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Stained Glass: Your Ultimate Shopping List

This list is meant to help create a shopping list for the beginning stained glass art student. Not all of the items will be needed for every project, for instance you will use either lead cames OR copper foil and their corresponding accessories depending on the stained glass style you will be working with. Other tools listed may be very helpful, but not entirely necessary, one pair of pliers may be enough to do several jobs for example.

Cutting Oil- This helps to reduce friction allowing a smoother cut and also keeps glass debris from encumbering the cutting wheel's progress.

Sal Ammoniac- This is soldering iron tip cleaner made from a naturally occurring mineral that reacts to the heat of the soldering iron and removes debris when the iron is gently rubbed on it.

Cutting Square - This tool is helpful when drawing squares or other designs requiring a right angle.

Ruler- Used for measuring project dimensions as well as for drawing or cutting a straight line. A non-skid backing such as cork or rubber will help keep it from sliding on the glass.

Running Pliers- These thick pliers help to carefully break stained glass pieces that have been scored on the design lines.

Carborundum Stone- A trademarked name for a grinding tool used to smooth the edges of cut pieces of stained glass. This tool should be wetted periodically to make smoothing easier.

Copper Foil Dispenser- Another nicety, this makes handling the copper foil easier, much the way a tape dispenser makes tape easier to handle.

Lead Cames- The original choice in stained glass support systems. These come as long strips of lead with grooves or channels on either one side or both, depending on whether it is to be used as an inside or outer edge piece of the stained glass.

So there you have it. This list will get you started with your stained glass art project.