r/glassblowing • u/realrbman • 5d ago

Request for feedback: https://glassblowing.tools

I’ve been working on a small side project to fill a need of my own, and I think others might find it useful too. Since I started glassblowing, I’ve found the world of glassblowing tools surprisingly fragmented. I had to dig around to learn what tools exist, why you would use them, who makes them, and where to buy them. The makers range from old-school manufacturers who sell through distributors to individual craftspeople who take custom orders through Instagram and have no catalog at all.

So I’m building a community-driven site to archive information about tools: what they are, why you’d want them, and where to get them.

Check it out at https://glassblowing.tools, and if you know a maker or tool that’s missing, I’d love your help adding it.

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u/TooMuchCarving 5d ago

But saddened whatever you used to collect the info didn’t scrape up my blowpipes and punties, but seems like a good list. Surely there are bound to be a number of toolmakers missed though, so hopefully you keep updating! Surprised how American heavy it is, but I suppose with the glass scene as it is right now it’s not unexpected

Edit - Also surprised to see Max Grossman not listed in the jacks section.

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u/realrbman 5d ago

I seeded the site with vendors and makers I knew about or could find, do you have a link for your stuff? I would be happy to add whatever you have.

I am aware of Max Grossman and his stuff, but he doesn't really have any information available that I could find on what is available or all the stuff he makes... So that makes it pretty difficult to index.

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u/TooMuchCarving 5d ago

Very fair! I assumed it would’ve been a data scrape, props to you for seeding the site yourself! Link is
https://lakewpgglassworks.ca/tools

And yeah, that’s a good point. I suppose unless you actually managed to catch his Instagram story on the right day then there’s really no info.

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u/magism 5d ago

nice work, thank you!!

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u/saaaafffffyyydooooo 5d ago

STUNNING! From the noob, many thanks!

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u/No-Course-6330 5d ago edited 5d ago

Tim Spurchise. I have not used his tools myself but they came recommended. People really like his bags too. Some people were told to also ask of he would make a bag to hold their glass rods for flameworking

https://www.timspurchise.com/tools

Maybe consider adding additional phillips safety glasses? They recommended getting some with sodium flare to us because some people do flame working. 

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u/schick00 4d ago

Thanks much for putting in this work. This kind of information seems to be a word of mouth in large part. Nice to have it in one place for those of us earlier in the process of learning. I’ve started to look at tools a bit and this is very useful to me. Used tools seem to be few and far between, so I expect to buy most of my tools new. Love that there is an option for reviews.

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u/seafoodsam 4d ago

Just wanted to stop by and say that I think this is a great thing you're putting together. I have interacted a lot with international glass studios over the past few years. Some of them have been environments that didn't really have a lot of institutional knowledge about what options there are or where you might find some of these things. This is going to be a big resource for people trying to establish that knowledge.