Looking for ideas for stained glass display frame

[Bob D.]

My sister has asked me to make a frame for this faux stained glass that she created some years ago of her cat sitting in the window. Cat is gone but she still has this to remember him by. When she moved she brought the glass with her and wants to display it inside standing upright like you see it in the photos, but with a wood frame and base.

It looks to me like the metal frame will be fairly easy to separate from the double-pane glass, but I've never taken a window like this apart so wondering if its set in with some adhesive into the aluminum frame that night make taking it apart difficult. Of utmost importance to here is that I don't break or damage it of course, but I see there is a crack in the glass in the one corner already and she is aware of that. I mention it because I don't know if it will complicate disassembly or not.

I have some cherry which I plan to use. Making a frame for the glass once removed and a base shouldn't be too difficult. I was thinking that some backlighting would be nice using an LED strip maybe with remote control to change colors and brightness, but not sure how to light it evenly. I was thinking of using a white translucent panel behind the stained glass and running the LED strip lighting around the perimeter but open to other ideas if anyone has done something similar.

There is no rush to get this done by Christmas, she is not expecting it then and her birthday is coming up in a couple months.

 

[tjbnwi]

Did this a couple of weeks ago for a customer.

Good thing it's still here, see I have to adjust the removable bottom.

Tom

 

[Bob D.]

I got the aluminum frame off the glass with a bit of work. Had to be extra careful due to a couple cracks in the back side glass near the edge. Since they are not in the side that the art work is on I don't think it will matter as the back side won't be visible when I am done. Also they are so close to the edge that I think they will be covered  by the frame for the most part.

I'm thinking of a ~4" deep frame with the glass up front, a white translucent diffusion panel in the middle, and a 1/4" back made from plywood and painted white to reflect light back toward the front through the diffusor. The LED lights would be placed all around the edge between the back and the diffusor. I am thinking this will even out the light and using the remote for the LED lights she will be able to adjust brightness and color of the lights.

 

[sancho57]

Those LEDs would really make that look very very nice

 

[Bob D.]

I'm doing a test run with some pine to work out details and see how the lighting plan I have will work.

 

[Bob D.]

A couple more photos, this is still the test piece.

Still need to put the diffuser in the middle to even out the light.

 

[Tinker]

There is nothing I can contribute in the way of advise, but you are doing a great job.  I like your ideas to change the lighting.
Tinker

 

[Bob D.]

Thanks.

I'm looking at the photos and even though I plan on a diffuser in between the LEDs and the glass I think the edges will still be brighter than the center. So I was thinking of masking the edges of the diffuser for about two inches in from the edge all around. I think that will mask the direct light of the LEDs and produce a more even light over the whole surface. When I get the back painted white that should help too.

The LED strip is one I picked up off of Amazon and was going to use on a pantry makeover I did not long ago, but decided against using it and went with more conventional lighting. It has a remote by which you can dim, change colors, etc. Since the panel will be sitting on high up on some cabinets and not reachable the remote will be a nice way to control it.

 

[Tinker]

Again, I know nothing about your project, so I may be off track.  It appears you have some depth to the sides all around. Would a mirror all around the sides where they can not be seen diffuse the light to give a more even pattern of light across the glass panel?
Tinker

 

[Bob D.]

Yes, you are correct. The frame is about 4 inches deep. Mirrors are something I had not considered, I will have to give that idea some thought. Thank you.

 

[Gregor]

One way could be to use a plexiglass sheet with a frosted side and illuminate it with the led strip from the edges, should give a somewhat even even light distribution. Examples:https://www.google.de/search?q=plexiglass+led+sign&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X

 

[Bob D.]

Yes, that is what I plan to do with the diffuser which I have not installed yet.

Just followed your link which I couldn't do this morning from my phone and see what
you are talking about. Might work but if I light the Plexiglas from the edge as shown
but that complicates my mounting choices.

 

[Bob D.]

End result I am aiming for is something like this.
But this appears to be a wall hanging and my project
will be a free-standing.