Starting a hobby can be daunting, especially if you DIY. My number one suggestion to individuals who are interested in stained glass is to watch youtube tutorials! I started stained glass a good 10 years ago when I took a class in high school. Having instruction helped. Even if it was just a single demonstration, and then we were left to our own devices. Back then there was not much for tutorials on youtube. I have taken breaks from stained glass, but in the past few years when I have returned to the hobby (Art!) I was grateful to watch youtube videos as a refresher! Other great recourses are blogs and Facebook groups.
A common question beginners have is: “What should I buy to start?”
It’s important to know that stained glass is an expensive hobby. It can also be challenging and time-consuming. However, when you finish a project, it just feels so right. I like leaf patterns (to go with my house plant obsession!) The rest of the post will be my recommendations for starting up on a budget. All the items below are linked to amazon and can be purchased there.
Glass Cutter/nippers https://amzn.to/3XWUhMY
The link above takes you to a bundle of items. In the bundle, you will find g, nippers, running pliers, a glass cutter, a few extra cutting heads, and a carry case. This is a deal. Each of those items is on its own at about $10 (so about $40 for all of it) and when you buy the bundle you pay less than $30 for all of it. As a beginner on a budget, this is a great deal. On the product page, this bundle has 4.5/5 stars.
Cutting oil https://amzn.to/3WwdS5v
Cutting oil is a necessity if you want to have clean cuts and a cutting head that lasts longer. Godora brand cutting oil is inexpensive, affordable, and a great quantity. A little oil will go a long way. I often pour a small amount into the bottom of a plastic cup and roll the cutting end in the oil a few times every few cut
Grinder https://amzn.to/3Hs7Eiy
This grinder was the first ever grinder I purchased when exploring this hobby on my own. I have had the grinder for quite a few years and it still works like the day I bought it. A grinder doesn’t need to be fancy, or named brand to do the job, and as one becomes more experienced one uses the grinder a lot less.
Copper Foil https://amzn.to/3kY5rTE
Copper foil is essential. As a beginner I found this technique to be the easiest, versus just using hobby, came, and zinc. When it comes to copper foil, you want to buy a reputable brand. The poor copper foil will make your piece crumble. This experience is devastating and might make a person quit. EDCO brand foil is well-known, and highly recommended. You can often find the standard 7/32 (which works for most glass) for about $13-$16 a roll and it will last for a few projects. Foil tape can be tricky, so it's always best to start with simple shapes and go slow to get the alignment on the glass right.
“Fid”
Anything can be used as a fid quite honestly. If you are on a budget, or only just starting and want to keep it cheap, use a wooden pencil. The wood is hard allowing for a good amount of pressure, but also just soft enough that the glass can leave an impression in the pencil to help get the curves well. I used a pencil as a fid, or even a cheap pen, for years. Even now that I have an actual fid, I still use a pencil from time to time.
Flux & Brush https://amzn.to/3WCu2Kr
Flux is the component that helps the solder bond to the copper foil, and holds your piece together. There is both liquid flux and paste flux. I like to use the liquid because I feel it gets into the cracks between pieces together, allowing the solder to bond in between as well. I also find it easier to clean up.
Solder https://amzn.to/3kIJgAw
Solder isn't a step you can skip, and because it is metal, it is not cheap. I like working with canfield solder. I haven’t had any negative experiences and it is reasonably priced. There is 60/40 solder which has a lower melting temperature and is usually recommended for beginners, and then there is 50/50 solder which has a higher melting point and can be a little more challenging to work with in the beginning because of the need to be fast. The numbers 60/40 and 50/50 represent the tin and lead ratio.
*Please note that solder does have lead in it, and it's important to follow safety precautions when handling it.
Soldering Iron https://amzn.to/3iWRt3D
Soldering irons can be expensive. It is important to get a decent one. For budget purposes, I would recommend this iron. It is not a classic stained glass brand, however, it works. There is no temperature adjustment with this iron, however as a beginner that isn’t all that important. This iron is a 4.⅗ star rating, with a lot of positive feedback. At the beginning of my own experience with stained glass, this brand is what I started with.
Wire
The wire is used to make jump rings, and for embellishment. The easiest type of wire to use is tinned copper. With the help of flux, the solder will encapsulate and connect your ring(s) to your piece with little fuss. Personally, I use 18-16 gauge wire for my rings depending on the size of my piece.
24 gauge https://amzn.to/3jgS4gn
22 gauge https://amzn.to/3RcP2q4
20 gauge https://amzn.to/3HibRnR
18 gauge https://amzn.to/3XQRh5a
16 gauge https://amzn.to/3JiKE76
14 gauge https://amzn.to/3XQRh5a
Glass https://amzn.to/3kTnZ7m
Glass can be expensive, especially as you get into name brands and famous glass artists. As a beginner or if you are on a budget I recommend starting with this glass. It is on the cheaper end, but still has decent quality, and if you have to recut a piece, or drop a piece, it is not as devastating with budget glass. This will help you get the feel of how much pressure you need to apply for a cut, the best ways to use the running pliers and nippers, and just get the feel and experience for the hobby.
Suede hanging rope colored https://amzn.to/3WIpdzl
Black rope https://amzn.to/40cDSG7
I like to use suede for smaller projects. I feel this adds character to the piece, I like matching the color of the suede with the piece, and you do not have to fuss with the links of the chain. It is also fairly inexpensive and can be used in other projects or hobbies.
Glass grinder replacement https://amzn.to/40l75yG
The glass grinder replacement heads found at this link are good quality. As a beginner, they are cheaper to replace, as most beginners do a lot more grinding than someone who is experienced. I buy budget items like this because I rather spend the extra money on more glass.
These items are intended for beginner use, and budget use but honestly the quality is good enough you can be a stained glass artist with these tools your whole time doing the hobby without buying name brands, or expensive products and tools.
If I had to choose the bare minimum for tools I would go with a cutter, nipper pliers, a grinder, copper foil, solder, soldering flux, soldering iron, cutting oil, wire (or cheap jump rings). Any string or chains can be used if you have something lying around. Just be sure it is strong enough to hold the piece. Grinder replacements are not necessary at the very beginning. Anything can be used as a fid.
For a work surface as a beginner, I would recommend parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Or a slab of scrap wood. Maybe a table you are not invested in the finish.
For soap to clean your project, dish soap works.
Polishing a project is not necessary, but it leaves a nice finished look. I went years without polishing, and all that happens is the solder will oxidize and have an ashy appearance.
I hope this post is helpful for beginners, people on a budget, or individuals who do not have a local glass store. Stained Glass can be a very rewarding hobby, however, it does take a bit of work and has its challenges.
If you happen to buy any of these products, feel free to share your experience in the comments!
This post has Amazon Affiliate links.
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