Stained Glass Supplies & Tools You Need

Stained glass supplies and tools are very much needed for glass art creation. You can’t just use any tool. You need to obtain tools and supplies that are fitting to make a beautiful design of stained glass.

Below, we will show you the tools and supplies that we use, but remember there are a variety of options, brands, and styles.

Some of these stained glass supplies and tools we find helpful, others don’t work for the techniques we've used. So you will need to judge which tools and supplies work best for you and your technique.

For example, to start, we utilized the following tools...

• Cutting tool
• Breaking tool - with metal gold ball for taping
• Permanent pen - for marking the pattern
• Grozier pliers
• Solder
• Solder iron
• Flux
• Flux brush
• Copper foil- 1/4"

You can also consider looking into stained glass kits to get the exact stained glass supplies and tools other experts recommend as well.

Visit the create stained glass artists forum to discuss tools and supplies

Safety glasses:
To be used for your eye safety. Don’t underestimate your eyes and your safety as this is a must of the stained glass supplies.

Pens and markers:
Great for use in marking your pattern pieces, marking your pattern onto the glass and tracing your pattern on tracing paper. We have found it best to use permanent markers.

Cutting and breaking glass tools:

Breaking/Grozier Pliers:
These pliers are used when it is hard to handle the glass easily. The grozing side of the pliers are used to chip away unwanted sections of glass (such as in a curved area).

Running pliers:
These pliers are used to help you break the glass. They have a mark on the top of the pliers so you can apply the mark perpendicular to the scored glass. Then you just press down on the pliers to make a clean break. These pliers are great for straight cuts.

Glass cutter:
The best glass cutter we have found is the pistol grip cutter. With the pistol grip cutter, we can just replace the carbide steel heads as needed, for a clean score.

Our cutter also has a little steel ball on the opposite end of the cutter to be used to tap along the score line (underside of the glass) until the scored glass breaks away easily. It is best used for curved or hard to break areas.

It is easy to hold and easy to use. It is self oiling so that the wheel will roll easily and make for a consistent score line of the glass.

Do not purchase a cheap cutter - this will prevent you from getting the types of cuts you want. This is an essential tool for proper scoring - so apply your funds to a good cutter.

Another type of glass cutter is a dry wheel cutter that has a gold ball on the end. The dry wheel cutter helps break the glass carefully around edges.
Tip: use the round ball on the end to tap the glass until it breaks. Great for around edges we have found.

Steel ruler with a cork backing:
This ruler is great for large straight edges. The cork backing helps prevent slipping when marking your pattern. This ruler is also used when cutting the large edge. A square is also useful to keep your design square.

Scoring Pad:
This is a little pad to be used when scoring the glass to keep the glass in place.

Grinding the Glass and Applying Copper Foil- Stained Glass Supplies & Tools

Grinder:

The grinder is a workhorse of a machine designed for professionals and those who want the best in their workshop. We recommend the Wizard grinder which offers these features...

• A huge 14.5" x 11.5" work surface that is quite a bit larger than its closest competitor.
• A Lift-Off reservoir that makes cleanup fast and easy.
• A built in covered accessory tray that is big enough to hold standard size running pliers.
• A second story work surface to provide an elevated work surface for using the 1/4" bit.
• A face shield with wire holder and a five year full confidence manufacturer warranty.
• The motor is 1/9 HP, grinder includes 1/4" and 1" bits.

Copper Foil:
This supply can be purchases in several sizes and different backs. The different sizes: 5/32”, 3/16”, 7/32”, Ό”, ½”. Also you can get the foil with c copper backing, black backing and silver backing.

We recommend for the beginners to use the 1/4”. We find this to be stronger and makes the solder bead a good size as well as stronger, more supportive.

We also like the black backed foil which helps not to show through on the front and back of the glass pieces. The silver or copper backed foil can be used when you are looking for a reflective effect.

Fid:
This tool is a great tool to smooth and attach the copper foil to the edges and front and back of the glass.

Copper Foil dispenser:
This dispenser is very handy to hold your tools or just your copper foil. It usually holds about 4-6 different sizes of copper foil. It keeps it from crimping. It keeps it neat. It keeps it handy in helping you apply the foil to the edges of the glass.

