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There are so many thousands of glass tools, that all the different choices can boggle your mind. For a lot of beginners, they will look at stained glass grinders as their first big purchase. There are many different factors to explore when choosing a 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. So, question one. What is the purpose of a grinder? Well, its a tool that shapes the glass after its been rough cut. Grinders use a diamond coated bit to grind off the extra glass in preparation for the glass edge to accept the copper foil. Typically, you will have two grinding bits with each stained glass grinder.
A great choice for anyone who wants to get started with a grinder is the Inland Wizling CG. A huge plus for this model is that, not only is the pricetag great, it also gives you a lot of power. This is really ideal for a beginner. Probably also someone who only plans on doing maybe two or three projects per year and not much more. Since grinders have good resale value, its a perfect pick to get started and then maybe sell when you want to move onto something for larger jobs.
For a person taking it to the next level, you will probably need something a little more powerful and with some more featuresThere are many good. The good news is that the prices only increase slightly when you move up to the next caliber of grinders. Typically, you can step up to the next stage by spending only thity bucks more. I recommend the Glastar G8 Allstar Grinder. It is a great graduation for those who are getting a little more serious with their glass work. In some circles, these grinders would be entering pro level. All of these grinders can holdup to daily use so they are definitely built to last
A professional model is only for the most dedicated artists. Unless you are doing some serious work with each and everyday, then this will not be necessary for you. The Glastar G9 Disc Grinder is the tool for you. It has the capabilities for creating boxes, lampshades, and panels. It's just the best tool on the market for creating a straight edge when you need it. Like I said though, at how expensive this sells for, only the most serious artists should consider and invest in it.
Hopefully this gave you some tips on where, how, and what you should look for when you purchase your stained glass grinder. I know its not an easy task with the many stained glass supply products on the market to know which ones you need to buy and which one would be nice. I will say, though, that a good 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 Bullseye 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!