Getting Started with Stained Glass: A Beginner’s Guide to Tools, Supplies, and Techniques

You’ve seen stained glass at art fairs and craft boutiques, in churches, synagogues, and maybe even in someone’s home, and perhaps you’ve thought – hey, I’d like to try that! Well, if that piqued your interest, and you’ve found yourself here at my blog, you’re in good hands. Because in this post, I am going to lay it all out for you – the different techniques involved with stained glass, what you need to get started, and things to consider as you embark on your stained-glass journey.

First, let’s talk about technique. There are two methods of working in stained glass: lead came and copper foil. Lead came is the “traditional” method of working in stained glass and is the one most often used for large installations because of its overall strength and integrity. Once sealed with putty, lead came panels are essentially waterproof, which is why this method is used in so many different applications, both interior and exterior, free-standing and glazed. 

The second technique, and perhaps the most popular among hobbyists, is the copper foil technique. It was introduced in the early 20th century by Louis Comfort Tiffany design studios of New York and was used in architectural installations, decorative arts, and lampshades.  The copper foil technique involves wrapping each individual piece of glass with a thin strip of copper foil, which is held in place with adhesive, and then once assembled, is soldered together by melting solder between the pieces of foiled glass. Most students of stained glass start with the copper foil technique because it lends itself so well to smaller pieces, and can achieve a level of detail that is more difficult in lead came. 

Regardless of which technique you decide to start with, there are a few things you will need right from the start: a pattern, tools, glass, foil or lead, solder, and the chemicals used in stained glass – flux and patina. I will talk about each one in depth.

First the pattern. Back in the day, we designed our own patterns, or purchased pattern books that we would enlarge, copy using graphite paper, and then cut out using pattern shears. Today, in addition to finding designs in pattern books, one can purchase digital patterns off of Etsy or Shopify, commission a stained-glass artist to create one, or draw it yourself using an iPad and a program called Procreate. I use Procreate for my initial designs, which I then export as a PNG file and enlarge using a browser-based program called Rapid Resizer. I’ll post instructions on how to do that in another blog post. 

Additionally, I now use a fancy machine called a Cricut to cut out my patterns using a removable adhesive backed vinyl, which I then stick down to the glass I’m cutting. This is NOT recommended for a beginner, however, and I really recommend learning how to cut out your patterns with pattern shears. Pattern shears come in two widths – one for foil and one for lead – and have a double blade on the bottom shear. When they are used to cut the pattern, a strip of paper wide enough to accommodate the thickness of the lead (.65mm) or the foil (.35mm) is removed. The pattern pieces can then be glued down to your glass (I use just a basic craft glue with a sponge applicator), or traced around with a permanent marker onto the glass. I recommend this method in the beginning because you will get a feel for the space needed between each piece of glass to maintain the dimensions of the design, but also doesn’t require a piece of equipment that costs hundreds of dollars to purchase and a monthly subscription fee to maintain.

Next, of course, you will need glass. When people tell you that stained glass is an expensive hobby, and without a doubt, it is, what they mainly are referring to is the cost of the glass you will use. Art glass is expensive, and runs about $20 and up per square foot. There are many different types of art glass, and many different manufacturers, so going into too much detail here probably isn’t a good use of digital real estate. I will cover the different types of art glass in another post. But because the beauty of glass is what makes this medium so unique and magical, it’s also why it can become tempting to overspend on your supply. 

Now, let’s talk tools. The tools you will need, at the basic level, are:

• a good glass cutter;

• running pliers;

• grozing pliers;

• side cutter or lead dyke (if you’re doing lead);

• a soldering iron;

• and a grinder.

I know a lot of people will tell you that you don’t need a grinder, but without it, you will tear up your fingers trying to work with the glass, the foil won’t stick, your pieces won’t fit, and you’ll just become frustrated and give up. There are affordable grinders in the $100 to $200 range, and often you can get a deal by buying one second hand. All of my grinders were purchased that way. Save yourself the trouble and invest in a grinder. 

What should you spend on tools? I always tell my beginning students to buy the best tools they can afford. There are differing quality in each line of tools, but the basic brands, like Studio Pro, are fine to get started. Over time, you can upgrade your tools. Just be aware that more expensive isn’t always better. I recently purchased a $100 pair of running pliers and they were no better than the pliers I’ve been using for decades.

And then, here’s my take on soldering irons. I had my trusty Weller 100 for over 20 years and it just kept chugging along. But if I wanted a cooler iron, I had to change tips, or use a rheostat (which Weller does not recommend), so at times I wished for something simpler. And then along came the Hakko 601 iron with the built in temperature control and when I finally took the plunge and switched, I couldn’t believe how much easier, and better, soldering became for me.
Pro tip: Buy your iron from a reputable stained glass dealer, or from Hakko, NOT from Amazon. There are a lot of fakes out there. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. I learned this the hard way. 

Then there are the consumables:

• foil

• solder

• lead came

• flux

• patina

• cutting oil

• polishing compound

• brushes

• sponges

The list can be long, and every stained glass teacher will give you a different list. For my students, this is the basic list and all you really need – anything more than that, you are wasting your money.

All in all, be prepared to spend about $500 to get started. There are quite a few basic kits out there, like this one from Michaels, or this one from Delphi Glass and Supply, that will give you everything you need. And keep an eye out for hobbyists selling their equipment … I bought out a former stained glass artist who sold her entire studio to me for $600. I got lucky with that price, but there are still great deals out there to be had.

Of course, you will need a space that you can set up permanently, that’s away from children and/or pets, with good ventilation. I say permanently because if you have to haul out your tools every time you want to work, you’ll be less likely to get to work. For years, I used a corner of my utility room in my basement that had a small window above, and a door, to set up my bench. These days, I’ve repurposed one of my bedrooms, now that my kids are out of the house. You won’t realistically need a lot of room until you start working on larger pieces (4 square feet and up) and selling commissioned work; until then, a small space is just fine.

You also will need a bench of some kind. I have industrial tables on wheels that I bought years ago at a thrift store that I just lay a sheet of particle board over. You might be able to find a used workbench, or build one yourself. I like the Strong Ties workbench plans. Again, it doesn’t have to be large … just enough room to work on a two foot by three foot piece for starters. You’ll also need some storage for tools, glass, chemicals and other assorted supplies. I found a pair of IKEA bookcases on Facebook Marketplace for $50 and I can store everything in them. 

So, there you have it! That’s just about everything you will need to get started in stained glass. As time goes on, you can add to your tools, storage, workspace, and of course glass collection as your skills and knowledge increase. If you have questions about any of this, head on over to my contact page and drop a comment or send a picture of YOUR stained glass set-up. I’d love to see how your stained glass journey begins.