Kitchen cabinet replacements - Foiled

The next step is now complete, applying copper foil to the edges of each piece of glass in each of the three panels.  Copper foil comes in rolls, is self-adhesive, and is available in several sizes from 5/32" up to 1/4".  The most common size is 7/32" which is popular for nearly all glass, and that is what I've used for this project.  The copper foil is applied after each piece of glass inside the "fence" or "jig" has been grounded and properly fitted. (Click on any photo to enlarge).

The adhesive side of the copper foil (the side that touches the glass) comes in three different colors: copper, black and silver.  When foiling clear or semi-transparent glass, use the inside color which will correspond to the patina that will be applied after soldering.  My customer prefers that the patina is copper (nice choice), so you'll notice that I've used copper-color foil for the entire piece.  Note that the color of the patina does not matter for opalescent (non-see-through) glass, but with clearer pieces, the foil may show through.  The proper color foil gives a more polished look and is not distracting to the eye.

There should be a small amount of "play" between pieces, but not too much.  You'll recall earlier how the pattern pieces were cut with special scissors which allowed for a small area in between each pattern piece.  This is the reason why, to give room for that thin foil without making the pieces too tight against each other. If there is too much pressure between the pieces, they can crack.

Here is the process of applying the foil .. Unroll it carefully, separate it from the adhesive backing, and using some degree of dexterity, stick it in the center of the edge of the glass, as shown below:

After the piece is securely wrapped along the edge, fold the foil onto each side of the glass, pressing firmly with thumb and forefinger as shown below:

Then press on all surfaces again using a plastic wand or "fid" ..

After each piece of glass has been properly foiled, place it back onto the pattern, as shown in the top photo.

The copper patina is a great choice for this warm color palette of amber and clear glass.  Here are some closer-up photos showing the colors and textures of these panels.  They're going to look beautiful in the new kitchen!

The next step is to solder the fronts and backs of each panel and then applying the patina, etc.  Stay tuned ..

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