How to Cut Glass
Planning to use glass for decoration? Just like wood, metal or plastic, glass can be cut in different sizes and designs. It’s not hard as it seems, as long as you know what to do. Here’s how to cut glass properly.
What You’ll Need:
Clear glass (3.1 mm or 1/8 inch thick)
Clean cloth
Glass cutter
Light cutting oil
Metal ruler or yardstick
Fine sandpaper or sharpening stone
Gloves
Eye goggles
Procedure:
Ready your glass and your other materials. Make sure your work surface is free from dirt and grime and other cluttered objects.
cutting glass
Clean the surface of your glass using a clean cloth, on the surface where you’re going to score. If there’s silica or grime present will ruin the score, and make you cut glass incorrectly. Run a finger along the surface.
Get the light cutting oil and the glass cutter. You can buy the oil from a stained glass store, but if it’s not available, just use kerosene. Make sure there aren’t any sources of fire near you, though. Dip the glass cutter in the oil or kerosene, before scoring the glass. The better oiled the cutter, the smoother the score line.
Hold the cutter firmly, but in a relaxed way. It’s as if you’re holding a pencil. Look at the cutting wheel, and how it’s oriented to the glass, making sure it’s properly aligned.
Before you start cutting on the actual glass, practice on a scrap piece first. Put pressure to the glass, as you pull the cutter along its surface, rolling the carbide wheel. Run the score from one edge of the glass towards the other, while hearing a smooth sound similar to silk being ripped. The less sound you hear, though, means you’re making a better score. If you hear a gritty noise, it means you’re pushing too hard or the cutter is not oiled properly. Avoid pushing too hard, because your cut will pop and snap. Instead, aim for a uniform score.
When scoring along a straight edge, you can use a meter ruler or yardstick. A normal desk ruler will also suffice, but make sure it has a high enough profile that won’t conflict with the cutter wheel.
Keep practicing, until you make a score that’s barely visible, and that doesn’t pop. It must look like a small scratch. When you’re ready, try this on the actual glass.
After scoring, slip on your protective gloves. Then, grasp each side of the cut with your hands, as if you’re going to break a potato chip in half. You only need minor pressure for this. Don’t move your elbows, and let your wrist do the work. Simply twist your wrists gently, in opposite directions.
After you’ve cut the glass, use a fine sandpaper or a sharpening stone to take away the sharp edge. This will make the glass less likely to chip along its edges, and will also prevent you from being cut.
Some Tips
Don’t eat or drink while working with glass.
To cut a line that’s not straight, draw the shape on the glass first with a felt marker. After scoring, flip it over, and carefully press on the score’s center, to start a run. Follow this, applying light pressure, until the glass separates where you scored it.
Glass bigger than the one you used for this might need cutting machines to be cut.
If you’re cutting mirrored glass, cut it on its reflective side, and not on the painted area.
Wear safety goggles while cutting glass. Some pieces can snap off and accidentally hit your eyes.
Clean your work area after you’re finished. Make sure you catch stray pieces of glass, no matter how small they are.
Working with glass to make magnificent designs is easy, as long as you follow these tips. Remember to be careful while doing this task, since glass can easily scratch and hurt you.