There are so many hundreds of glass tools, that all the different choices can boggle your brain. For most people, they will look at stained glass grinders as their first big buy. There are many different factors to explore when choosing a grinder. Of course, your budget is always something that you need to think about, as well as your annual usage. 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. With most stained glass grinders, you'll get a couple of grinder bits to go along with it.

A great selection for anybody who wants to get begin 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. You probably do not want to choose this grinder if you do more than four projects per year. Since grinders have good resale value, its a perfect option to get going and then maybe sell when you want to move onto something more powerful.

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 great. Fortunately, you're not coming too much higher in price compared to the hobbyist models. Usually, its just $20-$30 more to elevate from the hobbyist models to the more advanced ones. I really like the Glastar G8 Allstar Grinder. It is a great graduation for those who are getting a little more serious with their stained glass. These grinders are actually probably considered professional grade as far as most people are concerned. 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 major work with each and everyday, then this will not be necessary for you. The Glastar G9 Disc Grinder is the thing for you. It can do lampshades, panels, and even boxes. If you need a straight edge, then rhere is no better tool than this one. One more time though, at the price that this retails at, don't buy this unless you are doing some major projects.

I'm hoping this gives you some guidance on which stained glass grinder is best for your needs and your budget. I know its not an easy task with the many stained glass supply products on the market to know which ones you need to purchase and which one would just be a luxury. 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!