AboutH Carl Trimble III Expertise One of a kind custom design stained glass as well as other glass art methods and the restoration of stained glass. Inquiries regarding leaded, beveled, etched sand carved, and fused glass techniques are invited. Other methods, technical questions,history of the art and supply source inquiries also welcome. Information on the pro's and con's of protective glazing of stained glass windows. Visit www.TrimbleStudios.com for more complete information.
Experience Over forty years experience in a wide range of techniques that include "stained glass", wood working and metal fabrication. Have worked from my own full service studio since 1977. Many major residential, commercial and religious installations from Charlottesville, Virginia and Atlanta, Georgia to San Diego California as well as much of the State of Texas
Organizations Professional Affiliate,Certified Trainer, and Preferred Provider for the American Institute of Architects, AIA, Dallas, Texas. I have served on the Board of Directors of both the Texas Fine Arts Association and the Texas Visual Arts Association
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Fine Arts, The University of Texas, Tyler. Master of Fine Arts, The University of North Texas, Denton. Just a few hours short of a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Awards and Honors Many first place and best of show awards in both stained glass and fine arts competitions. Steady commission work for the past ten years has obviated any recent competitive activity.
Past/Present Clients Most recent major commissions are for American Airlines CR Smith Museum; JFK Airport Terminal 8 stained glass; TXU Energy Plaza Thor stained glass. The Mansion at Turtle Creek, Dallas and and St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Terrell, Texas
Question I am a student from a local college in Vancouver. I am doing a paper regarding the manufacturing process of the insulated glazing glass (triple glazed with lead window). I am curious about the drying process before the final triple glazing step. The manufacturer that I visited use power wash with water to rinse out solder flux from the decorative panels. These panels are then put in to heated room for 48 hours to dry out the panels before glazing. Otherwise, condensation would occur inside the glazed unit.
I've asked them how would they know the panels are dry enough after 48 hours? and they have told me it is the experience from years of trial and errors. I am curious of how other factories (or your experience) go about this drying process.
Is there a way of measuring how "dry" (or how "wet") the lead glass is suitable to be glazed? I understand that the descant used in spacer bars are capable of absorbing some moisture therefore, I am curious to know other than trial and error, how are the other manufactures know what is the appropriate condition (wetness) that the lead window can be before it can be sealed.
Answer Joe Lynn,
You have touched something of a nerve that I have with placing leaded glass panels within an Insulated Glass (IG) panel.
No matter how much effort is made to remove the moisture from the panel, some will remain. The dessicant may suck up the remaining moisture, but it can release it also. For instance, I use dessicants to absorb the moisture in animal hide glue in the "glue chipping" process. Once the glue shrinks because of the moisture being absorbed by the dessicant and chips the glass in the process, I heat the dessicant in an oven and drive off the moisture. The dessicant is, then, ready for re-use. I have re-used the dessicant time and time again with no negative consequences to its effectiveness.
Hence, the problem with the dessicant in an IG panel. The IG panel will concentrate heat within the "dry" space and release moisture back into the space. Further, when lead expands from heat, it does not shrink to its former size when it cools down. Ultimately, the lead will expand to such an extent to put presure on the seals. This will exacerbate a well known problem that IG panels have with their seals breaking. Once this happens, more moisture will be sucked into the interionr of the panel. When this happens, the panel fogs up on the interior. The added problem is the reaction of the lead and the moisture.
Moisture is the most damaging element in the deterioration of a leaded glass panel. When heat is added and concentrated as it WILL in an IG panel, the problem is compounded. Heat and moisture in an enclosed environment will almost certainly result in the failure of the leaded glass portion and add to the probability of the IG unit's failure. In the history of IG units, the probability is almost "1" over time.
The placing of leaded glass in an IG unit is, to my reasoning, simply a misguided, but politically correct, reaction to the problems of so called "Green" construction practice. In a well insulated home or business environment, the heat loss or gain in the structure resulting from a non IG leaded glass panel is quite minimal in the overall scheme of its environment. In fact, most building codes offer an exemption for decorative art glass if the house meets certain other qualifications.
Not only is there a problem with the IG unit itself, but the esthetics of the leaded glass are diminished by the reflections generated by the IG glass on either side of the leaded glass.
It is, in my opinion, a waste of money and resources to place leaded glass into an IG unit.
If it is insisted that IG units be used, place the leaded glass panel to the interior of the opening and mount it so that it is not sealed in any way so that any moisture that does intrude into the space between the leaded glass and the IG unit will have a way to escape from between the two entities.
I am not a manufacturer of this type of product. My response is based on observed and therefore empirically verified problems generated by it. Also, there is a document generated by the National Park Service here in the US that pretty well discounts the benefits of using "Protective Glazing". It is "Preservation Brief 33" and can be downloaded from their website.
Although it is directed at the misuse of the process as applied to historic stained glass in the United States, the principles apply as well to contemporary stained or leaded glass in the wide range of styles and materials used to make them.
I realize these observations may raise some eyebrows. However, these issues need to be discussed and brought into the open. If not, none of the problems associated with the process you have inquired about will ever be resolved.
If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me via my email: info@trimblestudios.com.
I apologize for the delay in responding. Your question came during a move to newer and larger facilities along with playing catch up following an illness and recovery that lasted more than six weeks. I back to good health now and nearly back to a normal routine.
Sincerely,
Carl Trimble
Trimble Studios
www.trimblestudios.com
info@trimblestudios.com
