To process a material as fragile as glass, a special cutting tool is required. Of course, glass cutters greatly simplify the cutting process, but you can also cope with their work with the help of other improvised items. If you are faced with the need to cut glass, and there is no glass cutter at hand, we will show you how to replace it.
How to cut glass without a glass cutter
Glass cutting tools have not always been as widespread as they are today. In the second half of the last century, people came up with their own ways to conquer this capricious material, without using a glass cutter. In fact, for cutting non-tempered glass up to 8 mm thick, you can use a lot of improvised items, you just need to have a little skill.It is better to start listing items suitable for working with glass by determining the types of impact on this material. Of the main methods, thermal, when the glass is heated in a certain place, and physical, when it is cut by brute force, can be distinguished. In industry, the waterjet cutting method is used, when glass is processed on expensive equipment under strong water pressure.
To cut glass thermally, a small piece of twine and a flammable liquid such as alcohol or acetone are enough; a soldering iron and a burning apparatus can also be used as a cutter. To cut glass with physical force, you can use a file, a drill bit, a nail, a thin diamond disk, and even ordinary tailor's scissors. Of course, some of the listed items are difficult to get a good chip, but with the proper skill, a completely suitable result can come out. Now, knowing how you can cut glass without a glass cutter, you can proceed to the process itself.
How to cut glass without a glass cutter
Before proceeding to a detailed description of glass cutting techniques, we want to remind you of safety. Always wear work gloves and goggles while working to avoid cuts and small pieces of debris in your eyes. Be careful not to put excessive pressure on the glass.
burning thread
A very common method, mainly used for cutting glass bottles. Straight glasses can also be cut in this way, but with slight nuances. All that is required to perform an even cleavage of glass is a piece of woolen thread, a combustible liquid (alcohol, kerosene, etc.) and a container of cold water.
We impregnate the thread in a flammable liquid and fix it on the glass along the cut line. We set it on fire, wait for it to burn out completely and immediately place it in cold water or pour it into the place of heating. The main thing is that the glass cools down as quickly as possible and bursts from the temperature drop. A characteristic click will signal the success of the work. If the glass is not cracked, you can try to repeat the operation.
This method cleaves the bottles quite smoothly, but does not always work with large glass sizes. It is also very flammable and requires a fire extinguisher or a container of water on hand, which is already required.
A very interesting, but rather slow way of thermally cutting glass. It is more suitable for curly cutting, but it will also make an ordinary straight line without problems. For this operation, you will need a file and a heating element (soldering iron or burner).
Having outlined the line of the future cut on the glass, we take a file and make a small groove with it from the very edge. Stepping back from it 1-2 mm, we heat the place with a soldering iron until a microcrack forms between it and the risk. Then we retreat from the crack itself to the same distance and gradually move towards the finish point. Thus, the glass is cut for a long time, but you can get any shape. To slightly speed up the process, the glass can be periodically cooled by applying a damp cloth to it.
Scissors in the water
A simple way to directional glass cleaving. Allows you to easily cut round shapes, but not suitable for creating straight lines. For such cutting, you will need ordinary scissors and a container of water, which will serve as a kind of lubricant. The maximum glass thickness must not exceed 4 mm.
The process of cutting with this technique is extremely simple. We take a piece of processed glass, immerse it in water and break off small pieces from the edges with scissors. The water will keep the glass from cracking, allowing you to make a controlled chip. In this way, you can get oval and round shapes.
diamond disc
Not the safest way to cut glass, requiring extra care and mandatory compliance with safety rules. Can easily break glass and launch a shard in any direction. Otherwise, the method is quite effective and can cope with the task. For cutting, you will need a special tool (grinder, drill or drill) with a diamond blade 0.1 mm thick.
The cutting process itself is quite simple, but it requires some skill and a firm hand to guide the tool clearly along the line. We lay the processed piece of glass on a flat place, then we take the cutter and draw a line on the surface of the glass with a disk. The main thing is not to dive deep, but only lightly touch so that a small hollow forms, similar to a wide line from a glass cutter. Next, just break the glass in the right place.
To reduce the likelihood of glass chipping and reduce the amount of glass dust during operation, you can periodically water the cut area with water.
file
Another way to cut glass at home without a glass cutter and expensive power tools. To work, you will need a file and a little experience in handling glass. Please note that the file must have angles, so a round one will not work.
