Stained Glass

[Sierrajack]

I'm starting a new hobby to fill in between the other hobbies. Where's the best place to get stained glass supplies, kits, cheap prices, good service, etc? I know what I want in the way of tools however, individually they may be more money than a kit. Any help would be appreciated.
Hey, maybe stained glass for TDs!!!!!

[Classic Finn]

Way to go SierraJack.. But stained glass for TD...Hmm isnt that glass real sensitive as far as breaking while the tear is hopping down the highways and byways?

Not a bad idea though...

I found this place...

http://www.vineryglass.com/aboutus.php

Classic Finn

Ps I know where to get the tools and materials here but it wont help much since your way "yonder"..

[Podunkfla]

Sierrajack... Stained glass is a great hobby; I've been doing it for about 35 years. Buying glass and supplies is not a problem, there are tons of suppliers and shops that cater to the glass hobbiest... Prolly some near you? As for buying wholesale, the three main suppliers are quite picky about setting up new dealers and generally require a bricks & mortar store, tax number, plus a $1000. first order. The best way to get good deals is to make friends with a local artglass hobby shop, maybe take some classes... then they may take you to the wholesaler on a buying trip and you can go nuts picking out your own glass.

I get most of my glass and supplies from AGH:
http://www.artglasshouse.com/about.cfm
And Ed Hoy's International:
http://www.edhoy.com/

As for stained glass being fragile... It isn't really if it's done right. Plus, you can mount it behind some clear glass or Lexan to protect it.

Dean is also an accomplished glass artist... maybe he can shed some more light on the subject?

Good luck with your new hobby!

[Mary K]

Good for you Jack!! I was learning SG right before I found out about TD's. Its on hold now, until I get the TD done at least. I would also like to incorporate SG in my TD...(er...lazy huh?). I saw a post about a TD for sale on ebay and it had some small round port hole windows done with SG. It was nice.

I purchased a kit to get started. I also bought a lot of glass from a local shop that was going out of business. I do have another shop right up the street from me that has a good supply of glass, but not cheep. Oh, I have a grinder and band saw.... got to have a grinder, the band saw is useful too.

Good luck, have fun and always, always, wear safety glasses!

Mk

[TLC]

Oh man, talk about timing, I just gave away my light box, iron, and all the hand tools for stained glass. Had I known, I would have brought the stuff to the ITG and given them to you. The only thing I kept is the diamond wheel just in case I get back into it.
Sorry Tom

[Sierrajack]

Geez Tom, go back to the guy you gave everything to and tell him you changed your mind.......
Looks like I hit the jackpot here, thought maybe I was going to ask a real stooopid question with this one. Glad to know I'm not the only one interested in the hobby. Art or stained glass suppliers are practically non-existant here and in Eau Claire and I think they maybe the artsy types and charge the high prices.
I think stained glass would look waaaay cool in a TD. What's your opinion on the Wizling CG grinder or should I get one with a dual spindle?
I'm also going to add the Morton Sytem. Hey, thanks everyone, I appreciate the input greatly.

[Podunkfla]

Geez Tom, go back to the guy you gave everything to and tell him you changed your mind.......
Looks like I hit the jackpot here, thought maybe I was going to ask a real stooopid question with this one. Glad to know I'm not the only one interested in the hobby. Art or stained glass suppliers are practically non-existant here and in Eau Claire and I think they maybe the artsy types and charge the high prices.
I think stained glass would look waaaay cool in a TD. What's your opinion on the Wizling CG grinder or should I get one with a dual spindle?
I'm also going to add the Morton Sytem. Hey, thanks everyone, I appreciate the input greatly.

Sierrajack... Seems like this lady might be a good person in your area to meet and make friends with? I bet she could answer most of your questions about local suppliers and such... who knows where it could lead.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/NewsLinks ... 051606.asp

As for "dual spindle" & "Morton System" ...In my experience the simplest grinder is just fine and the Morton System is unnecessary. There are lots of gadgets and gimicks for sale that you just don't need out there. If you can, visit a pro glass shop and see what they use. You may be surprised how most of them use a hunk of plywood and some simple nails to make even large windows with.

[Sierrajack]

Thanks Brick - huh, nudes in stained glass??? Guess I'll have to explore that avenue a leeeetle further.
The Banbury Place mentioned in that article is an old Firestone Tire plant where my father-in-law used to work most of his life. The old brick building is and was too big and too usefull to tear down so little stores and apartments are in ther now.
Good info, thanks again.

[Podunkfla]

Thanks Brick - huh, nudes in stained glass??? Guess I'll have to explore that avenue a leeeetle further.
The Banbury Place mentioned in that article is an old Firestone Tire plant where my father-in-law used to work most of his life. The old brick building is and was too big and too usefull to tear down so little stores and apartments are in ther now.
Good info, thanks again.

