Stained glass making can be a pretty expensive hobby to take up. From the get-go, you’ll need to equip yourself with all the necessary different supplies and tools. As a beginner, it can be overwhelming and confusing to decide what you need—let alone the best brands and models to select. But luck is at hand in the form of stained glass starter kits!
Perhaps you’re starting out, learning about stained glass art, or buying a gift for someone else to get started on their creative journey. Either way, purchasing a high-quality stained glass kit will help take the stress out of knowing what you need to buy. However! As stained glass making is a popular craft, there are many starter kits out there to choose from (and of varying quality). But don’t worry; in this article, we’ll guide you towards which kit is right for you. We consider your skill level and budget to help you select the perfect stained glass-making kit.
Beginners’ stained glass starter kits are excellent jumping boards for wannabe crafters. In this article, we go into a bit of detail, giving the lowdown on what you need to consider when coming to pick your kit. It’s the perfect guide to steer you in the right direction. To conclude, we give a super handy recap on all the points we’ve covered in the article so you can ensure you make the right choice. Let’s get to it!
Delphi Glass Ultimate Stained Glass Start-Up
- All of the tools and supplies you need to set up your own home studio
- A Delphi Exclusive
Stained Glass Starter Kits—A Buyer’s Guide
The costs of these stained glass starter kits vary wildly, so you should be able to find one to suit your specific budget and needs. As you can imagine, as the price of these kits increases, so does the amount of tools and supplies that come with them. If you know what you’ll be most likely to use, it’ll help sort through the mind-boggling choices available on the market.
To make things a bit clearer for you, here we’ll examine what you should be considering to include in your ideal starter kit.
1. Consumables
You’ll find that all stained glass kits will include consumables. These are what you use to make an item, such as flux, flux remover, copper foil, glass polish, lubricant, and solder, and are absolutely essential for the process of stained glass making. Consumables are relatively low-priced, so don’t stress too much if a kit doesn’t have a specific item; you can always buy it separately. That being said, any decent starter kit will have at the very least foil, flux, and solder. If not, it’s probably a good idea to look elsewhere.
2. Hand Tools
These are pieces of manually-operated tools such as soldering irons, glass cutters, breaker and running pliers, fids and burnishers, flux brushes, and rulers. Not all hand tools are essential for beginners. However, some will definitely make your stained glass making a lot easier. A good rule of thumb is to go for a kit with at least a manual or wheel glass cutter, a soldering iron, running pliers, and breaker pliers.
Certainly, pricier means better quality when it comes to hand tools (in particular with soldering irons). If you’re serious about your new hobby and want equipment that’ll last, it may be worth splurging a little more on these items.
3. Power Tools
Low-cost beginner kits are less likely to include power tools, as these are more expensive pieces of equipment, such as wet saws, grinders, and even kilns. It’s not essential to have these tools when you’re starting out on your stained glass-making journey, but they may make specific tasks easier and more enjoyable.
However, consider getting a kit with at least some of these items if your budget allows. You’ll be more likely to pursue this hobby if you find your initial projects more straightforward and less frustrating or time-consuming, and that’ll be the case if you have some power tools at your disposal.
4. Glass Packs
Yep, you guessed it; you’re going to need glass for your stained glass making! Glass sheets come in various sizes, colors, and textures, and which ones you use will depend on your particular project. You’ll find that one of the most expensive aspects of your new hobby will be the glass.
Not all starter kits come with assorted, pre-cut glass packs included. But that needn’t be a problem. In fact, you may find that selecting and cutting your own glass (especially as you become a bit more experienced) is far more satisfying. So, rather than focusing on whether or not a kit has a glass pack, source a reliable glass supplier instead.
5. Instructional Materials
Chances are, you’ll be starting off fresh and will need professional input regarding your new chosen hobby. If classes or one-on-one tutoring are out of the question, the next best thing is instructional DVDs and books. But if your chosen starter kit doesn’t include any of these, don’t stress. There are a lot of informative, helpful, step-by-step tutorials and guides online on sites such as YouTube.
6. Protective Equipment
You need to be careful when working with glass. And if you throw power tools into the mix, you’re looking at a potentially dangerous activity. Because of this, it’s essential that you equip yourself with items that’ll keep you safe and out of harm’s way. Equipment such as good-quality protective eyewear and gloves will help avoid any mishaps when small glass fragments start flying around your workspace.
7. Price
Perhaps the most deciding factor of all—a kit’s price tag. The price of decent beginner kits can range from as little as $150 to an eye-watering $1500. As we’ve outlined above, not all items that come in these kits are vital for beginners. Depending on your personal skill level and needs, you can pick and choose what’s best for you—at the best price.
The Takeaway
As we’ve outlined in this article, there are several factors you need to bear in mind when picking the ideal stained glass starter kit for your budget and needs. Not all kits are created equal in terms of quality, what’s included, and what’s superfluous to your requirements as a newbie. As well as taking into consideration our tips and info, it might be worth asking at your local arts and crafts store for their advice. All in all, it’s a question of personal choice. Take some time to go through all the available options in your price range, and you’re sure to strike it right.
But one more thing before we go; we’ve rounded up some of our top picks. One kit that ticks all the right boxes (in our humble opinion) is Delphi Glass’s Deluxe Stained Glass Tool Kit. At around $250, it contains most of the essential supplies you need to embark on your stained glass projects. Just bear in mind that it doesn’t come with a glass pack, so you’ll need to buy one separately.
For crafters who’re looking for a starter kit with power tools, Delphi Glass’s Start-Up Kit is a sure-fire winner. With all the same components as the Deluxe Kit, it also includes a glass pack, a good-quality entry-level grinder, plus some instructional materials. Naturally, these additional items bump up the price; you’ll be looking to pay around $340 for this kit.
If you’re serious about your new hobby or looking to buy a premium gift for someone else, you’ll need the most comprehensive kit available. Again, Delphi Glass delivers with their Ultimate Stained Glass Start-Up Kit. You’ll want for nothing with this kit and find that it makes stained glass-making a truly fun and more manageable activity.
A special shout-out goes to Delphi Glass’s Deluxe Stained Glass Start-Up Kit. This kit stands out in terms of its fantastic array of instructional material and includes excellent patterns and books. It comes with all the necessary tools, accessories, and supplies to get you fully prepared for some stained glass-making fun.
We hope this article will make the task of picking a suitable stained glass starter kit more manageable for you. We wish you (or the lucky recipient of the kit) hours of enjoyable stained glass-making!
Last Update: 2024-04-17 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
