Confused by Stained Glass Tools?
Learn about stained glass equipment and all the essential stain glass tools
There’s hundreds of stained glass tools for everything you could possibly want to create, but what do you really need? Save money and free up precious time by finding out about the most important stain glass tools and stained glass materials available to you. Keep frustration levels down by learning how to use each bit of stained glass equipment properly and start making stained glass windows you’ll be proud to share with the world.
To help you get your stained glass starter kit up together, the list below contains all the specialised stained glass tools you’ll need for making a leaded stained glass panel. To make a stained glass kit for a copper foiled panel you need to take a few items off – I’ve told you which ones below – and add one – copper foil tape.
Once you’re up and running you’ll want to know about all the other fantastic stained glass tools available so you can create even more amazing windows. To make it easy for you I’ve grouped these non-essential but very desirable tools together under additional stain glass equipment. At the bottom of the page I’ve listed the non-specialist equipment that you’ll need. You can buy these items cheaper from a regular store or you may already have them at home.
Essential stained glass tools and materials for making stained glass
Cutting |
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Stained Glass KitsYou might choose to buy a stained glass starter kit instead of selecting each item individually. Make it easy for yourself and compare deals on a range of ready-made stained glass kits. Make sure you get the best bundle of equipment and don’t pay for things you don’t actually need. |
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Stained Glass SheetsPrepare to be amazed at the stunning range of colours and textures that are available to make your glass art work completely unique. The very best glass art work uses the shapes and patterns within each of the stained glass sheets to enhance the design |
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Stained Glass GrinderCut down on waste and achieve precision fits with a stained glass grinder that matches your particular needs |
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Glass Pattern ShearsThese shears have a triple blade that miraculously removes a tiny slither of paper when cutting pattern template pieces. This allows for the heart of the lead or the copper foil and makes sure that your glass isn’t too big. Be careful, some shears are made for both lead and foil, some just for lead and some just for copperfoil |
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Glass CutterActually enjoy cutting stained glass and reduce breakage by choosing the glass cutter that suits you best |
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Stained Glass PliersLearn all about the versatile pliers essential for your stained glass tools kit and how to use them for breaking and grozing |
Leading and Soldering |
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Stained Glass Soldering IronsSelect a specialised stained glass soldering iron and you’ll never accidently melt your precious lead came again. Find out about which wattage you need and the best type of tips for stained glass |
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Lead knifeYour leaded stained glass tool kit has to include a lead knife so that you can cut and shape the lead came to size. Cut frustration levels by choosing a specialised knife made solely for this purpose |
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Leaded Stained Glass ToolsFid or All Nova Tool, Lathekin or Oyster Knife. These make up a strange but essential component of your stained glass kit. Find out what they are and how much time they will save you |
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Lead ViseThere’s lots of expensive alternatives, but the most basic lead vice does the job of holding your lead while you stretch it. Watch out you don’t fall backwards though! |
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Stained Glass LeadBe creative with your use of stained glass lead came! Have a look at all the different widths and profiles available and choose the best one for making your stain glass panel stand out |
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FluxMakes solder flow easily and neatly by using flux on each solder join |
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Stained Glass SolderSolder is used to join all your bits of glass together – either on each of the lead joins or along the copper foil seams. There’s lead-free solder and solder with a different ratio of tin/lead solder for leaded and copperfoiling projects. |
Cementing and Polishing |
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Black CementThis is the putty that you put under the lead cames to make your panel strong and waterproof. You can save yourself a great deal of mess by buying ready-made black cement, or find out how to mix your own cheaply from my how to stain glass cementing tutorial here. |
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Whiting PowderSome people use sawdust – or talcum powder in times of dire need – but whiting powder (chalk dust) is the best. It doesn’t smell and cleans the black cement off brilliantly. |
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PatinaThis is painted on the solder to change the colour from silver to either copper, brass or black, depending on which colour patina you buy. Black is best for leaded projects – or grate polish with a bit of elbow grease! |
Stained Glass Copper Foil EquipmentFrom the list above remove Lead knife, Lead vise, Black cement and Whiting powder. You won’t need Stained glass lead came, but you might choose to use zinc came for a stronger outside edge. Then just add copper foil tape to make up your essential copper foiling starter kit: |
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Copper Foil TapeThis is a roll of thin sheet copper that comes in a roll with a sticky back. It is stuck round the edges of your glass pieces so that the solder has something to stick to. It’s available in 1/8” (3mm) to ½” (13mm) widths. |
Additional stained glass equipment for extra creative effects |
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Glass DrillsAdd unique detail to your glass art work by engraving and drilling glass. Find out which drill is best for you and how to use your glass grinder for drilling holes in glass |
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Taurus Ring Saw |
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Cutters MateCut all sorts of amazingly difficult shapes in glass with this ingenious glass cutting tool. |
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Glass Bottle CutterTransform your used bottles into goblets, bowls or candle holders with this popular and well-reviewed glass bottle cutter |
You’ll also need the following non-specialist stained glass toolsDesigning EquipmentPencils, pastels, paints – anything you can make marks with to start you off! – ruler, drawing paper, pattern card, drawing square for the right angles and masking tape CuttingSafety glasses. Always make sure your eyes are protected with a pair of decent safety goggles – even if you wear spectacles. Permanent pen for marking the glass – black is fine but there’s a special white one for marking dark glass, scrap lino for cutting on and a carborundum stone for making the edges safe if you can’t stretch to a grinder yet. Leading/Copperfoiling and SolderingWood strips and nails for holding glass while soldering/leading up, a work board (woodchip is fine) small, cheap brush for painting on the flux. Cementing and PolishingSoft scrubbing brushes, shoe brushes and black grate polish for cementing and final polishing touches to your stained glass panel, glass cleaner and soft rags for foiling projects. |
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All of the above tools and materials are available from the stained glass supplies section at Delphi Stained Glass. Have a browse and see what’s available, but if you stick to the above list of essentials, you can be sure you won’t be buying stuff you don’t really need.
There’s a little bit more information on the stained glass equipment needed for stained glass kits here if you want. Once you know about each of the stained glass tools, what they’re for and how to use them, you’re ready to start making.
You can learn how to make stained glass from my free tutorials – I hope you find them helpful.
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