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kimmystar

What are the basic stained glass tools?

KimmyStar
11 years ago

Pistol Grip Cutters - Oil fed cutter that is extremely easy to handle and cuts down on wrist fatigue.

Pencil Type Cutters - Can be found with oil feed or without oil feed. Those without need to be manually lubricated.

Strip and Circle cutter - Tools will allow you to cut circles from 2 3/4" to 24 1/2' in diameter and strips from 1/2" wide to 12 3/4" wide.

Breaker/Grozier Pliers - Use as a breaking plier to break glass along score when the glass can't be handled comfortably by hand. A good score will snap cleanly when this plier is placed perpendicular to the score and opposite your other hand and a quick up and away motion is used. Turn the plier over and use as a grozing tool. Jaws are spring loaded for faster, easier work. You can remove flares and clean up edges using it this way.

Running Pliers - Held with the adjusting screw on top. Used to run a scoreline, usually long score lines react well to running pliers. If you examine the jaws straight on, you will notice they are curved downward. This is the mechanic that actually coaxes the score line to run true. Simply put, when you squeeze the handles, you are 'bending' the glass.

TooMuchGlass says:
I find my most important tools are -
A Grinder
A good glass cutter
A Grozing pliers
A lead dyke. ( cutter )
Those are really the only 4 things I couldn't do without. I found that Warner-Crivellaro (online) has some of the best prices on things... plus they have quantity discounts .

Calamity_J Fri, Oct 1, 04 at 12:26

I bought a bunch of stuff I don't really use, but I would say that my pistol grip glass cutter and grozing pliers are definitely the main tools, also running pliers, for breaking the bigger glass pieces. I sooo can't live with out my grinder. It depends on if you want to do copperfoil or lead or both, I have only done copperfoil since taking my sg class, with good intentions/supplies for when I try leading. I recommend taking a course at a stained glass shop. I've been addicted for about 3 yrs now and of yet to do a lead piece. I've been doing mosiac stuff for the last year and haven't even gone in my glass room, I have a 730 piece peacock 1/2 cut out ... waiting for me!?!

bloominweeds Fri, Oct 1, 04 at 15:13

Don't buy a beginners kit, they are usually cheapo tools you won't be happy with if you continue with this art.
Toyo is a good pistol grip cutter.
Inland makes a decent grinder but Glastar is the best.
soldering iron Hakko456 is really good but weller 100 ok don't go any lower than l00 or it will not keep the heat.
grozer and pliers, breakers you probably can get decent onea at you sg shop.

techsupport8 (My Page) on Fri, Oct 1, 04 at 17:41

You folks seem knowledgable, so I'll pose my question to you. I do stained glass mosaics and someone asked me if I had a grinder. I know what they look like, but what actually do they do???
I can't imagine I would need one since the grout can cover little imperfections along the sides of the glass. Is that what you use a grinder for? To get rid of bumps?
Posted by: bloominweeds Fri, Oct 1, 04 at 19:07

A grinder is used to smooth the edges befor putting copper foil on the edge of the glass eventually to be soldered together. If you don't hold the cutter perfectly vertical you can have very sharp edges in places. You don't need a grinder for mosiacs. You can use grozing pliers to get little snags off if need be.

bothenjs Tue, Oct 12, 04 at 5:55

Get the HAKKO 456 soldering iron and buy a separate temperature controller- after trying several others this one is the best! and and are 3 other nice sites to order from. Are you foiling or leading- you don't need a lead dyke if you're foiling. You do need foil though and Delphi has a foil sample kit. And see if you can't take a class-it will help you start with good habits right off the bat.

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