We are in the process of updating our pricing on tools and supplies. Please call 414-423-6910 for actual current pricing.

Tools

If you wish to place an order please call or email us.

• See also Metals and chemicals

The Morton System

The Morton System is a safer way to cut glass. Because the cells trap the chips, you can work with glass anywhere without the mess. Nobody can cut glass in my workshop without a work surface under the glass. It cuts down on injuries as well as unwanted scratches on good pieces of glass when they are laid on the worktable. The work surface is the base for products that can be attached to it to simplify other stained glass tasks.

• Morton Mini Work Surface (14-1/4" x 22-1/2") $15.95
• The Maxi Work Surface (22-1/2" X 31-3/4") $26.95

Pliers

Running Pliers

Coated handles & jaws. 8" length, 1" wide jaw. $9.10

A must for all beginners. Replacement rubber jaws available. (Manufacturer – Leponitt)

Grozing Pliers

Curved jaw, spring loaded. 6" length, 3/8" serrated jaw. Coated handles. $7.50

For controlled nibbling on an uneven scored line, or as breaking pliers for parting thin scrap from score line. (Manufacturer – Leponitt)

Glass Cutters

Pistol Grip Glass Cutter

$32.50

Special handle provides greater leverage with less effort for hours of cutting with a minimum of hand fatigue. Lightweight acrylic handle features a visible oil reserve. Small wheel. (Manufacturer – Toyo)

Pencil Grip Glass Cutter

$24.50

Lightweight design. Tapered and molded barrel fits all hand sizes and can be gripped in a traditional manner or like a pencil. Small wheel. (Manufacturer – Toyo)

Mosaic Cutter

$19.00

Cut the tiniest pieces with amazing simplicity. One hand holds the glass and the other “cuts” with scissor-like pressure. This tool can cut a varying thickness of glass from 1/32" to 1/4" with ease. Made with a long life carbide wheel jaw. Foam grip handles. (replacement wheels available)

Pattern Shears

Lead Pattern Shears

$19.50

Automatically allows for lead when cutting your pattern. This allows a perfect fit without extra grinding. You can find pattern shears for less, but I have found the type we carry (Fan-Out) to be the only ones I can recommend with a clear conscience.

Foil Pattern Shears

$18.50

Automatically allows for foil when cutting your pattern. This allows a perfect fit without extra grinding. (Manufacturer – Fan Out) (see Lead Pattern Shears)

Mosaic Pattern Shears

$13.00

Leaves a nice wide space (1/8") when cutting a pattern for mosaics or garden stones. Why are they less than the foil and lead shears? I honestly don’t know, but I get charged less for this one, so I charge YOU less!

Miscellaneous

Lead Dyke

6" spring loaded. Coated handles. $7.75

Looks suspiciously like a wire cutter, but you won‘t get the same clean cut from a wire cutter. (You also want to be careful not to use your lead dyke to cut WIRE, as it will ruin the clean cut). (Manufacturer – Leponitt)

Plastic Fid

$1.40

The technical purpose of this tool is to open lead channel or flatten and smooth foil. I use mine for a lot of other things, including widening zinc or copper channel to fit a thicker piece of glass, cleaning out corners after cementing and opening paint cans (hmm).

Wire Brush

$1.15

Brass wire brush – a good tool for cleaning lead came and old solder joints.

Foiling Stick

$1.15

All-purpose durable plastic stick for burnishing copper foil to glass.

Flux brush

Metal handle; nylon bristles; 6" long. $.10

Perfect for applying flux.

Temperature Control Soldering Iron

100-watt with temperature control $46.75

This tool and the pistol grip glass cutter are the two I can’t recommend enough. This is a 100-watt iron with a temperature control built into the handle, manufactured by Inland. That means that with a twist of your fingers, you can control the temperature of the iron so that you can work on foil (hot), lead (cooler), or decorative soldering (cooler still). Heats to 1200 degrees F; Comes with a 3/8" tip (1/8", 3/16" and 1/4" tips also available), which is easy to remove. One year warranty. I’ve tried all the other irons, none of which have built-in temperature controls, and this one is definitely my favorite!

Soldering Iron Stand

Heavy metal stand with steel coil rest $9.95

The one thing missing from my love affair with Temperature Control Soldering Iron (although that soldering iron does come with a small metal thing to rest your iron on). This is a heavy metal stand equipped with a steel coil to safely hold hot irons. Comes with a sponge tray and sponge to keep your tip clean (very important). Fits most irons.

Horseshoe Nails

$5.75 per 50

A must for lead came work. Holds glass and lead in place while you’re building your piece.

Hammer

9-1/2" L x 3-1/2" W. $7.70

Tap in nails using hard plastic (yellow) end and tap glass in place using the rubber (black) end. A must for lead work.

Grinder

1/25 HP, 3450 RPM, 15 oz./inch of torque. Total size 11" x 10" x 5-1/2". Weight: 7 lbs. $79.95

There are lots of grinders out there, all of them good. When asked my opinion, I prefer to sell the Inland Wizling CG. It’s on the low end price-wise, and it provides most of what any beginner or moderate stained glass artist needs. It has a large work surface (9" x 10") and an easy-clean reservoir. It comes with a ¾" bit (which I counsel students to upgrade to a Glastar bit when the original bit needs to be replaced) and sponges. Five-year warranty.

Grinder Shield

$37.50

The shields we sell are actually 4 pieces of 3/16" clear, tempered safety glass – 2 pieces 12" x 12" (sides of shield) and 2 pieces of 12" x 16" (top and back). Eight clear lexan connectors hold the shield together. I’ve never seen these shields sold in any of my stained glass catalogs, but was lucky enough to have an instructor years ago that told me about them. Now, I buy the supplies from a store fixture company and rarely sell a grinder to a student without the shield (they see how well it prevents glass from flying around the room and up into their faces). If you have a grinder, you’ll really want one of these shields.