Sundials

[vrinner]

Anyone here an expert on making sundials? I just finished a commission for a guy in Canada for their 15 year anniversary. There is a lot to getting these things right and making a vertical hanging one out of glass technically wasn't that challenging as a glass maker, but had an issue with materials and then layout.

For the materials, using a clear glass was the wrong choice for the green hour lines section. The shadow the gnome cast could only be barely seen on the black painted lines. Using something more opaque is definitely needed for that section.

For the layout issue the customer told me, outside on a south facing wall (specific lat/long location). After I had it built he said he wanted to hang it inside in the window looking out south. So that means the numbers are actually backwards. So I guess technically this wasn't a mistake on my end but still I need to make that more clear next time.

I had offered to basically remake the entire project again but he said that this gift is more about the meaning than the function. His wife's grandfather was a glass artist, and they have been married for a long "time" and the sundial kind of represents both. So he was totally happy with it just the way it is.

I didn't get a great full picture of the back bracing but because it's just all lead, for this piece the bottom and center sections would want to pull apart from each other over time if I didn't add some sort of bracing. For windows that are more traditional, there are usually plenty of lead lines going vertical that will either add to strength or give a pathway to add heavier metal bracing. So for this piece I used some 10 gauge copper wire around the back side. It made this piece rock solid.

 

[motorcycle79]

Looks good… what time is it in the picture?

 

[vrinner]

Well...it actually was about 1pm however the sundial is set for a specific location in Ottawa. I live in Southern California so there is a big difference in how the hours are laid out. At least that is what all the computer models tell me. For Ottawa the dial only got 7am to 6pm hours on it. If I put in my socal coordinates I get 6am to 7pm. You also have to factor in the declination of the dial to true south as well.

 

[Kaizen]

I'm familiar with leaded glass materials but how did you do the script?

 

[no704]

I don’t get it? How do ya read the time?

 

[vrinner]

I'm familiar with leaded glass materials but how did you do the script?

The script is done using a stencil, airbrush and special stained glass paint. It's the same paint as used for traditional stained glass painting, just watered down a bit more to go through the airbrush. About 5 or 6 light coats, then peel off the stencil then bake it in the kiln at 1250 degree.

Here is the dry paint powder. It's mixed with mostly water and a very small drop of dawn as a binding agent. If you were to hand paint it with a brush, it's much thicker and I use lavender oil as the binding agent, some people use gum aerobic.



Here is the glass stenciled. I use a cutting plotter similar to how you would do vinyl lettering.

Here is the glass after the paint is applied and before firing in the kiln.

Here is the same piece after firing

 

[vrinner]

I don’t get it? How do ya read the time?

It's really hard to tell on this piece as I should have used a more opaque glass for the time section. If you notice in this picture with a piece of opaque glass you can see the shadow. So between the lines painted on the glass and where the shadow is, look at the corresponding numbers to get the time. Like I said, I would have redone this piece for the customer but he wanted it more of a conversation piece/sentimental gift instead of fully functional.

 

[Dznutz]

 

[Dznutz]

I made this one a few years ago. It is an equatorial style sundial.