Stained Glass Hinge Points
Hinge Points and How They Affect Your Stained Glass Art - It's quite common for people to be unaware of hinge points - their nature, how to avoid them, or even how to strengthen them. Before we begin, let's pause for a moment and shed some light on what exactly constitutes a hinge point.
What is a Hinge Point?
A hinge point can be found wherever there is a straight or mostly straight line running across the piece. When pressure is exerted on the front or back of the piece, it will naturally bend along that line. Picture it as a door swinging open.
Take a moment to observe the examples provided and pay attention to the structure of this particular piece. Now, shift your focus to the red arrows and their direction. These arrows indicate hinge points, similar to hinges on a swinging door. Just like a door, when pressure is applied to these hinge points, it will cause a separation, much like the a door separating from its frame.
Keep in mind, if any pressure is added to the front or back of the object, it will naturally bend along the seam due to its straight line as in the following picture.
When designing your project, it's important to be mindful of any design errors or vulnerable areas like this. Before you start cutting the glass, take a moment to review your pattern. This precautionary measure will help you save time, money, and avoid any future disappointments with your finished piece. Remember, it doesn't matter how well you cleaned the glass or if the foil you're using is faulty. The issue lies in the structural integrity of the design itself. The weakest point is where movement will occur, and if that weak point bends too much, the foil will break and the piece will separate from the rest of the panel.
Take a look at this sample on how to steer clear of a pivotal point in your pattern.
A Straight Seam from one edge to another = Hinge Point
How Can I Avoid Hinges?
This answer is quite simple! You have the option to tweak your design or, if you prefer to keep it unchanged, make sure to enhance its durability with Reinforcement. It's advisable to spot potential areas of concern prior to starting a project. This will enable you to adjust your design or incorporate a reinforcement to your panel or suncatcher. With regard to adjusting your design – again, do so before any cutting.
Modifying your Design
Let’s talk about modifying your design. Hinge points are important to consider when designing. Having a hinge point doesn't always require starting the design from scratch. You can sometimes make modifications to enhance stability. In the photo below, take note on how a modification can strengthen your stained glass piece.
Take a moment to notice the hinge point positioned in the lower part of the design on the left. It's the point where the green grass meets the brown mountains and sky, forming a long line that extends across the entire panel. To enhance our design, we can introduce an extra element or create breaks in this particular section. By incorporating curved lines and dividing the large green piece into smaller fragments, we can eliminate the hinge point, break the horizontal line, and add more structural stability to our overall design.
But wait – I want to keep my design as is!!
As mentioned earlier, there is a different approach to changing the design, and that is to reinforce the piece. This option is available for both panels and suncatchers, and it's actually quite easy to accomplish.
Please proceed to my article on Reinforcement for Stained Glass Hinge Points. Here you will discover a few tips and tricks to strengthening your stained glass piece.
Thank you for visiting, my friends! Keep pushing forward on your stained glass journey until we meet again.
Side Note:
Show off your love for stained glass with apparel and accessories from Caveman Glass Store. Browse our Stained Glass section for shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, bags, thermal bottles, and more. Our products are perfect for avid crafters who want to sport their hobby with pride. Don't miss out on the chance to showcase your creativity and passion for this beautiful art form. Visit our eBay Store today to get your hands on our stained glass merchandise.
Looking for more information and topics? Select an article below
Recent articles by Caveman Glassworks in no particular order:
Comments