The copper foil method is a traditional technique in stained glass that has been around since the late 19th century. It is the versatile alternative to traditional leaded glass windows and is particularly useful in art with smaller pieces. Each piece is cut by hand (with very few exceptions that are cut with a glass saw due to the intricacy of the shape) and then ground to get a smooth finish. This method requires wrapping each piece of glass with an adhesive copper tape that is then soldered together. Depending on the desired finish that is being achieved, the solder is left silver or it is changed to black or copper using patina. The completed piece is thoroughly cleaned, waxed, and buffed for a glossy finish.