Leadlight supplies and Australian-made lead came, from Ballarat

Robson Glass is a Ballarat maker and distributor of leadlight supplies, and one of only a handful of businesses in Australia still producing its own lead came. We supply came profiles and coloured glass to hobby leadlighters and the trade, over the counter in Ballarat and shipped around the country.

Est. 1909

One of a handful of workshops in Australia still making its own lead came

Lead came, coloured glass and the supplies that go with them

We make and sell our own lead came, stock a range of coloured glass, and carry the everyday supplies that keep a project moving. Whether you are starting a panel at the kitchen table or need came by the length for the workshop, you are buying from a genuine maker rather than a reseller.

Lead came we make ourselves

We produce our own came on site, which is rare in Australia. That means a consistent product, profiles that match older or unusual work, and rarely a wait on stock.

Australian made, produced in Ballarat, not imported and rebadged.
A range of profiles and face widths to suit different panels and joins.
Supplied to hobby leadlighters and the trade, in store or shipped.

Coloured and textured glass

We carry a range of coloured and textured glass for leadlight work. The range is deliberately curated rather than endless.

Coloured and textured leadlight glass suited to new work and repairs.
Handy for matching or patching an existing panel.
Ask us what is in stock, since the range changes.

Supplies and sundries

The basic tools and consumables that keep a leadlight project moving, so you can pick up what you need in one place.

Leadlighting tools, including grozing pliers and lathkins.
Leadlight putty and whiting.
Solder and flux.
Copper foil for foiled glasswork.

Buy your lead came from the people who make it

We do not just sell the materials. We use them every day on new leadlight and heritage restoration, so the advice comes from work, not a catalogue.

01

We make it ourselves

Robson is one of only a handful of businesses in Australia still producing its own lead came, so you are buying from the maker, not a reseller.

02

A genuine leadlight business since 1909

We work with lead and glass every day, on new leadlight and heritage restoration, so we know what works.

03

Hard-to-match profiles

Because we make our own, we can often supply or match older and unusual profiles that are difficult to find elsewhere, which matters for restoration.

04

A real shop, and shipping too

Walk in and collect in Ballarat, or have your order sent around the country.

Est. 1909 · Own lead came · Hobby and trade · Ships Australia-wide

Find your lead came profile

Here are the came profiles we make. Each one shows its key dimensions so you can match what your project needs before you get in touch. If you are not sure which profile suits your panel, send us a photo or a measurement and we will point you to the right one.

How to read each profile

Height and Width are the outside size of the came profile, in millimetres.
Channel width is the gap the glass sits into.
Type Round and Flat cames are H profiles that sit between two pieces of glass. Border cames are U profiles for the outside edge of a panel.
Lengths per box Every profile comes in 1200 mm lengths, boxed by weight, so the count per box changes with the profile.

Round profiles

H profile · 10 profiles

VL-2 round lead came, 5 mm high by 7.2 mm wide

VL-2

Round

Height: 5mm
Width: 7.2mm
Channel: 4.3mm
Per box: 76

VL-3 round lead came, 6.5 mm high by 8 mm wide

VL-3

Round

Height: 6.5mm
Width: 8mm
Channel: 4.7mm
Per box: 59

VL-4 round lead came, 5 mm high by 7.9 mm wide

VL-4

Round

Height: 5mm
Width: 7.9mm
Channel: 5.1mm
Per box: 75

VL-10 round lead came, 4.2 mm high by 7.2 mm wide

VL-10

Round

Height: 4.2mm
Width: 7.2mm
Channel: 4.3mm
Per box: 84

VL-12 round lead came, 7.5 mm high by 10.1 mm wide

VL-12

Round

Height: 7.5mm
Width: 10.1mm
Channel: 7.6mm
Per box: 53

VL-15 round lead came, 5 mm high by 6.7 mm wide

VL-15

Round

Height: 5mm
Width: 6.7mm
Channel: 4.5mm
Per box: 92

VL-16 round lead came, 5.2 mm high by 7 mm wide

VL-16

Round

Height: 5.2mm
Width: 7mm
Channel: 4.5mm
Per box: 74

VL-19 round lead came, 5.5 mm high by 7 mm wide

VL-19

Round

Height: 5.5mm
Width: 7mm
Channel: 4.5mm
Per box: 75

VL-22 round lead came, 4.5 mm high by 7 mm wide

VL-22

Round

Height: 4.5mm
Width: 7mm
Channel: 4.3mm
Per box: 87

VL-24 round lead came, 3.3 mm high by 7.5 mm wide

VL-24

Round

Height: 3.3mm
Width: 7.5mm
Channel: 4.5mm
Per box: 94

Flat profiles

H profile · 8 profiles

VL-5 flat lead came, 9.5 mm high by 7 mm wide

VL-5

Flat

Height: 9.5mm
Width: 7mm
Channel: 4.1mm
Per box: 44

VL-6 flat lead came, 12.7 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-6

