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As we all know, any stained glass artist has a number of tools at his or her disposal. A stack of unused glass over here, patina over there, grozing pliers, different cutting tools, and a bunch more that are just sitting there. As we accumulate tools throughout the years it makes our workshops look like a big mess. There are some tools though, that no how many other gadgets we have, we will never be able to do without and not a day goes by that we don't use them. The perfect example of that, for most artists, is the stained glass grinder. A stained glass grinder smooths out edges that are rough after you've made the inital cut. It's likely the first major purchase of any glass artists career and its definitely one that you want to clutter up your workspace. We'll run through some of the more popular models and what is appropriate for the beginner level.

At the beginner level, you really just want something that's going to get you started. There are a lot of grinders that are inexpensive to purchase, but not all of them are all that easy to use and can get the job done effectively. I'll break the options up between the three biggest companies that sell stained glass grinders. We'll discuss Gryphon first. On the beginner side, Gryphon has a very popular beginners grinder called the Gryphon Studio Grinder. This is a nice one and a very popular one for people just getting started, a lot of beginners actually come into my studio and know this one by name so they feel comfortable with it. The Studio Grinder is nice because the motor is powerful, it has a tower that acts as a cooling tower, and a couple of work surfaces depending on your project size. 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 one of the more popular entry-level grinders on the market and with good reason. It has some strong feeatures that make it appealing to most new artists. It's a good possibility that anyone that has take a stained glass class has used this grinder in the classroom setting. 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. This model is good for large pieces of glass because it has a relatively large work area which is unusual for such an inexpensive grinder. And not only can it grind glass, it can also grinder plastic, ceramic, and stone so its perfect for crossing over into other crafts. 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. This product has a few neat add-ons that are unique to the product. 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. This is a product that has a lot of power for an entry-level machine. It just keeps going and the power doesn't slow down. There is nothing worse than losing power on your grinder when you're in the middle of the project. 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 is great for a artist that is just getting started and doesn't want to jump right in and spend a boatload of money on a piece of equipment when they have only worked on a couple projects.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when you are shopping for a new grinder, but there are also many options out there that can work well for you as a beginning artist. 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. When it comes down to it, the extra fancy dancy things might be nice, but as long as the grinder achieves it's primary purpose then you will be ok.