Zephyr Ring Saw

I love doing glass work, but with arthritis, cutting glass, and then grinding it, is difficult. I looked carefully into ring saws, and got the Gryphon Zephyr, in no small part because I've also been very pleased with my two Gryphon grinders. What surprised me the most was that it cut through my glass *so* easily that I had to learn to dot try to do the cutter's work for it, so to speak - it only takes a light touch. One thing to not is that it does put out a lot of water to keep the blade cool, so you definitely will need Mark-Stay or some similar product to keep your lines from washing away - I haven't yet tried petroleum jelly, so I have no idea whether it works, so I stick with Mark-Stay, since I know it's made specifically to be used with glass-working equipment. I also use only distilled water in it (which I do for all equipment, from the grinders to my iron and so on), but a gallon of distilled water is only about $0.85 to $0.89 where I get it, and a gallon cools a lot of cutting. It's also surprisingly quiet *for what it is* - it's by no means "whisper-quiet", but I can certainly listen to music or TV or whatever while using it; it's not very heavy at all, so I set it up on a low table with something soft under it (to dampen vibration/noise) and use it while seated - which is also good because I have arthritis in my lower back. If I want to change position and stand, I can just pick it up and move it to a higher table. Additionally, the replacement blades are more reasonably priced. Oh yeah, and it arrived from the vendor quickly, and in excellent shape. I found it very easy to put together. Oh, and just as a tip, which may seem obvious but isn't necessarily so: never, and I mean NEVER, physically wipe the vision-guards on *any* glass-working equipment, because it *will* scratch. Just rinse it gently under running water; if necessary, drop a little liquid dish detergent onto it, but NEVER rub it. Just let the detergent slosh around over the surface(s). The shake it dry, and reposition onto the machine. All in all, I would definitely recommend this (and other Gryphon items) to friends.

I purchased the Gryphon Zephyr Ring Saw in August 2023 (2.5 years ago) and have been extremely happy with its performance. I’ve used it regularly for stained glass projects, and it has opened up design possibilities that would be very difficult with other traditional ways of cutting glass. One of the biggest advantages of the ring blade is the ability to cut in any direction. Unlike a standard wood saw where you’re limited to pushing forward, this allows you to maneuver the glass freely, which makes intricate shapes and detailed work much easier. Especially for cutting sharp corners or curves. You can cut a spiral if you go slow enough. Blade life has been reasonable for the amount of use I’ve put it through — I’ve replaced the blade three times due to normal wear, which is expected with glass work. As long as you let the saw do the work and avoid forcing the material, the blade lasts longer and performs better. The water system does a great job keeping the blade lubricated and controlling dust, and I appreciate how the glass debris settles into the reservoir instead of scattering everywhere. It keeps the workspace cleaner and safer. It’s also worth noting that this machine grinds through the glass rather than cutting it in the traditional sense, which allows for smoother shaping and more control. Overall, I’ve made some of my favorite pieces using this saw, and I highly recommend it to anyone serious about stained glass. It’s a fantastic tool that expands what you’re able to create. When I bought this saw it came with TWO blades, don't know if that will be the case for everyone, but it was a life saver for me. If it doesn't, do yourself a favor and get another blade for future use.

The water stream seems excessive, but that keeps your diamonds from burning up, so it is doing it's job. I may try to make a mod to give some control over the water, this isn't my first water cooled diamond tool. Behind the blade the table is split so you can put the table on around the blade. This is a problem if your glass is catching the edge, while making delicate cuts. The solution to this is to cover the split and workspace for your piece with some tape, that allows you to push an edge over the crack without catching. Ruined my first cut because of this isssue, but you learn and do better the next time... If you don't want tape on your table, another way to deal with this is to bevel the edge so it doesn't catch on the edge. Tape was faster. I used a 3m medical tape transpore, and removed it as soon as the cut was done so the adhesive wouldn't transfer. The saw itself is quite nice. It cuts well. I like it to augment what I can do with my tile saw. It allows fine cuts, and slender results, so you can make your fancy cutouts like sport team logos, or other detailed work. Overall it is a very cheap build, it just doesn't seem right at this price. On the other hand, this is a saw that holds water in a basin, so a plastic tank body isn't inappropriate. My tile saw cost $70 new, and it is cheap, but better made than this.

I purchased this from Amazon Australia but when it arrived it had an overseas plug it also NEVER worked then they made me post back to Vegas. NOT HAPPY

Having difficulty keeping my pattern on the glass because there’s so much water. Any ideas? Using permanent marker.

I purchased the item in October, 2021. From the very first time that I used the saw in December 2021 it did not work. The blade kept shifting out of alignment. I had it taken apart at least five times and put back together following the instructions and still shifts and cuts into the platform. You have no idea how frustrating this is. What was to make my work easier and quicker has created frustration whenever I look at the saw.

Water not doing the job and no contact to ask for advise! spent over $500 for a piece of junk!!!! Way over priced and absolutely no customer services!!! NEVER NEVER purchase from them! A total scam!!