Don't forget to stretch lead came!

This post is for new glass artists learning how to use the lead came construction method.  We included in our post a video link showing how to stretch the came with a lead vise.  It is very important to stretch your came before using it in your window fabrication.  The came actually becomes stronger when stretched, something not mentioned in the video but quite important to know!  Click here to learn how to stretch lead came.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8otgjHvxuo



Below we found more valuable information from The Church Artist blog showing lead stretching.  

Step-by-step: working with lead

What holds all the glass pieces together in a stained glass window is extruded lead came, which is available in various sizes. Lead is a very soft metal, and to strengthen it, each came is placed in a lead vice like this, and then slightly stretched to harden it. This process is called "tempering" in the metal trades.

Here the artist pulls back on the lead, while bracing himself with the back foot in case the lead came disengages from the vice. More than a few apprentices have take a spill during this part of the glass project. It might be considered the second greatest occupational hazard of the industry, the first being bleeding fingers.