Artevisa. El Taller de las Vidrieras, S.L.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

Their main activity is the manufacture and restoration of artistic stained glass windows.

The techniques they use for that purpose are the traditional ones which have been used for centuries: the process starts by creating the design, and it continues by drawing the template, cutting the glass, painting it, putting it in a special oven at very high temperatures, leading up, welding and finally hardening the stained glass window. The only difference can be found both in the process of firing the glass and in the welding of the leaded elements, since wood-fired ovens have been substituted by electric ones.

PROCESS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS 

DESIGN AND DRAFTING. A true size draft according to the required measurements and the selected design is carried out. Then the guidelines are drawn, tracing them in the most suitable place respecting the design..

CUTTING OF THE GLASS. The adequate type of coloured glass is selected taking into account the design which has been chosen. They are cut following the lines drafted beforehand. 

PAINTING. The glass is painted using grisailles and enamels where required according to the design of the stained glass window. 

FIRING. The glass is introduced in the oven at a temperature between 580º and 650º depending on the type of enamel or grisaille which has been used. The firing of the glass is done in separate lots, depending on the melting temperature of each enamel.

LEADING UP. The pieces of glass are joined together using H-shaped leaded strips till the entire window is brought together. 

WELDING. In each leaded union soldering flux is used to then weld each one with tin.

CAULKING. Lastly, thinned putty diluted in oil with drying agents and sawdust is applied to the unions between glass and lead to harden the stained glass window.