To cut the glass, it is enough to make several cuts on its surface with the angle of the file. You need to press on the file a little more than average, so that the effort is enough to form a clear groove, similar to a glass cutter cut. When the place of the chip is marked, we simply break the glass on the edge of the table or by placing a match under the cut.
This method requires a certain skill, and if you are faced with cutting glass for the first time, we strongly recommend that you practice on small, unnecessary fragments before moving on to the main material.
Pobeditovoy drill
If you know firsthand what glass cutting is, then we suggest considering another way how to cut glass without a glass cutter. With some experience, one drill with a winning tip may be enough for this operation. The main thing is that the drill should be more or less new, with sharp corners on the head.
The process of cutting glass with a drill is in many ways similar to a conventional roller glass cutter. Of the differences, a higher pressing force can be distinguished, but otherwise all actions are standard. We lay the glass on a flat surface, mark the cut line, apply the bar, and draw a line along it from top to bottom. Before cutting, rotate the tip so that the sharpest corner is in contact with the glass. Having received a clear line, we break the glass along the cut line.
The method of cutting glass with a pobedit drill requires skill and practical experience in handling this material. Beginning craftsmen have very little chance of making an accurate cut in this way, but with patience and straight hands, you can get the desired result.
How to cut a mirror without a glass cutter
The mirrors surrounding us: in a car, a bathroom or a women's cosmetic bag, are in their structure ordinary glass with a layer of metal applied to the back surface. Cutting glass with a mirror coating is practically no different from ordinary glass and can be done with a conventional glass cutter or using the methods given above. When a special tool is not at hand, a file or a diamond blade will be the most effective cutting tool. Let's take a closer look at how to cut a mirror at home without a glass cutter, using available tools.The first step is to prepare the surface to be treated: wash, degrease and dry. The mirror must be clean, free of stains and heavy stains. Otherwise, the cut line may lead and the chip will be uneven. The working surface where the cutting will be done should be flat and not very hard. You can lay a thick fabric or a piece of linoleum on the table.
Having prepared the material and the workplace, we mark the line of the future cut on the mirror. Straight lines are best drawn along a ruler or rail with a height of at least 5 mm. To prevent the stop from slipping, a strip of electrical tape can be glued to its bottom. Next, we take a file, grinder or other tool and make a cut along the marked line. A more detailed process of various cutting methods is described above.
When the cut is ready, it remains to break off the mirror in the right place. To do this, you can put a small object (match, pencil, nail) under the cut line and lightly press on both sides. You can chip the glass on the edge of the table or gently tap the bottom with a small metal object (drill or spoon). If the glass doesn't break, don't push too hard. It is better to make the second cut a couple of centimeters from the first.
Outcome
The above methods have the right to life and give a good result with skillful handling of glass. Perhaps, having no experience in glass work, it will not work to get an even chip the first time. Before proceeding with the processing of the main material, we recommend that you first fill your hand with unnecessary fragments. If you want to get a quality cut without long practice, it would be better to purchase a roller or oil glass cutter.Save this page to your social media. network and return to it at a convenient time.
This tool on the market is represented by such a wide range that consumers are confused in choosing, they are perplexed which option is better to purchase. To make the right decision, first you need to not only learn the basic rules for how to cut with a glass cutter, but also decide how often you will have to use it.
Glass is a fragile material, it is very problematic to work with it. Cutting such material requires a delicate attitude, and not everyone succeeds. Today, several types of glass cutters are used to cut glass to give it the desired shape, but most often the classic version is preferred. It leaves a neat scratched line on the surface of the glass, and it remains only to break off the desired piece along the drawn contour.
Varieties
Roller
Quite a popular model, characterized by ease of use. A roller glass cutter is very often chosen by beginners, as it is convenient to use. In addition, such a tool is cheap, because there are no diamond stones in its design.
Structurally, the glass cutter consists of a roller part and a handle. For the manufacture of the roller, special hard alloys are used, the diameter of the element is 5 mm.
But the working resource of such a tool is limited - it is enough for three and a half - four hundred meters of glass material. But since it costs very acceptable, you can purchase a new tool at any time. In addition, several interchangeable roller elements are included in the kit, so you won’t have to change the purchased tool for a long time.
