Patina & Wax: Your stained glass piece will come in silver (solder without patina), black patina, or copper patina. The piece may dull as it oxidizes over time. To slow this process down, I apply a wax coating to every piece, as the last step in polishing. If you notice your piece is looking dull, you can apply a coating of carnauba wax. Use a soft cloth or microfiber towel, and gently rub the wax on and around the solder lines, until you start to see a shine. Be sure to wear gloves and wash hands after this process.
Please note, the copper patina will tarnish over time. Polishing can help but will not completely prevent the darkening or aging of the copper color.
FYI: Stained glass solder contains lead; I use 60/40 (tin/lead) on all of my pieces.
It is recommended to wash your hands after handling, and to keep out of reach of children. While it is not harmful to handle, it is if inhaled or ingested. Do not eat your stained glass, that would be bad.
Displaying Stained Glass: I recommend using sturdy hooks for hanging stained glass pieces. Be aware that suction cup hooks can be unreliable, use caution if you choose to use this method for hanging your fragile art pieces.