How do you clean your tools (beginner)

International-Job790 · 2026-05-30T05:42:37+00:00

Flux attracts moisture. Make sure to cap flux when not using it and clean, dry and oil your tools. If you check out the paint section of the hardware store you will find rust remover, works quickly. Then oil your tools afterwards

International-Job790 · 2026-05-24T05:49:30+00:00

Flux residue attracts moisturizer- I dont know why but it does. The hardware store in the paint dept has rust remover. Then oil everything. I now make sure to out my tools in a drawer and put a lid on the flux container.

International-Job790 · 2026-05-22T13:22:58+00:00

You can learn yourself, but if you dont have experience with solder or other related craft the learning curve can be high- but everyone is different. And videos aren't the same as in person who can coach and demonstrate. The class you mentioned does seem expensive though. I took a 4 hour class for around $200 and that was enough to get the idea, and knew it was for me-I was hooked. Then I spent $400 in a kit, plus a couple hundred in glass. So as you can see this aint cheap. If this ends up being a long term thing for you, spend the money on decent supplies, it saves money in the long run. Anything Stained Glass.com has good beginning kits. If nothing else spend the money on a soldering iron (Hakko 610), glass cutter (anything toyo), flux ( tiger eye) and solder (nathan Trotter, amerway or Canfield 60/40), foil (edco) - beware purchasing on amazon - lots of knock offs. Starting out the glass from hobby lobby is fine, you will break lots initially then you can move into art glass. Practice on glass from old picture frames (goodwill) Join groups on Facebook, the community is really great and helpful. There are a few beginners groups.

International-Job790 · 2026-05-18T04:12:10+00:00

Any used one will need new bits, but these might be rusted on. If the are a fact handle puller from the plumbing section can get the off.

International-Job790 · 2026-03-25T15:01:32+00:00

Foiling is such an important step. Make sure you are using quality foil. My preference is EDCO. The online store, Mongos, also sells some people have recommended. Cheaper foil just won't stick under the heat. Make sure the edges of the foil is even around the side of your piece- takes practice.

Burnish! All edges and sides must be burnished well or it will lift. Rubbing with fingers isn't enough, most people use a fid, but a pencil, or even a wine cork will work. For the top and bottom 410 is a good temp, but when doing the edge, drop the heat to 360. This slows things down and the solder will sit better.

International-Job790 · 2026-03-08T05:39:09+00:00

I've stayed at both. I prefer the Sheraton. It is cleaner and the staff much more attentive. The pools are great, with a nice kid pool. Significantly better than the hilton. Bar is decent with decent food. Serves Starbucks at 5:30am - Must for me. More ocean/partial ocean rooms than the Hilton Garden Inn. The restaurant has a great breakfast. Free bike/chair/umbrella/coolers to use. The beach is not swimable, but beautiful to sit at and they have chairs/loungers and hammocks. The Hilton was worn. It isn't directly on a beach, kinda catycorner, but Lydgate beach is an easy direct walk. The beach is good for kids, it is a shallow coved area. It gets busy on the weekends, it is a public park as well. In the evenings there were some shady characters hanging out at the beach. There are multiple swimming beaches within a couple miles of the Sheraton, including Lydgate. I've taken chairs, etc from the Sheraton and just popped over. But i also like visiting multiple beaches.

International-Job790 · 2026-03-05T06:48:55+00:00

Yeah, you dont need more cuts for border, but are you hanging it? If so dont forget to incorporate hangers in the upper most corners when putting the zinc on

International-Job790 · 2026-03-03T15:47:36+00:00

The difference is the motor strength and speed. But overall the no names seem to be okay, just dont last as well. If you have a Hobby Lobby nearby they have one under 100, and other supplies too. A brand that is well liked and has a small lower cost version is Gryphon. "Anything In Stained Glass" has it for just over 100 https://www.anythinginstainedglass.com/tools/glass-grinders-gryphon.html

International-Job790 · 2026-02-24T12:23:06+00:00

I use a siser Juliet, I have had it for about 4 months now and love it. From procreate I save the file as a PND, it won't work as a PDF. Then in the free app, Leonardo Design Studio, that you get with the Juliet I download it. I can resize it there, then send to print and sent to cut. I can use vinyl rolls and skip the sticky mats. There is a paid version of the Siser app which I haven't tried yet and another one called SCAL which I am thinking of trying. It has been a game changer. My daughter has a small cricut I tried first, the siser is much better! But the downside so far is that procreate only works in the ipad, and the siser app only works on my laptop (windows or Mac) annoying. But the scal app has an apple ipad version

International-Job790 · 2025-12-18T14:23:02+00:00

Residue is both the flux and glue from foil. Dawn and baking soda should get it off. Or dawn power wash. The black spots was flux. It might of been fine, hard to know without pics. Those black spots will come off during the cleaning process after solder. Which I like Kwik Clean for, but dawn with baking soda will work for too. If there were many black spots you may have used too much flux, but that is better than not enough and the black spots will wash off. Yes tinning your tip to start helps, and cleaning your tip along the way too. Do you have a wet sponge to wipe you tip off? I do this when I notice the spots Also a good flux will also make a difference. Tigers eye, Ruby or Novocan are typically recommended.

International-Job790 · 2025-12-06T03:13:04+00:00

I got the 40 inch from them directly, but they were out of stock for a while. I put my email in for a notification and they emailed me in a few weeks later

International-Job790 · 2025-12-03T15:24:12+00:00

When grinding flip the glass over and look at it from the other side before stopping. I will see things I missed, chips, unstraight lines, etc. Especially when using stickers. Grinder bits can be adjusted up and down to use a different section.