Diamond
Another common, effective and popular glass cutter is a diamond cutter. This option is great for both professionals and inexperienced glass cutters.
Let's figure out how to cut glass with a diamond glass cutter. We note right away that in the process of learning you will ruin more than a dozen glasses, but all your expectations will come true as soon as you master the technique of using a diamond glass cutter.
The tool consists of a handle and a working head with a diamond element, which can be pyramidal or beveled. You need to know everything about this feature, since the shape differences of the heads affect the principle of operation. For example, cutting glass with a pyramid-shaped head is much more difficult - this requires a developed, almost “musical” ear. Let's see how to cut glass with such a glass cutter. During operation, the diamond moves along the glass surface and emits a sound of a certain frequency. When the sound is “wrong”, this confirms that the movement of the diamond element is in violation, and the glass chip is most likely to be defective. To cut the desired shape correctly, beginners use a glass cutter with a beveled head.
In such an instrument, the stone can be artificial or real, and this difference affects the cost. But there is one more feature here - with a real diamond you will cut glass of a centimeter thickness, and an artificial one will only be enough for 5 mm. And the operational period of such samples is different - a real diamond will cut from ten to fifteen kilometers of glass, while an artificial one will end its operation after the fifth kilometer.
Oil
This version of the glass cutter is a refinement of the tool with a roller head. A small reservoir is arranged in the handle, into which the lubricating fluid is poured. During the cutting process, it is constantly fed to the roller and glass surface, significantly reducing friction and improving the quality of the scratched lines, ensuring long tool life. Ultimately, the operating period of an oil glass cutter, compared to a simple roller glass cutter, increases fifteen times.
In addition to these models, there are circular glass cutters, with which round holes are easily cut on the glass. Such a tool is somewhat structurally different, more reminiscent of a compass than a pen with a cutting element. In addition to circles, this glass cutter can cut holes in the shape of an ellipse.
Instructions for using glass cutter
We will figure out how to cut glass with a glass cutter at home. For convenience, we divide the entire workflow into several stages.
Preparatory activities
Events like this make a big difference. Preparation depends primarily on the glass you choose to cut. The purchased material should be wiped from dust using an old newspaper so that stains and villi do not remain on the surface. Glass that has been in use requires more thorough preparation. To begin with, it should be washed with the use of special means. After that, the surface is degreased, the glass is dried in a closed room so that dust does not settle on its surface.
cutting glass
Many people also refer to this process as a preparatory stage, but we will single it out as an independent type of work. It is no secret that there is no absolutely waste-free production for this type of work, especially if the ultimate goal is to obtain a product with unusual geometric parameters. But if you pre-calculate and outline how to cut glass with a glass cutter, you can minimize waste. Experts recommend combining the longest side of the glass with the long edge of the workpiece. At the same time, the remaining trimmings should not be in a hurry to throw them away - they can be useful in the future.
cutting technique
It remains to learn how to properly cut glass with a glass cutter. This will require a flat surface. So that small glass fragments and other debris do not interfere with us, the table is covered with soft material, the thickness of which reaches 3-5 mm.
Now - attention! Only one cut is made - the second time in one place it is forbidden to carry out a glass cutter.
If the tool is roller, there is more pressure on it than on a diamond one. Correct cutting is accompanied by a characteristic crunch. Closer to the edge of the glass, the pressure is relieved so that a chip does not result and the cutting edge of the tool does not get damaged. After that, a flat rail is placed under the glass, a break is made along the cut line. Previously, it is recommended to tap the line with a glass cutter handle to deepen the cracks and facilitate the breaking process. If you need to break off a narrow strip, you can use pliers or a glass cutter handle, which has special grooves.
Possible mistakes
Most often, inexperienced carvers make the following erroneous actions:
- When cutting corrugated glass, they do not use a roller tool, but a different model of glass cutter. In addition, matte glasses, with patterns and corrugations, try to cut not from a smooth side;
- often the dimensions of the final blanks are not respected. Trimming should be carried out in such a way that the dimensions are a couple of millimeters smaller than the frame into which the glass is planned to be inserted;
- when working with a glass cutter, additional materials are ignored - patterns, which are special rulers;
- it is recommended to make sure before each cutting that the glass cutter is suitable for use. To do this, its sharpening is checked - a piece of glass is cut off on already cut pieces. If an unpleasant creak is heard during cutting, the cutting edge must be sharpened.
