Sam Halstead - The Stained Glass Handbook

ESSENTIAL TOOLS
This chapter may appear daunting but a starter kit of tools and materials is not extensive or even expensive. A basic kit for copper foil would price at just over $100 (shop around) and contain:
-Soldering iron
-Combination glass pliers
-Glass cutter
-Protective goggles
-Copper foil
-Flux
-Solder
-Grinding stone
-Patina
For lead work you could add, for approximately $60:
-lead vise
-Lead knife
-Lead hammer
-Glazing nails
-Cementing brushes
-Black polish
-Facemasks
Glass cutter
If there is a large variety available locally - ask for the most popular. The wheel should not be too large as this hinders maneuverability. All pictured glass cutters have an oil reservoir in the handle and automatically lubricate the wheel and scoreline. The ball end can be used for tapping the glass score from below.

Glass pliers
These are used for breaking and grozing (chewing) glass. As most work entails shaping small pieces of glass, a pair of combination breaking/grozing pliers are all you need.

Soldering Iron
An 80 to 100-watt soldering iron with a removable tip is ideal for both lead and copper foil work. To "tin" the iron tip when it is new, and whenever it gets dirty, heat it, cover it with flux, melt solder over the end and cover it with flux again. Wipe it clean on a wet sponge. You might also consider using a voltage controller to give you the right heat for different soldering applications.

Lead knife
Lead knives have a curved blade balanced by a lead-weighted handle. The blade accentuates the rocking motion used to cut lead and the metal handle can be used for tapping glazing nails in.

Lead Cutting Pliers
These are spring-loaded and can be used on smaller sized lead came (say it the usual way kaym).

Straight edge
A strip of wood or a builders wooden ruler can be used for guiding the cutter on straight cuts. Always do a sight check to make sure the piece of timber is not curved.
Square
This is used for squaring up the corners of cartoons (the full size patterns). Use a large plastic or metal square.
Bench brush
A brush and dustpan helps keep the work area free of glass scraps and splinters.
Pattern paper
Use strong Kraft or butchers' paper for drawing the full size pattern.
Safety Glasses
Goggles or shielded spectacles with clear plastic lenses. Ordinary eyeglasses do not give enough protection so you need to buy goggles that will fit over them.

Newspaper
Use a few sheets as a soft backing for placing glass on when scoring.
Lathekin (Fid)
This is a simple wooden or plastic tool for spreading out the flanges of soft lead if they are deformed and also for smoothing foil out before soldering. You could make one - whittle an old wooden ruler, a piece of dowel, or an ice-cream stick.

Glazing Nails
Horseshoe nails are used to hold glass pieces in place as the window is built up over the pattern. These nails have long flat sides which create less pressure on the glass edges than round nails do.