To stretch lead came, clamp one end in a lead vise and grip the free end with pliers. Pull with short, steady tugs until the came stops giving.
A standard 6 foot length typically stretches 3 to 6 inches this way which removes kinks and stiffens the lead before you start cutting.
What You Need First
- A lead vise or stretcher, bolted to a solid workbench so it doesn't shift when you pull
- A pair of stretching pliers or ordinary channel lock pliers if that's what you have
- A clear, flat surface at least 6 feet long to lay the stretched came down afterward
- A lead nipper for trimming the crimped ends once you're done
How to Stretch Lead Came: Step by Step
- Secure one end in the vise: Clamp the came in straight and untwisted with about 6 inches of slack for gripping later.
- Grip the free end with pliers: Get a firm hold near the very end so you don't crush the channel.
- Pull in short, steady tugs: A 6 foot length typically stretches 3 to 6 inches before it stops giving (Delphi Glass, 2020). Stop as soon as you feel the resistance lock in.
- Trim the crimped ends: The vise and pliers leave the tips crushed and misshapen. Nip them off with a lead nipper before you cut the came to length.
The Mistake That Costs You a Weak Panel
Watch for thinning or a scaly alligator texture on the surface as you pull that's overstretched lead and it's weaker than lead that was never stretched at all.
Not worth it. Stretching lead came is supposed to add rigidity not strip it away. Stop the moment you see either sign even if the came still looks a little wavy.
💡 Pro Tip: Some suppliers sell pre-stretched lead came which skips this step entirely. Check the label before you buy.
Bottom Line
A few short tugs in the vise turns floppy, kinked lead into straight, rigid came that holds glass properly for decades. Stretch lead came before every project, no exceptions.
Once the came is stretched and rigid, match it to your glass thickness so the fit isn't a guess. Lead Came Size Chart converts glass thickness to H or U channel size in mm and inches.
Other Common Lead Came Questions: Zinc Came vs Lead Came: Best Pick for a Stained Glass Border
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