There are so many different stained glass supplies that you can purchase at any given time, that all the different choices can boggle your brain. For a lot of artists, they will look at stained glass grinders as their first major buy. There are quite a few things to consider when buying your first grinder. The type you will buy will depend on your needs and the budget that you have. Rest assured though, there is something out there for everyone's budget. What do you use a grinder for? Well, simply put, its for shaping glass after its been cut to a rough shape. Grinders use a diamond coated bit to grind off the extra glass in preparation for the glass edge to accept the copper foil. With most stained glass grinders, you'll get a couple of grinder bits to go along with it.
A good choice for anyone who wants to get started with a grinder is the Inland Wizling CG. It is a powerful and reliable machine with good torque and, best of all, it has a great price. This is good for the hobbyist is just getting started and wants an intro grinder. This type of stained glass grinder is for a person who plans on doing a few projects per year. The good news is, that unlike other gadgets, glass grinders tend to hold their value. That means that you can sell your old model when you decide to move up.
For a person taking it to the next stage, you will probably need a product a little more powerful and with some more featuresThere are many options on the market for someone who is looking to move up to the next level of stained glass grinder. A big plus is that you can advanc into the next grade of grinders for just a bit more than you spent on the entry level model. Usually, its just $20-$30 more to elevate from the hobbyist models to the more advanced ones. I recommend the Glastar G8 Allstar Grinder. It is a great graduation for those who are starting to get a little more serious with their glass work. These glass grinders are actually probably considered professional grade as far as most people are concerned. These grinders are made for use on a daily basis so they can definitely made for a lot of projects
The Pro Models are not for many people, probably just the most serious craftsmen. If you aren't doing major projects and using this everyday then it will be overkill for what you need it for. The Glastar G9 Disc Grinder is the tool for you. It has the capabilities for creating boxes, lampshades, and panels. If you need a straight edge, then rhere is no better tool than this one. One more time though, given the cost of this model, don't buy this unless you are doing some major projects.
Hopefully this gave you some tips on where, how, and what you should look for when you buy your stained glass grinder. It can be tough with so many stained glass supply products in the marketplace to know which ones you need to buy and which one would be nice. I will say, though, that a good stained glass grinder is a product that anyone serious about glass will want to purchase at some point. It will for sure make your life easy and, right next to your Spectrum Glass, its a pretty important piece of the pie and most likely its going to be the first major tool that every artist will buy. So, put on your goggles and enjoy your new grinder!
