Tools not intended for Glasswork

[eej713]

I'm trying to gather a list of tools that I will need to start my own studio space. As soon as I've sold my house, I'm moving, and that is when I can order the torch, etc. that I'll need (meaning I'll have the funds available). I know a lot of people get tools that are intended for other hobbies, or steel work and use them successfully in their studios. My thought is that I could gather up some of the less expensive tools over the next couple of months.

What tools do you use at your station, that are not neccessarily intended for the specific use of working with glass?

Where do you find them, shop, kitchen or garage?

Where can you buy tools that will hold up to the heat?

I'd be grateful for all recommendations.......Lynn

[Mr. Smiley]

Tweezers

graphite paddle

butter knife

these will allow you to do a lot!

Then there's a million other things you can ad, dpending on what you want to make. ;)

Here's a good place to start looking:

ABR Imagery (http://www.abrimagery.com)
Arrow Springs (http://www.arrowsprings.com)
Art in the Round (http://www.artintheround.com)
ArtCo Inc (http://www.artcoinc.com)
The Art of Beadmaking (http://www.artofbeadmaking.com)
Artemis Lampwork (http://www.artemislampwork.com/twisties.htm)
Artistry In Glass (http://www.artistryinglass.on.ca/)
Avenue Beads (http://www.avenuebeads.etsy.com)
The BeadPen Group (http://www.beadpens.com)
Blast Shield (http://www.theblastshield.com)
Blue Fire Beads (http://www.bluefirebeads.com/)
Bearfoot Art (http://www.bearfootart.com/pages/ToolStore.php)
Blue Moon Glassworks (http://www.austinbluemoon.com)
Brass Tools (http://web.mac.com/yiotta55/sljewelr...n/WELCOME.html)
Bridgetown Glass (http://www.bridgetownglass.com)
Brent Graber (http://www.brentgraber.com)
BuzzJoy Coffee (http://www.buzzjoycoffeeroasting.com)
Cathedral Stained Glass (http://www.cathedralstainedglass.com)
CattWalk Lampwork Tools (http://www.cattwalk.com)
Double Helix Glassworks (http://www.doublehelixglassworks.com)
Flame Dame (http://www.flamedame.com)
Flame Kissed Glass (http://www.flamekissedglass.com)
The Flow Magazine (http://www.theflowmagazine.com/)
Frantz Art Glass & Supply (http://www.frantzartglass.com)
Galactic Glass (http://www.galacticglass.net/)
The Gathering Place (http://www.thegatheringplacestudio.com)
GG Glass (http://www.ggglass.com)
Glass Craft (http://www.glasscraftinc.com)
Glass Diversions (http://www.glassdiversions.com)
Glass Firenze (http://www.glassfirenze.com/)
Glass Goodies (http://www.glassgoodies.com)
The Glass Hive (http://www.theglasshive.com)
Glass Smith (http://www.glasssmith.ca)
GTT (http://www.glasstorchtech.com/)
Heritage Art Glass (http://www.heritageglass.com)
Howaco Glass (http://www.howacoglasssupplycompany.com/)
ISGB (http://www.isgb.org)
Jamn Glass (http://JamnGlass.com/)
Jelveh Designs (http://www.jelvehdesigns.com)
Jim Moore Tools (http://www.toolsforglass.com)
Karen Thomas Design (http://www.karenthomas.us)
Lampwork Bead Displays (http://www.lampworkbeaddisplay.com)
Lampwork Beads Supplys (http://www.lbsupplys.net)
Lauscha Lady (http://www.lauschalady.com)
Leonardo Lampwork (http://www.LeonardoLampwork.com)
Lori Greenberg (http://www.lorigreenberg.com)
The Mandrel (http://www.shop.TheMandrel.com)
Marcy Lamberson (http://studiomarcy.etsy.com)
MGA Designs (http://mgadesigns.com/catalog.php?category=15)
Mike's Brass for Glass (http://www.mikesbrassforglass.com)
Moretti and More (http://www.morettiandmore.net)
Olympic Color Rods (http://www.glasscolor.com)
PappaShop.com (http://www.pappashop.com)
Phoenix Art Supplies (http://phoenixartsupplies.com)
Playing with Fire Glassworks (http://www.playingwithfireglassworks.com)
ProPay (http://www.propay.com/?refid=LMPWKETC)
Pyronamix (http://www.pyronamix.com)
Rebecca's Studio (http://www.rebeccas-studio.com)
Retro Glass Tools (http://www.retroglasstools.com)
Rocio Glass Studios (http://www.fineartbyrocio.com)
Trade Bears Studios (http://www.tradesbearsstudios.com)
Val Cox (http://www.valcoxfrit.com)
Val Lewis - Art Clay Silver (http://www.vallewis.net)
The Venerable Bead (http://www.thevenerable-bead.com)
Wale Apparatus (http://www.waleapparatus.com)
Winship Designs (http://www.winshipdesigns.com/)
Zoozii's (http://www.zooziis.com)