Safety Compliance
Wear gloves to avoid injury. Pay attention to shoes, which should be durable so that accidental glasses do not cut your feet. It is necessary to dress in tight overalls made of thick fabric.
From a glass sheet, you can get designs of various shapes, but for this you need to learn how to cut it. If you have a glass cutter, then this task can be easily handled. And if he is not? How to cut glass without a glass cutter? In fact, there are several ways to cut material using various devices, which will be discussed below.
Preparation for work
Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the glass itself: rinse it with water, degrease it with gasoline. If it will be mounted in a frame, then you will have to adjust the product to the desired size. In this case, an additional 2 mm of material must be cut off on each side. This applies only to wooden frames, since they are able to contract and expand under atmospheric influences.
Before cutting glass, you need to prepare the space. To work with it, you will need a table or some kind of stand. This will make cutting easier and help break the product more evenly. If the craftsman has to cut the material for the first time, then he should practice on small pieces in order to understand the basic principles. Only then can you move on to cutting large sheets.
Glass cutter
Before using improvised tools, you need to understand how to cut glass with a glass cutter. The cutting element is placed perpendicular to the surface and strictly along the intended line. They lightly press the tool and gently begin to lead “towards themselves”. If everything is done according to the rules, then the sound of glass being cut will be heard and a thin white line will appear on the sheet. A creaking sound when cutting indicates that the tool is not tilted correctly, it is broken, or it is pressed too hard.
After cutting with a glass cutter, the glass is placed on the edge of the table (or stool) so that the resulting line extends slightly beyond its edge. With one hand you need to hold the sheet, and with the other put pressure on the hanging part (it should fall off). If it doesn’t work with your hands, then you can gently tap with a hammer along the cut line. If necessary, the process is repeated from the beginning.
We use scissors
Not very thick material can be cut with ordinary scissors. First you have to do the markup. How to cut glass in this way? You need to immerse it in warm water and cut into pieces of the required size. If nothing happened or the material began to crumble, then tempered glass came across (cutting features are indicated below). To cut a large piece, you will need a bath or a large basin of water.
The procedure is carried out as follows: the markup is carried out with the tip of scissors, after which an unnecessary element is broken off. This method is suitable for sheets up to 3 mm thick and allows you to cut shapes with straight contours. To facilitate work, a template is made of cardboard, which is glued to the workpiece with glue. You should be aware that the material will be more pliable under a large layer of water.
Twine, gasoline and a lighter
The method described below will tell you how to cut glass evenly if there is no glass cutter at hand. Everyone knows that the material is afraid of sudden temperature changes. This property can be used to cut it. For work you will need: a twine with a maximum thickness of 2 mm (cotton only), a lighter, gasoline (kerosene).
The glass sheet is laid on the table and a line is marked with a marker along which it needs to be cut. Measure and cut the string so that it covers the entire length of the cut. After that, it is poured with gasoline and applied to the line on the glass. The twine must be set on fire so that it catches fire along its entire length. When the thread goes out, it is poured with cold water. As a result, the glass will crack at the point of temperature difference. If the crack has not gone through the entire sheet, then you need to repeat the procedure and lightly tap on the cut line.
We work with a soldering iron
How to cut glass if you have a soldering iron at hand? The material is placed on a flat surface and with the help of a needle file, risks are made along the edges. A ruler is applied to it and touched with a soldering iron indented from it by 2-3 mm. You need to warm up each place so that the glass cracks. The soldering iron is passed along the entire cut - so it will turn out to be quite even.
They break the glass with special tongs or lay it on the edge of the table. The fracture will pass exactly along the furrow when sticking along the cut of adhesive tape or wet newspaper. If the product needs to be inserted into the frame, then you will have to cover the installation site with putty or rubber strips. It is applied to the frame and closed with glazing beads, under which a rubber seal is placed.
Charcoal pencil cutting
Below we will talk about how to properly cut glass with a charcoal pencil (you can do it yourself). It allows you to cut various shapes from the material. For the manufacture of the tool you will need: charcoal (linden, birch) and gum arabic. Coal is ground into powder, gum arabic is added to it and a kind of dough is kneaded. Round sticks are made from the mass, after which they are thoroughly dried.
