Mixing Silver Stain for Airbrush Application

For my samples, I mixed 2 teaspoons of silver stain with distilled water.

Stir with a brush in a plastic cup.

Strain the mixture. I use 220 mesh silk screen cloth.

Most of the stain will be too thick to pass through the mesh.

Add additional water and stir, forcing it through the mesh with the brush.

The mixture should be the consistency of heavy cream.

Other Glasses which React to Ultraviolet Light

I found other examples of non-float glasses which react to short wave ultraviolet light. The reaction in the pressed jewel above is a result of the chemistry of the glass and not because of a tin coating. Can ultraviolet light be used as an indicator of how a particular glass reacts to silver stain?

Mouth-blown glass from St. Just shows a mild fluorescence compared to the Lambert's sample which shows no reaction.

Bullseye's "Reactive Ice" shows a strong fluorescent reaction. It also proved very reactive to stain.

Revealing the Tin Side of Float Glass with Ultraviolet Light

When plate glass (AKA: FLOAT GLASS)  is manufactured, one side of touches molten tin which leaves an invisible coating on the glass. The silver stain reacts differently with the tin & non-tin side. A short-wave ultraviolet light will reveal the tin coating which fluoresces with a milky white haze.

Beveled glass is cut from float glass and the manufacturers do not check to see where the tin side is. These two bevels would take stain differently.

In this example the tin side was on top and has been partially removed in the beveling process.