Walk into any glass artists workshop and you are bound to see a myriad of different supplies and tools that he or she has collected over the years. Some they use, some they don't. A stack of unused glass over here, patina over there, grozing pliers, different cutting tools, and a bunch more that are just sitting there. This much stuff can grow over the years and turn our workshop into a big storage closet. But, there are always our most important tools that we use on a regular basis. And for most people, that most important tool are our stained glass grinders . A stained glass grinder smooths out edges that are rough after you've made the inital cut. If there was a tool that was worth the extra clutter, this one is it. We'll discuss some of the things you want to look for as well as look at some of the more popular companies that sell grinders. This will give you an excellent idea of the amount of options there are out there.

At the beginner level, you really just want something that's going to get you started. For most beginners, the there are a few options that can work pretty well for you. There are primarily three big players that manufacture grinders and we'll walk through each one. We'll start with Gryphon first. On the beginner side, Gryphon has a very popular beginners grinder called the Gryphon Studio Grinder. The studio grinder is one of the most popular options for people just starting with grinders. It has a powerful motor, a nice little cooling tower, and two work surfaces. It also has a low pricepoint so its easy for someone to get started for a relatively inexpensive price. Another popular option is the Gryphon Gryphette Diamond Grinder . This is similar to the Studio Grinder in the fact that it is often highly recommended by various class teachers as a great option for getting started. It has some strong feeatures that make it appealing to most new artists. And another interesting note, this is one of the most popular options for glass teachers to use within the classroom. It has a strong motor for one of its size and its smaller so you can store it very easily about anywhere or tote it around to anywhere you need to go. It also has a surprisingly strong motor for something so small. The real pluses of this model is that it is so easy to use.

Another market leader in the industry is Inland. They produce a number of stained glass products and have a fantastic reputation in the industry. One of their popular entry level grinders is the Inland Aero Grinder. The nice thing about this grinder is that it has a fairly large work surface so its easier to work with large pieces of glass. It is also something that can be used for other crafts because it can grinder plastic, ceramic, and stone. This is good because it has more appeal to others if you choose to sell it when you upgrade. The low price makes this model affordable to about everyone who wants to get started with a quality grinder. Inland takes their craft very seriously and has a slogan that they make what they would like to use themselves. Well, isn't that refeshing! A very popular product they produce is called the Inland Impulse Grinder. The nice thing about this grinder is that it has add-ons available that can literally triple the power of the thing. For one they have something called the TwinSpin Retrofit, which grinds straight edge glass and allows you to miter the edges. It also has some extra add-ons you can purchase, such as the the Beveler kit, which make this a good option for artists who want their grinder to grow with them

Glastar is another long-time company that has built up a strong reputation in the instustry. They have been around since 1978 and they have attained a respect in the market that comes from producing the very best. Glastar has such a great reputation that its the brand that most advanced artists and full-timers use as their primary grinder. Fortunately, they also produce some quality entry-level machines as well. One is called the Glastar G12 Superstar Grinder which is ideal for any hobbist or person just getting started in stained glass. The best thing about this is that it has a fantastic amount of power for such an inexpensive machine. It simply doesn't slow down once you've got the grinder going. Nobody likes to lose any steam when they are in the middle of a project so this is an important feature. Another great option from Glastar is called the Glastar G5 Diamond Star. This is your bare bones option for a grinder, but since its made by Glastar you can be confident of the quality. This option works best for a brand new student who is testing the waters in stained glass and doesn't want to invest much on equipment.

So many options, so little time! There are a lot of ways you can go with a new grinder, so take some time and find the best one for your needs and budget. If you're looking for a deal on these grinders, here are a few buying tips. You can look around online and compare prices using some of the more popular shopping search engines. That will allow you to compare side by side so you can ensure that you get the best possible price. Some of the advantages of going with someone you have dealt with before though is that they can offer you some advice about your purchase If your grinder has power and torque, then you will likely be just fine, so keep an eye out for those two things. The fancy features are nice, but when it comes down to it, its all about the basics so make sure your grinder has those, and you'll be fine.