[Raven Wylder]

I found this great write up on Amazon awhile back... should give you ideas that most metal items work great as long as it's not directly in the flame.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R2QY0Z5B319HVO/002-1835977-5897627

[Kevan]

A butter knife. I have the worlds cheapest butter knife that is really thin. I use that tool most of all. Got it at Goodwill for .79.

[aimee]

Start being on the lookout for items that are stainless steel or brass. Once you start torching you'll never look at things the same way.

[pittypat]

There was a thread a few months ago about what we all use from the kitchen, etc...
I can't find it now, but maybe someone can direct you...pat

[eej713]

Looks like I'd better start visiting the Goodwill stores and yard sales for usable items.

Thanks for the lists of people selling tools, and supplies. I need to decide on a list of items that I absolutely need to have and start buying them up. The little stuff, I can afford right now, the oven, torch, glass assortment and vent have to wait until I get to my "retirement home".

I already have a little set of SS tart pans that I can use to roll the glass into frit. I have a couple of coffee mug warmers, if I should start to use the soft glass (I've used mostly Boro up to now....only had two sessions with the soupy, soft glass....gets away from you real fast).

My instructor told me that one of her students bought a mold (like the Doming block at Harbor Freight), without the punches, but it was in copper at Grizzly's (but I've forgotten what she told me they used it for). She has a number of marble molds with wood handles and I know that I want either one with multiple sizes, or several different ones. I also want the scissors that you can use to cut glass, an assortment of tweezers, graphite paddle or two.

Retirement starts Friday, and I'll be free to check out yard sales and thrift stores when I want to!

[menty666]

I found a double ended metal measuring scoop at starbucks that I use to roughly shape marbles. It's pointed at the bottom, so it's not perfect, but it helps if things are way off.

[Kevan]

I love going to the restaurant supply houses in Seattle. Everything's stainless steel.

[Debx2]

Congrats on the retirement! When I retire, I am gonna clean out the basement - really, I swear I'll get to it then.

Guess I need to finish the degree and get a job first.

[PittsGlass]

American Science Surplus

www.sciplus.com

Great site for tweezers, pliers, bead cleaning tools, even some sculpting tools.

VERY INEXPENSIVE

[Anzie]

Remember those crimping/straightening irons we all had a few years ago? Take the ends off and you have some pretty cool marvers. Take stainless measuring spoons, grind out mandrel grooves on either side of the bowl and there ya go, a home made lentil press.

[Shadymilkman23]

A good pair of sheers or scissors for cutting glass will definitely come in handy.

[chrisdd]

All sorts of medical and dental tools are handy.

[chrisdd]

And I cut the tines off a pair of fondue forks and use them to pull stringers.

[blueyez]

Go to Harbor Freight, if you have one close, and walk around. They have TONS of gidets that are great. I have a set of spatula things, Not sure what they are really called, but they are very useful when poking, dragging and shaping beads.

[lunamoonshadow]

And don't forget the local hardware store! I've found all sorts of goodies just poking around in the "$4.44 bin" (and other bargain bins :lol:) for toys...pokie tools, etc. You never know what you can "repurpose" to use for glass!
(heck, my "flame proof surface" is a cookie sheet! actually, I think that's what Nikki uses to separate some of her glass COE's maybe?....)

[Kalera]

A dental spatula, a paring knife, and tweezers!

[eej713]

And I cut the tines off a pair of fondue forks and use them to pull stringers.

At first I wondered why you would do that, the handles would be short and get hot fast......then I remembered, most of the fondue forks have a wood handle and some length to them. Good idea. I once cut the middle tine off of a small fork (3 tines) to use for making frosting roses.

