At Phoenix Glassworks, we offer a full removal, repair and restoration service. When a panel arrives in the workshop for repair, the first step is to take photographs of the complete panel, and close ups of the different sections so we have a complete visual record. Particular attention is taken when photographing any damage. The next step is to make a rubbing of the panel; this gives us a guide pattern of the lead lines.

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We then start to carefully dismantle the panel. The solder joins are cleaned ready to remove the solder, so the leads can be gently removed, to allow the broken glass to be lifted free. When we match the glass colour and texture; we always aim to get the closest possible match. As much of the glass used in old pieces of stained glass are no longer made, and techniques of making glass and different fashions have changed, so has the range of glass available. There are however glass manufacturers that produce ranges of antique glass and restoration glass.
Once the panel has been taken back to where the broken piece can be repaired, the old glass is removed; this is used to create a pattern to cut the replacement glass. Where the glass is missing completely, the rubbing and cartoons created when dismantling the panel help us to cut the replacement glass to correct size.

The replacement glass is put into the panel, then each piece removed is put back and re-leaded in the reverse order they were removed. The last piece out is the first back in.

Once all the pieces are back in place. The new lead joins are fluxed using a tallow candle and then soldered.

The new leads are cemented to strengthen the panel as well as making it weather proof.

The final stage is to clean the panel and blacken the solder joins and the leads using stove black.

The panel is then left flat, while the cement dries.

The door panels illustrated had too much damage to the flower heads to be able to remove only the broken glass. Both panels had to be completely dismantled and re-built.

We are happy to come and give a free quote for workshop repairs, and to undertake insurance work. 
Please contact us on 01379 676 066