How do you figure out what tool or equipment to buy when there are several to choose from?
I have purchased many glass art-related tools over the years! It's not always about the price - different companies manufacture similar items - some are much more affordable. Here are some factors that influence my decision-making process:
What is the intended use of the tool?
Function?
Brand/Make
Ergonomics
Price point
Return policy
Customer ratings
Compatibility
Technical support
Comparisons with similar tools
Ease of use
You're not going to buy a wet saw to cut stainless glass🙃
Running/Breaking pliers
Function? Breaking glass along a scoreline
I recently decided to buy new running pliers. The ones I had were two similar styles, but different brands. I bought one at Hobby Lobby years ago and the other online. Both have replaceable plastic tips that prevent marring.
Technically, there's a distinction between running and breaking pliers, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Both are meant to break media, one for tile and the other for glass. Pictured are Speedwox, Fletcher, and Alpha Tools, to name a few. These are running pliers for glass cutting.
I haven't had great results with my existing running pliers - I was wasting a lot of glass and I was frustrated.
When cutting strips or shapes you need a precise, clean cut and a great scoreline. This is essential when working with stained glass, which tends to be thicker and harder to cut.
You can read more about different types of glass here.
Well, I finally had it with mine and decided to go with different ones altogether.
I went with Silberschnitt running pliers, made by German-based company, Bohle, it has a 4.7/5 rating on Amazon. I generally expect German-made products to be of great quality - my hubby is German, so maybe I'm prejudiced. These are made of aluminum and are lightweight and compact.
I researched and found a few along the same price point, between $35 and $50. I did not select them because of a recommendation. I compared three different styles, read some reviews, and made the leap. I also considered ease of use, price, customer ratings, ergonomics, and features.
Ergonomics is important to consider when acquiring manual tools. Repetitive cutting by hand can cause hand fatigue, arthritis, and other conditions - important factors to consider. Also, not every tool is made for a specific hand size, some are easier than others if you have bigger hands.
I decided to purchase them since I am willing to try a different style and brand if it is going to give me the results I need.
Here's a review by a professional stained glass artist, showing the extra features of the Silberschnitt pliers. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
I found it to be an excellent tool thus far - I had better results immediately! As long as you have a good scoreline, these pliers execute a clean cut! If you're considering giving these a go, you can check it out at the following Amazon Affiliate link
Great information. Thank you!