[eej713]

Remember those crimping/straightening irons we all had a few years ago? Take the ends off and you have some pretty cool marvers. Take stainless measuring spoons, grind out mandrel grooves on either side of the bowl and there ya go, a home made lentil press.

Somehow, I can't picture what you are describing....maybe because I've never owned a crimping iron. I'm seeing deep grooves in my mind. Do you have a photo?

Never having owned or used a press, it took me a little thought to what you were saying about the measuring spoons.

Lynn

[NLC Beads]

And don't forget the local hardware store! I've found all sorts of goodies just poking around in the "$4.44 bin" (and other bargain bins :lol:) for toys...pokie tools, etc. You never know what you can "repurpose" to use for glass!
(heck, my "flame proof surface" is a cookie sheet! actually, I think that's what Nikki uses to separate some of her glass COE's maybe?....)

Yup! My work surface is a cookie sheet, marked with the COE. (Not that it makes a huge difference, it's 104 99% of the time.)

I looove all-metal cuticle pushers for shaping - I used it nonstop until Brian made me a brass version. :) Tweezers, non-serrated pliers for sculptural, and bigger serrated pliers for holding shorts to use 'em all up.

[Kalera]

Oh, I forgot my favorite "repurposed" tool... a curling iron heater, for pre-warming rods. There are some colors I would simply never use if I didn't have this tool! And, at $35, a heck of a lot cheaper than ones designed for the purpose.

[patienthand]

I use a lot of dental tools and a knife more than anything else, and a buck pair of scissors.

My two newest finds for redirected tools is a scissors type cigar cutter, makes a great pair of mini diamond shears at the bench. And I use a pizza cutter on my glass lathe to give me a good spot to snap bits off, like goblet tops and feet etc.

artierial clamps are great, the ones with a loop on the end of hemostats,lets you hold round or long things.

Have a ton of fun,

Candice

[Art of Hand]

my surgical scapelblades and handle. I got a box of the blades years ago when I did poreclain restoration, and the thinness of the blade makes it an excellent cutter or shaper, or to push applied stringer into position. I have not made a bead without picking it up. When the blade get to heat damaged from the hot glass, I just chuck it, and replace it with a new blade. That happens about once in 6 months. The best bit about the scalpel is that because the blade is so thin, it looses heat collected from the glass very quickly.

Diana

[jaci]

antique tools are great! Also any antique molds and pretty much anything that is flame proof i'll try once, many more ALOT. I really like the lobster fork things and a chisel that I use almost ALL then time. I also love my razor tool that is a metal exacto handle and a razor blade stuck in it "T" ways. I use it always it seems. and a spoon is my friend!!!

[KayG7]

Stainless Steel chopsticks for pulling stringers!

[Beadanna]

I just spent most of the day trawling through
http://www.sciplus.com/faq.cfm
and found all sorts of wonderful stuff. When I wondered about international shipping I found - you guessed it. I'm not in luck today with getting stuff from the US. LOL

Anna

[dhare09]

Love the cookie sheet idea. Everything else is so darn expensive but I currently use old ceramic tiles for my worktop surface.

I, too find myself rummaging through Goodwill almost every weekend. I like to buy cone shaped sugar dispensers for my finer frit. It's clean and manageable. I get them at the Dollar Store. Dental tools are pretty great too.

[Jgiovacchini]

if you search the forum for homemade tools or where did you get that youll find some ideas for tools

[Anzie]

Somehow, I can't picture what you are describing....maybe because I've never owned a crimping iron. I'm seeing deep grooves in my mind. Do you have a photo?

Never having owned or used a press, it took me a little thought to what you were saying about the measuring spoons.

Lynn

A pic of my favorite tools.
134857

[MerryFool]

Veeeeeeeery clevah, Anzie!!! I particularly like the way that you've notched your spoons for your mandrel

[jaci]

if you search the forum for homemade tools or where did you get that youll find some ideas for tools

The ideas just come to me when I see something neat! I am totally unconventional! lol my brain is warped to think "hey I would try that in the torch.. its metal, it wont melt, maybe... that should do OK near the flame... Its cheap I'll get one or 3 to try out and experiment with" It could be something that I like the shape of, or something that would make a cool impression, or pull the glass in a neat direction or something that would help stabilize the rod or bead parts, it could be something that looks like it would do the same type of thing that a tool on my wish list would do too. Browse tool sections of glass suppliers to get an idea of possibilities out there, you might be surprised at the things you can find... :)