Before cutting on the glass, markings are made and the edges are filed with a needle file. The pencil is set on fire on one side and led along the line. As a result, cracks are obtained, along which the product breaks easily.
Cutting different types of glass
When cutting ordinary glass, there should be no problems. Various tools will help to cope with this task: from scissors to special glass cutters. But how to cut off Below we will talk about this. At home, you can also cut organic and corrugated glass.
Corrugated products are in great demand because they are inserted into doors and various interior structures. This material is easy to cut (like ordinary glass), so you can use the above tools. It should be remembered that the cut must be made from the smooth side.
Making holes
Cutting a piece of glass cloth can be easily and simply with ordinary tools. And how to make a hole in it and what is needed for this? It is necessary to stock up on wet fine sand, lead (tin) and a container for its melting, acetone, and a template. The template is a stick with a cone-shaped end, the diameter of which must match the size of the future hole.
To get the job done, you need:
- lay the glass on a flat surface;
- degrease the incision site and sprinkle it with sand so that a hill 50 mm high is obtained;
- take a template and make a hole in it at the top of the slide;
- melt lead in aluminum or enameled dishes (can be heated with gas or a blowtorch);
- pour hot lead in a thin stream into a sandy funnel;
- wait 5-7 minutes and remove the sand around the hole;
- carefully check the cooling of the casting with your finger and remove it.
Under the casting there will be a not quite perfect hole. However, a handle, decorative elements, fasteners and other closing details can be easily inserted into the resulting design. Before cutting glass in this way, you need to practice on scraps of material so as not to ruin the whole canvas.
From the above, it can be seen that it is possible without special glass cutters. However, in the process of work, care must be taken and some rules must be observed so as not to damage the material and not accidentally get hurt.
Glass is actively used in all spheres of human life, therefore, for its proper cutting and processing, special tools were invented - glass cutters. These devices exist in different modifications, each of which has its own rules of operation. Also, the answer to the question of how to cut glass with a glass cutter depends on the type of glass that needs to be processed.
Glass preparation for cutting
Cutting glass with a glass cutter begins at the stage of preparing the material; the quality of work depends on it. If the glass is new, then it is enough just to wipe it from dirt. It is best to use for this purpose not a cloth, but a newspaper, as it will remove moisture and leave no streaks. If the glass has already been used for its intended purpose or simply stored for a long time and covered with a coating, and also acquired chips, then it will require a more thorough approach in preparation.
Used glass must be thoroughly rinsed, using special glass cleaners. Next, the cleaned glass is degreased with suitable means. As such, for example, rags soaked in kerosene act. At the last stage, the glass is dried in a closed room, where dust does not get on the glass.
In addition to glass cleaning, the preparation includes cutting it. Achieving a completely waste-free process with glass is very difficult, especially if you need to cut a piece of irregular shape. But if you calculate the cutting correctly, then the waste will be minimized, which means that the costs will also be minimized. The most convenient and correct cutting option will be the alignment of the longest side of the workpiece with the corresponding side of the glass. Scraps after work do not need to be thrown away, as they will come in handy in the future.
Types of glasses and features of working with them
To understand how to cut glass with a glass cutter, you need to figure out what types of glass are and which one you have to work with. Each type of glass implies a different approach. There are such types:
- tempered glass products - practically not subjected to cutting. If it is necessary to use products made from such glass, then it is necessary to take care of its cutting in the early stages, since this type of glass loses its properties during home cutting. Work with tempered glass is carried out by professionals on specialized equipment;
- corrugated glass is a patterned product, often used to decorate doors, furniture and interiors. It is quite possible to work with such material at home, the process of cutting it is not much different from smooth surfaces. For corrugated glass, a roller glass cutter is optimal, and it is necessary to make an incision from the smooth side;
- acrylic or organic glass - is a transparent plastic, it is made on the basis of synthetic resins. Cutting such material does not require specialized tools; a regular hacksaw, cutter and tools for leveling the edge will do. If the thickness of plexiglass is not more than 2 mm, then it is easily cut with an ordinary clerical knife. If you need to know how to cut glass without a glass cutter, then we are most likely talking about plexiglass, although some skilled craftsmen cut ordinary glass with household scissors.
The main rule when working with any glass is protective equipment, which includes gloves and goggles. The work surface must be covered with newspapers or a cloth that it would not be a pity to throw away, since glass cutting involves the presence of many small fragments.