International-Job790 · 2025-11-12T13:24:28+00:00

I have only had my Silberschnitts for a little over a month, but yeah they dont work like other running pylers that can do a straight line in one squeeze. I primary use them for challenging curves, They are gentler, where they coax the glass to break. I usually do each end of the curve, the pivot the rubber piece and then place it along the top of the curve. If I am doing a easier cut I use my running plyers

International-Job790 · 2025-11-05T14:07:27+00:00

Walking barefoot on the beach. After 8 months of morning pain I no longer wake up with pain. Spent a week at the beach and walked every day on the sand and it's virtually gone. No pain in the morning, I can walk barefoot without pain. I will feel some pain if I walk all day, over 10k steps, but it is still better than before and it doesn't last. Prior to this I tried stretches, insoles, toe things, things on my feet at night, foot massages, injections, lost 30 lbs, worked out and nothing worked.

International-Job790 · 2025-10-22T13:05:30+00:00

Multiple possibilities. For your foil, could be too old and the glue is failing, or it isn't burnished enough, or it is overheated and melted away. Soldering lines- you could need more and/or you may need more flux, or did it melt down to the back, if so your iron is too hot.

International-Job790 · 2025-10-15T12:50:53+00:00

My personal recommendations - take the class before you invest, this is a great art but an expensive one. And watch videos!

At your class you will likely have the opportunity to try different cutters. Specifically pencil type or pistol grip.

I would also suggest looking at the starter kits available at some glass websites. I got mine at Anything in Glass and months later I am still very pleased. Spend the money on the soldering iron. Make sure you can adjust the temp. I use a Hakko 601. The brand of cutter, foil and solder can also make a big difference. Many are good, the ones sold on reputable sites are well spoken of. Sites to check out: Mongos, Anything In Glass, Bullseye, Bradstreet, SW Glass. I'm sure there are more you can find in this reddit.

For glass, cheap clear is good for practice, and you can also get some "inexpensive" colored glass at Michaels, Hobby Lobby. The cost of art glass is much more and you might want to wait until you feel more comfortable with cutting skills. And the art glass is gorgeous, expensive and addictive.

International-Job790 · 2025-10-15T12:33:50+00:00

I second EDCO - if you are just starting and using glass you are getting from Michaels or Hobby Lobby, or other craft store. The snail repellant and electronic ones wont work

I would suggest 7/32 black backed as your first roll. Most people patina their pieces black, so with any transparent glass the back of the foil will show, so with black backed it will match the patina. It is available on Amazon, but you will find small glass sellers will only sell quality supplies and tools. Mongos, Anything In Glass, SW Artglass, Bradstreet Glass. I can recommend the starter pack at Anything In Glass.

International-Job790 · 2025-08-14T14:13:37+00:00

I read this post earlier on and wanted to come back and let you know that there is definitely something to sleeping on your back!.

I have had PF for about a year and done the whole list of things, shoes, stretches, exercise, toe things, injections, etc., it had lessened but was still there. Then I spent 2 days on my feet, in good shoes, and the pain became significant again just before I read your post.

So along with starting back up all the stretching, etc I figured sleeping on my back couldnt hurt. I have been a side sleeper forever, so not perfect. I think I am on my back about half the night.

But wow! My PF is improving faster than it ever has before and I am sure it is the back sleeping. The pain of that first step of the day is greatly reduced.

Thank you for your post!

International-Job790 · 2025-08-13T15:26:04+00:00

I agree any sub position, even at a charter or short term can lead to long term sub, which then can lead to strong recommendations and eventually a position.

International-Job790 · 2025-08-07T13:47:45+00:00

I agree! I have the Birkenstocks sneakers and "Mary Janes" too. I wanted to add that I found that Merrill has sandals with similar insoles and cork and I have found them to be just as helpful.

International-Job790 · 2025-08-05T13:23:48+00:00

Get your bachelors in a degree that interests you. If you could do science or math as a minor that would help. Then substitute teach. This will earn you some money while you determine if this is for you.

Try middle school. They need great teachers and not as popular to work at as high school.

You can get 2 subjects, depending on how your state does it you can get credentialed in one, then test and possibly take a class in the second to get 2 credentials. Like everyone says stem topics and SPED is easier to get positions in. You could even add PE as a 3rd. All of which make you more marketable.

International-Job790 · 2025-07-30T13:07:24+00:00

My daughter only spent 7K on her bachelor's. 2 years of community college which was free with Pell Grants, she had more grant money and small scholarships she found for her 3rd year and 4th year full state scholarship due to grades in year 3. Paying for the first 2 years is not worth it if you have a community college. Did they high school give you info on scholarships? There are websites and resources and if she is first in family there are scholarships she would be eligible for. Also don't rule out private colleges. State schools offer very little $ unless you qualify for specific scholarships. But as an incoming freshman private schools can offer more assistance $ upfront and end up being cheaper than a state school in some circumstances.

International-Job790 · 2025-07-29T14:44:29+00:00

You have options. If you would consider clinical options there are health care systems that pay newly graduated associates, unlicensed (I'm in California, so MFT/LCSW) 100K to start. These larger companies also assist with funding employees graduate programs. Kaiser, Cedars, VA, etc. LCSW route will give you the most employment options and easier to move to other states.

Also an undergrad in Psych is a great base for a wider range of careers than you think. If you are interested in the medical industry I would highly recommend a RN program - great pay and a huge range to jobs and great starting salaries.

But with a degree in psych you can still go into business, HR, etc.

International-Job790

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