Flat

Height: 12.7mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 4.5mm
Per box: 36

VL-8 flat lead came, 12.7 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-8

Flat

Height: 12.7mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 4.8mm
Per box: 38

VL-9 flat lead came, 9.5 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-9

Flat

Height: 9.5mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 4.1mm
Per box: 51

VL-13 flat lead came, 12.7 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-13

Flat

Height: 12.7mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 4.8mm
Per box: 24

VL-14 flat lead came, 16 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-14

Flat

Height: 16mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 4mm
Per box: 35

VL-17 flat lead came, 10 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-17

Flat

Height: 10mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 10mm
Per box: 46

VL-18 flat lead came, 9 mm high by 6 mm wide

VL-18

Flat

Height: 9mm
Width: 6mm
Channel: 4mm
Per box: 61

Border profiles

U profile · 6 profiles

VL-1 border lead came, 13.4 mm high by 7.4 mm wide

VL-1

Border

Height: 13.4mm
Width: 7.4mm
Channel: 4.1mm
Per box: 27

VL-7 border lead came, 5 mm high by 6.9 mm wide

VL-7

Border

Height: 5mm
Width: 6.9mm
Channel: 4.9mm
Per box: 86

VL-11 border lead came, 4.5 mm high by 6.2 mm wide

VL-11

Border

Height: 4.5mm
Width: 6.2mm
Channel: 3.9mm
Per box: 69

VL-20 border lead came, 4 mm high by 8.6 mm wide

VL-20

Border

Height: 4mm
Width: 8.6mm
Channel: 7mm
Per box: 70

VL-21 border lead came, 3 mm high by 7.8 mm wide

VL-21

Border

Height: 3mm
Width: 7.8mm
Channel: 6mm
Per box: 118

VL-23 border lead came, 4.5 mm high by 6.33 mm wide

VL-23

Border

Height: 4.5mm
Width: 6.33mm
Channel: 3.3mm
Per box: 88

15 kg per box · all profiles in 1200 mm lengths · 100% Australian made

How to get your supplies

Call in, or order from anywhere in Australia. Lead is heavy, so we sort out freight with you once we know what you need.

Call in and collect (Ballarat)

If you are local, the easiest option is to call into the shop. You can see the profiles and glass in person and save on freight.

Order from anywhere in Australia

We ship came and supplies nationally. Lead is heavy, so freight depends on how much you order and where it is going. Tell us what you need and we will sort out the freight with you.

Not sure what you need?

Send a photo or a measurement and we will help you get the right profile, and enough of it.

Prefer to talk it through? Call the shop on 03 5332 2078.

Would you rather we made or restored your leadlight for you?

Plenty of our customers buy the lead and glass to make their own panels, and we are happy to supply them. If you would rather leave it to us, we also design and make new leadlight and restore heritage and church windows by hand. This page is for buying supplies.

Your lead came and leadlight glass questions answered

What is lead came?

Lead came is the strip of lead that holds the pieces of glass together in a leadlight or stained glass panel. It has a channel on each side, or one side for edging, that the glass sits into, and the joints are soldered. You will also see it called glass came, or just came.

What is the difference between H came and U came?

H came, sometimes called heart came, has a channel on both sides so it sits between two pieces of glass within a panel. U came, or channel came, has a channel on one side and is used around the outer edge of a panel. If you are unsure, the profile table above lists the type for each one.

Do you really make your own lead came?

Yes. We produce our own lead came in Ballarat, which very few businesses in Australia still do. It means we can offer a consistent product and often match older or unusual profiles that are hard to source anywhere else.

Can I use your lead came for stained glass restoration?

Yes. Our lead came suits new leadlight, repairs and stained glass restoration. Because we make our own profiles, we can often match what an older panel originally used, which is exactly what restoration needs. If you are matching an existing panel, send us a photo or a sample and we will help.

Do you ship lead came and supplies around Australia?

Yes, we can ship nationally. Lead is heavy, so freight depends on the size of your order and where it is going. Tell us what you need and we will work out the freight with you. If you are near Ballarat, calling in to collect is usually the cheapest option.

Can I buy leadlight glass from you as well as lead?

Yes. We stock a range of coloured and textured leadlight glass alongside the came. The range is curated rather than endless, so if you are after a particular colour or texture it is worth checking with us first.

I am not sure which profile or how much I need. Can you help?

Absolutely. Send a photo or a measurement of your panel and we will point you to the right profile and help you work out how much to order.

Australian-made lead came, from a real leadlight workshop

Find your profile in the table above, or tell us what your project needs. Call in and collect in Ballarat, or we will ship it to you.

Would you rather we made or restored it for you? See our leadlight service page.

Phone (shop)

Email

sales@robsonglass.com.au

In Ballarat? Call in and collect, or phone the shop on 03 5332 2078.

Tell us the profile and rough quantity and we will confirm price, stock and freight.