Here's an interesting link to a window My best friend in the business, Baylus Brooks, did a couple years ago... A $25,000. window! I helped him install that 16' monster and 6 smaller windows. Sadly, he had a stroke last year and could no longer do his glass work. He is a brillianty talented artist... last I saw him he was working at Sears selling tools. http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=78817

Wow... It looks like he may be back in the saddle again! Cool beans... I just found this link to his new website: http://delabrooke.com/bsg.html

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Gary,
Don't waste money on a kit and don't jump at all the fancy gadgets.

The copper foil method is a good way to start... you can get more intricate lead line with it than you can with came. So you'll need a good soldering iron and some 50/50 solder... Flows real good on copper foil. (Use 60/40 for the cames)
Get a good quality glass cutter and a diamond grinder. (Like a mini shaper)
I wouldn't go for a diamond band saw or diamond ring saw at this point.
I've been doing art glass since 1976 and I just now bought a ring saw, just to save some time on the last job I did.
(I made three cuts with it on that 8' diameter panel of the earth)

Where your situated, Ed Hoys would be a good place to order from.
Have you ever cut glass???
If not, go to a local glass shop and ask for some scraps of single and double strength float and practice on that first.
Float glass is real easy to cut, compared to some brands of stained glass.
Spectrum is an easy brand to start out with.
The main rule about making a score with a glass cutter is to only make one score, never go back over a score. Listen to the cutter when scoring. If you get a skip, go back and bridge the gap. It's too bad I couldn't tudor you for a day or so on cutting glass. There's a multitude of ways to break or run out a score.
Have fun and don't hesitate to ask questions if you run into troubles.
Oh yaa... On the glass cutter...
A Toyo oil cutter with a pattern head would be a good choice.
Might wanna get a pair of grozing pliers too, perhaps a pair of drop jaw glass pliers as well.

[Podunkfla]

Yep... Dean is right on the beginning tools. You don't need all that much to start with. I have been using the basic brass handled Toyo cutter for many years... I still like it the best, and I've tried 'em all:

[Sierrajack]

Thanks Dean and Brick, you saved me some bucks. I think simpler is better after all, I built a TD with VERY simple tools and kept the scheme simple. I will take your advice.

Do you have to have store front or can anyone order from Ed Hoy's?
www.yglass.com has a "kit" with the basics for $179.99 which may save money over buying individual tools and supplies - ???
I was going to do the copper foil method rather than using came. I also got a good instructional book called "Basic Stained Glass Making" by Stackpole Books - so easy a caveman can do it. Yes, Dean I have cut glass before and learned to feel and listen and hopefully that stuck in my little brain.

[Podunkfla]

Thanks Dean and Brick, you saved me some bucks. I think simpler is better after all, I built a TD with VERY simple tools and kept the scheme simple. I will take your advice.

Do you have to have store front or can anyone order from Ed Hoy's?
www.yglass.com has a "kit" with the basics for $179.99 which may save money over buying individual tools and supplies - ???
I was going to do the copper foil method rather than using came. I also got a good instructional book called "Basic Stained Glass Making" by Stackpole Books - so easy a caveman can do it. Yes, Dean I have cut glass before and learned to feel and listen and hopefully that stuck in my little brain.

Jack... I doubt you save much if anything buying a kit at retail. A simple $50. grinder will do fine... Look on ebay for a used one even? Also, shops that give classes usually sell slightly used tools cheap to students. I made my first glass grinder and used it for years... All I paid money for was the 3/4" diamond cutter. Here some I use: http://www.yglass.com/11976.html
they are not expensive. I even use a small diamond head in a rechargable Dremel for a lot of minor cleaning up of cuts like the sharp edge left on most inside arcs. Buy what you need... as you need it. You'll soon learn what works and what doesn't. I still don't have a ring saw... and don't need one?

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Brick,
That's some nice kiln fired painting your friend did.
I'd do art glass full time if I could get comissions like that on a regular basis...

[Podunkfla]

Brick,
That's some nice kiln fired painting your friend did.
I'd do art glass full time if I could get comissions like that on a regular basis...

Dean... So would he! He is talented enough to do some wonderful work and has yet to do his best, I'm sure. Since he has moved up to Raleigh NC, a much bigger market; maybe he will be able to get enough clients with the money to pay for his type of work. It sure was hard in the backwoods here... This is poor working class Florida. And yet he did well here at times. He's a great guy and I'm gonna miss him being here.

As for me... I like it being mostly a hobby. I do some repair work for banks and churches occasionally; but I really don't want to work that hard to do it full time. I have done a few nice residential jobs. I am spoiled I guess by the contracting I get to do. Or, maybe just getting old and lazy?

I got into it about 1975 when we bought a big old Victorian that had about 50 windows with leaded glass in the upper sashes and some nice glass in the entry door & sidelights... that all needed reworking and new came. When I priced getting it done I quickly figured I had to learn how to do it myself! That led to a lot of restoration work on other houses in the historic district... It was a fun time indeed.