sinks

The kitchen and bathroom sinks may be used only for rinsing after grinding.

Approved uses:

Rinsing hands after grinding
Washing away fine glass slurry from tools
Cleaning grinder parts after normal use