Customer Reviews

Making Stained Glass Boxes

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First. The title is wrong. the book only shows you how to make ONE box. The one on the cover. It apologetically then gives you "patterns" for others which are no more than the same box with different lids. If you do basic stain glass, that's a no brainer. There are a couple other small patterns stuffed in the back but you would have to scale them way up as they are mere thumbnails of real patterns.

Second. The box they DO make has incredibly detailed instructions with clear color pictures and step by step "if-you-mess-it-up-it's-not-our-fault" attention to detail. In THAT, it is a great book.

The book spends the first 57 pages explaining basic stained glass cutting and soldering technique. Fine if you want a whole course, but my assumption (I know, dangerous word) is that if you're looking at building a box, you have your basic technique down, give us more and different box types. the next seventy or so pages show how to make the one box pictured on the cover (and it's only an "or so" pages because there are still interspersed directions for basic glass cutting and assembly, not "box making specific" techniques). Following that are the few pages of alternative patterns -- not boxes, just other patterns to plug into the top frame. then an entire section on repairing stained glass. Not a thorough section and not really sure why it was put in the book unless they assume again you will drop something through the box quick enough to need to know how to fix it.
There is finally a FOUR PAGE gallery of pictures of boxes a couple with domed lids and pentagon shapes that would have been nice to actually show technique for, but alas, no, just one rectangular box appears in the book itself.

I was however looking for a book on making different styles of boxes, perhaps with non standard non square corners. I was hoping for more than flat lids, that simply changed the arrangement of pieces. I have another fourteen page book from the seventies that shows more than this book does in all it's pages.

so if you're looking for a book on different styles and types of boxes, pass. if you want to make the box on the cover, you couldn't find a better book.

Although the book does cover some basic stained glass techniques, which the reader may or may not possess, it does contain some very intersting tips along the way. Everyone can benefit from reviewing the basic skills and techniques. The book does give you enough basic information regarding box making that then can be carried over to other box projects. It could have included more patterns, but I was not looking for a book containing a multitude of patterns for a basic box. As with most stained glass projects, it allows the user to be creative once the you have mastered the fundamentals. It does contain rather detailed and easy to follow instructions on box construction. This book was great for my needs. It is well written, very detailed with a lot of excellent illustrations. The author has done a great job again!

If you love making boxes this book is for you and if you are new to stained glass this book is for you. There are also simple beginner patterns in the book. It has great picture detail,and each step is explained in terms everyone can understand. I made the box on the cover and the steps were right on target and it can out beautiful. It includes great pro tips and helpful hints along the way. Novice or experience this a great book for your library.