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Dichroic Sun Catcher

Laura McQuitty shows how to sandblast a dichroic glass sun catcher.

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Laura McQuitty is a mom, a businesswoman, a music lover and a self-described domestic goddess. She shows how to make a sandblasted dichroic sun catcher.

Materials and Tools:

sheet glass
clear glass bevels
breaking pliers
handheld oil-fed glasscutter
glass cutting square
ruler
copper foil tape
burnisher
vinyl resist
newspaper
masking tape
tracing paper
pencil
craft knife
brayer
air-compressor and sandblasting unit
soap and water
solder
flux
needle nose pliers
zinc u-channel
tinned copper wire
permanent black marker
hanging chain
safety glasses

Steps:

1. Cut sheet glass with a glasscutter into predetermined sizes.

2. Clean the glass centerpiece and apply vinyl resist. Burnish the resist with a brayer. Cut newspaper to fit the back of the piece and tape in place. Tape all edges of the glass.

Figure C

3. Sketch a design with pencil onto tracing paper.

4. Transfer the design to the resist using tracing paper and a pencil.

5. Cut the design with a craft knife and lift off areas to be sandblasted. Reburnish with a brayer.

Figure D

6.Turn on the compressor and sandblasting unit and sandblast off the dichroic coating.

7. Remove the resist and wash piece with water.

Figure F

8.Wrap the edges of all glass pieces and bevels with copper foil tape. Burnish all edges.

9. Place all wrapped pieces on the table and make sure pieces are squared-up.

Figure H

10. Flux and solder both sides of the piece.

11. Cut zinc u-channel border and make hanging loops. Flux and solder all.

12. Clean with hot soap and water. Add a hanging chain.

Website: www.midnightstarglass.com

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