Additional Stained Glass Supplies & Tools That Will Come in Handy

Carborundum stone:
If you do not have a grinder.This stone costs on the average about $6.00- $10.00.The stone is approximately 10” x 1-1/4” x Ύ”. It is a much slower process but less expensive compared to a grinder.

Grinder bit- 1/8” to 1” (Ύ”-is the average size):
This bit is a replacement when your grinder bit does not perform properly.

Thumb Saver - use while using grinder:
This tool is a synthetic rubber which fits on your thumbs, and then it locks into the edge of your glass so that you can push it safely and easily against the grinding bit.

Glass Gripper:
This tool grips the glass tight with its jaw. This gripper can hold a piece of glass as small as Ό” so that you can grind the edges as needed

Grinder bits Diamond - Ύ”:
These bits are replacement bits for your grinder and usually come in packs of 2

3/8” drilling / grinder head:
This tool can be applied to your grinder so that you can drill a hole in the glass when needed.

Glass foiler:
This foiler is designed to peel off the backing and centers the foil on the edge of the glass. At the same time, crimping the edges.

Burnisher:
This tool is used in combination with the fid. It is used to burnish the foil down smoothly.

Grinder coolant:
This coolant add to the water in the grinder to help your grinding wheel to last longer

Shears:
Used for exact cuts when cutting out your pattern pieces, to help eliminate grinding time

Hand roller and smooth roller:
This is another option for smoothing and burnishing your foil- This tool has a roller on one side plus it offers a crimping groove to burnish for smooth and tight fit of the foil on the edges.

Soldering Stained Glass Supplies & Tools:

Solder iron:
We highly recommend solder irons that offer 100 watts with a built in temperature control. This type of unit will reach the temperature quickly and maintain the temperature needed for solder work. You want a solder iron that is light weight. They usually have a warranty for about 1 year.

Solder holder:
You can purchase a holder that just holds the solder iron but also you can find a holder that will hold all of your tools.

This is important to help you keep your work area clean and organized. Also it will help keep your tools in go working order.

Usually a holder will hold your solder iron with a built in temperature controller, but some of the holders will hold solder, flux brush, flux, copper foil. It depends on the holder that you find.

Solder:
It is best to purchase either 60/40 or 50/50. What this means is the ratio of tin to lead in the solder. You must have lead in the solder for the solder to adhere to the flux and the glass seams.

Flux:
Flux is zinc free and environmentally safe which helps to apply the solder smoothly.

Flux brush:
This is a small brush to apply the flux to the copper foil. It is important to apply an even amount of flux to the copper foil. If you apply too much it will leave glumps in your solder bead. If you apply too little then the copper foil may still be visible.

Patina:
This is used to change the solder from silver to either black or copper. We use a small brush to apply the patina.You will know how much to apply because you will see the solder changing color.

Wax:
To shine and polish the finished design. Add this to your stained glass supplies toolbox and your pieces will come out beautiful. We use car wax because of the shine that comes off the glass and solder.

Flux Bottle Holder:
This is a holder to prevent the flux from spilling over while the cap is off. Not a must of the stained glass supplies, but something that could come in handy as you work.

Other System and Stained Glass Supplies & Tool Options:

The Morton System:
This system is a type of glass shop which features squaring fence, fast angles, scales for metric and inches. Some of this system comes with an audio visual for easier learning.

Software Programs:
Stained glass software programs can help you create or change designs. You can also scan in a photo and add the lines needed to create a stained glass piece. These make the pattern and design process much easier and fun!

Glass Caddy:
These are small stained glass supplies that allows you to house your glass.

Additional education including videos, books, tutorials, and classes are highly recommended. The key is to start and build your upon your education and skill level. Don't get overwhelmed by trying to learn too much at the start whichso many artists tend to do. Just pick the best method you learn by (visual, hands on, books) and get started and learn as you go.

There are more and more types of tools for use in stained glass. Above is just a small amount of thestained glass supplies and tools that you may need throughout your work.

Once again, it is best to start with the basic tools and add to your stained glass supplies as needed.