Tools for the workbench and the planning table

Scoring the glass and breaking it cleanly along your pattern lines. This is where most beginners spend the first weekend just getting a feel for the material.

• 
  Glass cutter

  Essential

  A small handheld tool with a tiny hardened wheel that scores the surface of the glass. Pistol-grip and pencil-grip are both common: pick whichever feels comfortable in your hand.

  Typical price: $12–$30 USD · $17–$42 CAD

• 
  Cutting oil

  Essential

  Lubricates the cutter wheel so your score line is clean and the glass breaks where you want it to. A little goes a long way.

  Typical price: $8–$16 USD · $11–$22 CAD

• 
  Running pliers

  Essential

  Squeeze either side of the score to 'run' the break in a smooth, controlled line. Especially helpful for longer cuts.

  Typical price: $12–$25 USD · $17–$35 CAD

• 
  Grozing / breaking pliers

  Essential

  Toothy little pliers for snapping off small pieces and nibbling stubborn bits off an edge when a curve didn't quite go where you wanted.

  Typical price: $10–$22 USD · $14–$31 CAD

• 
  Wheeled nippers

  Nice to have

  Two hardened wheels that pinch straight through small pieces of glass. Handy for trimming little shapes and mosaic-style bits without scoring first.

  Typical price: $12–$25 USD · $17–$35 CAD

• 
  Waffle grid work surface

  Nice to have

  A soft plastic mat with a waffle pattern that catches glass shards as you cut. Optional, but keeps your workbench (and forearms) much tidier.

  Typical price: $15–$35 USD · $21–$49 CAD

• 
  Sheet glass

  Essential

  The material itself. Start with a few small sheets of cathedral (transparent) glass in colours you love: smooth, non-textured sheets are the easiest to score and break.

  Typical price: $8–$25 USD · $11–$35 CAD

• 
  Ruler or framing square

  Nice to have

  For measuring, straight scores, and checking that a square project actually is square.

  Typical price: $8–$20 USD · $11–$28 CAD

A small wet grinder gently sands each piece so it fits the pattern like a puzzle. Not strictly required if you're very patient with pliers: but it makes a huge difference.

• 
  Glass grinder

  Essential

  A small electric tool with a diamond-coated bit and a water reservoir. You press the cut edge against the bit to smooth and shape it.

  Typical price: $120–$350 USD · $168–$490 CAD

• 
  Grinder shield

  Nice to have

  A clear plastic guard that clips onto the grinder to keep water and glass slurry from flicking up at you.

  Typical price: $10–$25 USD · $14–$35 CAD

• 
  Spare grinder bits

  Nice to have

  Bits wear down over time. A finer or smaller bit is handy for tight inside curves.

  Typical price: $15–$40 USD · $21–$56 CAD

• 
  Grinding glove

  Nice to have

  A grippy coated glove keeps your hand dry and steady at the grinder, and adds a layer between your fingers and freshly cut edges.

  Typical price: $8–$18 USD · $11–$25 CAD

Every piece of glass gets its edge wrapped in copper tape so the solder has something to grip. This is the quiet, meditative part of a project.

• 
  Copper foil tape

  Essential

  Adhesive copper tape, usually 7/32" wide for beginners. Comes with black, silver, or copper-coloured backing depending on the patina you plan to use.

  Typical price: $8–$20 USD · $11–$28 CAD

• 
  Fid / burnisher

  Essential

  A small plastic stick used to press the foil down firmly against the glass so it doesn't lift when you solder.

  Typical price: $3–$10 USD · $4–$14 CAD

• 
  Painter's or masking tape

  Nice to have

  Handy for holding foiled pieces together in the pattern while you tack-solder the seams.

  Typical price: $4–$10 USD · $6–$14 CAD

• 
  X-Acto knife

  Nice to have

  For trimming stray bits of foil that overlap or bunch at corners.

  Typical price: $5–$12 USD · $7–$17 CAD

Melting solder along the foil seams to fuse the whole piece together. Take your time here: a good soldering iron and good flux make everything easier.

• 
  Soldering iron

  Essential

  The one tool worth spending a little extra on. A temperature-controlled iron holds heat steadily so your solder lines flow smoothly instead of bubbling or pitting.

  Typical price: $60–$180 USD · $84–$252 CAD

• 
  60/40 solder

  Essential

  A spool of solid solder made specifically for stained glass. Lead-free versions exist but are trickier to work with and cost more.

  Typical price: $20–$45 USD · $28–$63 CAD

• 
  Heat-resistant glove

  Nice to have

  A padded, grippy glove for the hand steadying your piece. It won't stop you being careful, but it takes the sting out of an accidental brush with hot solder.

  Typical price: $10–$25 USD · $14–$35 CAD

• 
  Flux & flux brush

  Essential

  Flux is a liquid or gel painted onto the copper foil so the solder bonds properly. The brush is a small disposable one: don't reuse it for anything else.

  Typical price: $8–$20 USD · $11–$28 CAD

• 
  Tip cleaner (brass wool)

  Nice to have

  A tin of brass wool for wiping the hot iron tip clean between passes. Kinder to the tip than a wet sponge and it keeps solder flowing smoothly.

  Typical price: $5–$12 USD · $7–$17 CAD

• 
  Fume extractor

  Nice to have

  A small fan with a carbon filter that pulls solder fumes away from your face. A well-ventilated room helps too.

  Typical price: $40–$150 USD · $56–$210 CAD

• 
  Flux cleaner

  Nice to have

  Once the soldering is done, you'll want to wash the flux residue off the finished piece. Windex followed by 90% isopropyl alcohol works too.

  Typical price: $8–$18 USD · $11–$25 CAD

Protecting your project: and yourself. A few of these are optional, but the safety items are not.

• 
  Safety glasses

  Essential

  Wear them for cutting, grinding, and soldering. Glass shards and hot solder splatter are the two things you don't want anywhere near your eyes.

  Typical price: $8–$20 USD · $11–$28 CAD

• 
  Dust / fume mask

  Essential

  Protects you from glass dust while grinding and from lead and flux fumes while soldering.

  Typical price: $10–$35 USD · $14–$49 CAD

• 
  Patina

  Nice to have

  A chemical wash that turns silvery solder lines black or copper. Optional, but changes the whole mood of a finished piece.

  Typical price: $10–$20 USD · $14–$28 CAD

• 
  Applicator brush

  Nice to have

  A small stiff brush kept just for patina and finishing compound. Label it so it never wanders back into your paint supplies.

  Typical price: $2–$8 USD · $3–$11 CAD

• 
  Glass wax or finishing compound

  Nice to have

  A final polish that leaves the glass shining and helps seal the solder lines against tarnish.

  Typical price: $10–$20 USD · $14–$28 CAD

• 
  Jump rings or tinned wire

  Nice to have

  For adding a hanging loop so your finished suncatcher can go in a window.

  Typical price: $5–$15 USD · $7–$21 CAD

• 
  Lead-off wipes or soap

  Nice to have

  Wipes and specialty soap that lift lead residue off your hands after a soldering session: a good habit to build.

  Typical price: $10–$20 USD · $14–$28 CAD