Very much enjoy your videos. I apprenticed back in the 70's at a very old German studio in Ohio. The only glass cutter they used was a Fletcher with a carbide wheel. They always made patterns out of a thick paper for their windows and you would cut along the edge of the pattern. We did not use a grinder or pliers, and you either became good at cutting small irregular pieces or you did not work there. The irons were 200 watt American Beauty's with paragon tips. Believe me, you learn about controlling heat pretty quick using those monsters. Some of the glaziers would have a bucket of water to dip them in if they got too hot. If it was a leaded window, Olic acid was the flux, and for copper foil or zinc, Ruby fluid. Shortly after working there they started a retail store and stocked it with all the newer items available like, cutters, pliers, grinders, you name it. But for several of us who had been taught the old school ways, we kept using what we learned on. I'm a very good craftsman, but not an artist, so I never got into painting on glass. The studio had some older artist who did that, and they were very good. I ended up working in a different field for my career, but still make windows as a hobby. The cost of materials today is crazy, so having videos like these will hopefully keep some from buying things they may not need.
Awesome! Thanks so much for reaching out to me, glad you like my videos ! I also learned without using grinders, and we used simple Shaw glass cutters with disposable cutting wheels. 👍🏼🙂
I've tried a lot of cutters and the oil-filled Toyos always leak for me, sooner or later. You can get replacement o-rings but they don't seem to hold up either. So I just use mine without oil in the reservoir and keep an oil-soaked sponge or small pool of oil in a bottle cap next to where I'm working. Old school solution but it works fine. I couldn't get used to pistol grip cutters so all of mine are pen-type. I've never seen one with the little sticky-out bit halfway down but I'm definitely going to look into them because my hand strength isn't great. And I'm curious, where do you stand on the swivel-tip cutters, as opposed to the fixed-tip ones?
Thanks for your feedback. I also dip my cutter in a cotton bud with oil rather than fill the cutter body, because they always leak. The heads on my cutters all swivel a bit.
I have a cutter that has a hand made spindle handle that allows me to cut towards me and it has a toyo head and relieved the tension in my shoulders and back. No stress on my hands.
I did stained glass for 3 years before discovering gel flux. The way it sticks to zinc framing is a game changer. The liquid flux balls up and runs away on zinc. Good tips, thanks
Thanks Derek! Two of my necessary tips that no one seems to talk about are: 1) Paste flux for zinc and wire additions, 2) Rheostat to better control iron temp.
Textured glass, score on smooth side. Score once. Don't go over the score a 2nd, 3rd, 4th...etc time. Just get a buzzing sound when you score. Use light pressure to achieve a score. Buy the best quality tools you can afford. Cheap tools will only cause problems down the road. Pistol grip glass cutter excellent for those with limited hand strength. Ya live by the tap when you score glass, you'll die by the tap as well. Pay attention what he says about running pliers. I have used Weller soldering irons for 45 years. My oldest iron is probably 40 years old and will works great. Buy a good soldering iron and spend the money. Otherwise you will have quality issues in your soldering since the tips are lousy, they don't maintain heat consistently. Pay attention to what this man says. He offers very sound advice.
Thank you for these fantastic and informative videos. You’ve enticed me to jump into this form of art and what I need to buy to make learning this work for me with minimal frustration. Cheers from Texas!
I follow you and all those you recommended. You all have truly inspired me and improved my technique as a hobbyist. I just wish I had the time to make it a career. Thank you for your helpful and informative videos.
Hi 👋 first time viewer and now subscriber here! Somehow RU-vid brought me to Glass staining making channels 🤷♀️ But it has awakened the artist in me, and has reminded me about how I used to as a teen draw and carve on mirrors designs that I thought were pretty, for myself. This was back in the early 2000s, And it was just something that popped into my head cuz I love to draw. And I never really thought that it was something that anybody else would enjoy. But these channels have definitely inspired me to want to learn how to create stained glass art, especially art pieces that I haven't seen out there of fandom things that I love! I hope to binge watch your channel and learn everything I can learn as a beginner so I can create my designs and maybe one day share them with others!
@@Jesi-g Hey Jesi Great to see your comments. I made this channel for people just like you who are curious about stained glass and want to get creative with it! Welcome 🙏🙂
Ceramicist with ADHD here considering taking stained glass classes this fall (cause you know....I don't have enough to do keeping up with pottery production for shows lol..) and diving down the youtube rabbit hole until then. Ty for this great resource and the encouragement to get good tools if you're going to invest in it! I suspect this will be helpful when I dive in knowing me x D
Hey there! Thank you so much for your support. You'll find lots of tutorials and inspirational videos on stained glass on my channel to keep you even more busy! lol
Cool life hacks! You have a talent for this creative work! My like and subscribe to you! Keep making beauty! I wish you creative inspiration! Best regards Mr.Hi! :)