Selection of cutting tool
In fact, cutting glass with a glass cutter is quite simple, in this process only certain skills are needed that come with experience. Often, an inexperienced master technologically performs everything quite correctly, but at the same time the process takes place with disappointing results. Often the problem lies in the correct selection of the tool, the following types of glass cutters are distinguished:
- The diamond glass cutter is a classic tool that has been used for many years. For domestic use, a glass cutter with a beveled cutting edge is optimal, it withstands about 10 km of cuts. Periodically, it is necessary to re-grind the tool on the beam;
- roller glass cutter - the cutting element is from 1 to 6 rollers made of durable cobalt-tungsten alloy;
- oil glass cutter - has the same design as a tool with a cutting roller, but with the addition of a container with oil, from which liquid is supplied to the surface being cut, such a glass cutter is optimally suited for working with thick glass;
- glass cutter for cutting circles and ovals - the tool resembles a compass or a mechanism of several devices. If this is a circle-like glass cutter, then it has a suction cup, which is attached to the center of the required circle, a controlled scale, with which the required radius and the glass cutter itself are set. Most often, such tools are oil-based, that is, they have a container for lubricating the cutting part.
In addition to the glass cutter itself, you will also need a ruler along which the cutting line will be drawn. In glass cutting work, this device is called a template. If you need to make a simple cut on ordinary glass of small thickness, then an ordinary, even and long object will do. For complex cuts, a specialized template is needed.
When choosing the glass cutter itself, it is necessary to stop at the tool that allows you to break the glass into pieces with only one cut. If the glass cutter is not of very high quality, then the line will need to be drawn several times. When cutting, it is necessary to be as accurate and attentive as possible, much more depends on this than on the quality of the glass cutter. The third necessary tool is a perfectly flat surface, if there is none, then cardboard is placed under the glass for leveling.
glass cutting process
- glass is laid out on a flat plane and a pattern is pressed against it;
- the glass cutter marks the beginning and end of the notch line;
- when marking, it is necessary to take into account the indent from the cutting part to the edge of the glass cutter, since during the drawing of the line the glass cutter will rest against the ruler with its edge;
- to accurately determine the size of the required indent, the glass cutter is tested on any surface;
- when the beginning and end of the line are marked, the cutting edge is struck along the edges of the glass, this is necessary so that the glass does not crack during cutting, since the greatest pressure is created at the edges;
- a glass cutter is carried out along the glass, the pressure depends on the thickness of the material, excessive force should not be applied, since very thin glass will crack from pressure;
- to understand how to cut correctly with a glass cutter, you need to learn how to make a line quickly, at a time, applying the same force along the entire length, this does not apply to the edges of the tool, which are cut in advance;
- while working with the tool, it is necessary to protect the organs of vision, since sometimes the glass cutter jumps off, breaks the glass, resulting in the formation of many small fragments that can damage the mucous membrane of the eye;
- when the line is drawn, it is evaluated and it is determined whether it is necessary to add a notch;
- if there is no need to draw a line, the glass is gently tapped on the notch and broken;
- the edges are treated with sandpaper.
Correct cutting of plexiglass
As mentioned above, simple tools such as a hacksaw or a clerical knife are used to cut plexiglass. You will need tools to align the edge. If plexiglass is cut on a milling machine, then the edges do not need to be processed after cutting. In industry, organic glass is cut with a laser, which gives high cutting precision, low cost and good quality cuts. It must be remembered that organic glass has a low thermal conductivity, it quickly heats up in the cutting zone, so the work must be carried out quickly and at the smallest possible depth.
The easiest way to cut plexiglass at home is with a hacksaw or cutter. For an incision, the material is placed on a flat surface, a pattern is placed on it so that it coincides with the required incision line. The cut line will be most accurate if you place the ruler directly on it. A cutter is drawn several times along the intended line so that the cut is approximately half the thickness of the glass. Then the necessary piece is simply broken off from the main part.
The edges of the cut pieces are cleaned with a joiner's jointer. If the cut was carried out with a saw, then the resulting rough edge should be taken into account, which, when processed, will reduce the size of the piece. When working on plexiglass with a circular saw or milling machine, its edges will foam and become rough, so care should be taken to cool the material during operation.
