Stained Glass Tools

Pattern Shears

• Any stained glass project relies on a paper pattern. Stained glass artists first cut the paper pattern, number each piece and then trace the individual pieces onto the glass, which is also numbered so they know which pieces to join together. Pattern shears cut out paper stained glass patterns with allowances for the copper tape or the came that will be used to join the glass together.
  
  

Glass Cutters

• One of the most versatile glass cutting tools is the Cutter's Mate. You can score any type of design on stained glass with this tool. Alternatively, you can use pistol-grip cutters with a built in oil reservoir to score your glass. This is one of the most common tools for beginning stained glass artists as it is much more affordable than the Cutter's Mate. You can only score straight lines and curves with the pistol-grip cutter; you'll need a separate circle cutter to make a 360 degree cut by hand.
  
  

Running Pliers

• Running pliers have fat, rubber-coated heads so you can grip the scored glass securely and snap it apart. You will see an indicator line on top of the rubber part of the head of the running pliers, letting you know which side is the top. To cut the glass, center the line on the running pliers over the score line on your glass and squeeze the pliers together. If your score line is good, the glass will snap apart exactly where you need it to.
  
  

Grinders

• Glass grinders use a diamond wheel to smooth the edges of your cut glass. It's inevitable that you will have shards and rough edges along the cut lines of your glass, making the grinder a necessary tool for serious stained glass artists. The grinder works with a water reservoir and a sponge to keep the glass moist as you grind. The grinding wheel turns at a high speed as you press the edge of the glass against it to smooth away unwanted shards.
  
  

Soldering Iron

• Stained glass artists use a soldering iron to heat the solder that connects the glass pieces together. Each of the stained glass pieces are first wrapped in copper tape or came, and then joined with hot metal, or solder. The artist holds the soldering iron in one hand and the solder in the other. As the hot iron meets and melts the metal, the liquid solder runs onto the copper tape or the came and dries hard to make the connection.