Adaptable Stained Glass Grinder
Drilling Glass and Glass Engraving Tool Options
The stained glass grinder is the unsung hero of any stained glass starter kit. What other of the stain glass tools has so many essential and creative uses?
- Read on to find out which glass grinder will work best for your particular projects
- Learn how you can save money by adapting the grinder for drilling glass holes
- Discover new ways of being creative with the optional glass engraving tool
The things to consider about a stained glass grinder are:
- size
- power (or torque)
- whether they can easily be adapted for drilling glass or glass engraving
- the availabity of replacement bits
Compatibility with other manufacturers’ products is also worth thinking about as you may want to benefit from their specialist accessories.
Although more powerful, some users have had difficulty with Diamond Max grinders and have found spare parts hard to come by. Two of the most reliable and popular manufactuers are Inland and Glastar.
Inland Glass Grinders
Inland make a whole range of grinders, from the very functional to the all-singing all-dancing Wizard 1V Grinder that converts to a disc grinder and beveler! The Wizling Cg is their most basic model and the one that I have used for years.
It is incredibly simple to set up and operate and has never broken down. I use Vaseline for lubricating the shaft and inside the grinding bit to prevent it getting stuck.
It has a reasonably sized 9” X 10” grinding surface, which adequately supports bigger pieces of glass as you pass them across the grinding bit.
One of the big advantages of this grinder is that the bit lasts for ages. This is because you can adjust it up and down to use every inch of the grinding surface before having to replace it.
With a 3450 rpm motor and 1/22 hp, it isn’t the most powerful, so if speed and power are what you need for heavily textured glass or if you do masses of glass grinding this may not be the stained glass grinder for you.
If this is the case you could go up a step to the Wiz Cg Grinder. Boasting a 3550 rpm motor and 1/11 hp, this has more power and speed and is a good bet for copper foilers who use their glass grinder more regularly.
It comes with two grinding bits which is a plus – a standard ¾” and a smaller ¼” for more fiddly work.
Both of these grinders come with a 5-year warranty and both are compatible with most of the specialist bits from a variety of manufacturers. Check with your stain glass suppliers first if you’re unsure.
You can also convert these Inland glass grinders for drilling glass by buying an adaptor and a diamond drill bit – they come in 3/8”, 1/8” and 1/4”, depending on the hole size you want.
For more information on this and an explanatory video go to my Drilling Glass page. Inland even make combination bits that drill AND grind; you can’t get more thoughtful than that.
Glastar Glass Grinder
The Glastar All Star G8 Grinder is quicker and even more powerful, running at 3560 rpm with a 1/9 hp motor.
This is a very popular professional quality stained glass grinder with a built-in water pump and a very generous 11” X 13” work surface. It comes with an eye and splash shield and two grinder bits – 1” and ¼” – that will cover different sized projects.
There’s a drawer for accessories built in along with a coolant drain.
The value of a water pump is negligible in my view, as a sponge is perfectly adequate for cooling the glass down. Ditto the drawer and the shields – you should always wear safety glasses when grinding glass any way – but it will stop you getting wet!
Having said that, this stained glass grinder is perfect for those that are planning to do a great deal of glass grinding. It is compatible with virtually all the accessory products available, which makes it a very useful and adaptable part of any stained glass starter kit. I’m just not entirely sure the additional features are worth the extra money.
Glass Engraving Tool
This strange looking accessory is a little-known but very exciting secret! It’s called a Flexshaft for Grinders and allows you to do all sorts of fantastic things with your grinder. It is compatible with all the above grinders.
You can do hand held glass engraving, filing or drilling glass – it truly opens up a whole new level of creativity. You could engrave a favourite poem or copy your children’s pictures on to glass, drill holes to hang your stain glass art; the list is endless…
The good news is that you can fit pretty much any drill bit, including Dremel attachments, to the Flexshaft. However, you will need a diamond drill bit if you want 
to drill holes in glass, and – as with most things – the more you spend on drill bits the longer they’ll last and the better quality they’ll be.
This is a far cheaper option than the Flexible Rotary Shaft Tool as it uses the motor from your glass grinder rather than having its own. It fits all grinders with a 5/16” motor shaft. You have to be a bit careful how you attach it to your stained glass grinder, but once it’s on I can guarantee you’ll enjoy the creative freedom it gives you to decorate your stain glass art work.
Any local stained glass suppliers will be able to show you these grinders. Otherwise all the above products are available from Delphi Stained Glass. They are very helpful and ship all over the world.
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