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 pick up more tools and gadgets it can turn a once neat workshop into a huge nightmare of a mess. But, even though there are some tools that we bought and we know that we will never use that much, there are always the ones that we use on a daily basis. They are the standby tools and the ones that we couldn't live without. 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. 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 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. 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 model that's manufactured by Gyphon is the 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. This is a model that is very appealing to new artisans and its because there are so many cool features that you don't get elsewhere. If you've ever taken a class or instruction on stained glass, chances are you might have used this grinder while doing your projects. 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. The real pluses of this model is that it is so easy to use.

One of the other popular companies that manufactures grinders is Inland. They have been around for a long time and they have a great reputation with wholesalers, retailers, and artists for putting out products that are second to none. 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 has a slogan that says "what we'd like to own" so you can be sure that they take their craft very seriously and has earned that reputation in their field. 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 others, such as the Beveler Kit, which make it a good option for a grinder that's going to grow with you

Finally, Glastar is another quality company that produces grinders. The Glastar company has been around as a family business for close to 30 years and they have done it by producing some of the best grinders on the market. They are typically an advanced artists choice when it comes to higher-end grinders, but they do have many entry-level products on the market which can work for beginners. A popular one is called the Glastar G12 and its great for someone just getting into the hobby. 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 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.

If you spend anytime looking on websites or reading reviews you can drive yourself crazy, so stick with the primary companies and find something that meets your needs and your 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 Just remember, power and torque are the most important things so as long as you have that then you will be fine. 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.