Glass tricks
1. For a high-quality cut of glass, a professional glass cutter of sufficient quality is required, as well as a spacious, flat surface on which the work will be carried out. The surface is preferably wood or chipboard, as it is soft enough not to damage the glass during operation.
2. To work, you need a ruler or an even rail of 5-10 mm in size, this width will allow you to comfortably hold the tool with your hand. The main trick to how to use a glass cutter is the quality of the applied line. Since when making an incision with a glass cutter, it is necessary to draw a line once, accurately and evenly. The line should not be crooked or intermittent, otherwise the glass will crack at breaks and bevels. With sufficient experience, the error is easily corrected if a zigzag was applied to the glass.
There is one rather tricky way of drawing a line on glass. The line is drawn not on the work surface, but on the table, then the glass is placed on this line, one cut is made on both sides, and then a line is drawn on the glass with a glass cutter, focusing on the mark made on the table. This method is only suitable for perfectly clear glass.
3. The correct position of the tool during the incision process. If the process is carried out with the help of a diamond glass cutter, then it is held in the hand like a pencil, but with a slight slope. The finished line is a colorless and thin furrow. If the work is carried out with a roller tool, then its position must be strictly perpendicular to the working surface, while the glass cutter is clamped between the thumb and middle finger, and pressed with the index finger. The roller glass cutter is under more pressure than the diamond one, and the cut itself is white. During the drawing of the line, it is necessary to apply the same force throughout the pressure, the only exception is the edges of the glass, where the pressure force is slightly reduced.
4. If a smooth line of the required depth is made on the glass, then it breaks easily. If the glass has not broken, it is placed on the table so that the cut strip is about 0.5 cm beyond the edge of the table, as if in a hanging state. Next, the suspended part of the glass is held, and along the entire cut line, the glass cutter head is gently tapped. Deliver accurate and light blows.
In such a procedure, the glass breaks, usually very unexpectedly. If, after tapping, this did not happen, then two matches are placed under its edges, and then they are pressed onto the surface with their hands. Sometimes, after cutting, it is necessary to remove small and not wide parts of the glass; for this, all glass cutters have grooves into which these parts are inserted and then broken off.
5. It is easy to determine the quality of the instrument by the tone it emits when notched. If you hear a screech and creak, then the glass cutter needs to be sharpened. Talks in detail about how to cut glass with a glass cutter, video at the end of the article.
Glass products are very popular in interior or exterior design. They decorate both apartments, houses, and public spaces. We can often see stained-glass windows, frescoes or dishes created on the basis of glass scraps, which amaze with their grace and beauty.
Looking at such things, it seems that in order to make them, you need to have serious skills and have a lot of experience working with glass, as well as other complex tools. And few people know that everyone can learn the basics of working with this material. In particular, you can learn how to cut glass for work without leaving your home.
Preparing to cut
The preparatory stage is one of the most important in the work, the preparation process also largely depends on what kind of glass you plan to cut. So, if it is new, you can simply wipe it with an old newspaper or paper so that small villi do not settle on it and stains do not appear.
If the working material has already been used before, then preparation here will take more time and effort. To begin with, it will need to be washed well with the use of a special chemical agent for glasses. Next, degrease with a rag dipped in kerosene, and eventually dry it indoors so that dust does not get on the surface.
In addition to such preparation, the material will also need to be cut. Naturally, it should be understood that you will not be able to work perfectly with this material, especially when it comes to manufacturing products of irregular geometric shape.
But if you do an accurate calculation in advance, you will significantly reduce the amount of waste received.
In this case, the ideal option would be to combine the longer side of the glass with the long side of the prepared blank. The scraps left after work can not be thrown away, they can also be useful in the future when creating other glass products.
Glass cutter and its classification
Most often, a special tool is used to cut glass - a glass cutter. It is good because it is very easy to use. To properly learn how to cut glass with it, you need to follow the rules of work and choose the right tool of one type or another. And since the range of glass cutters is wide, this will not be a problem.
Glass cutters are of the following types:
How to cut
Before you start working with this tool, you need to mark it with a simple or special pencil. It will be much more convenient to cut the material using a ruler with a thickness of at least 8 mm so that the glass cutter fits as tightly as possible. The ruler is placed on the surface of the material, then the tool is pressed against it, and then the cutting process is performed. And so that the ruler does not slip on the surface, you can stick rubber particles on it, which can be taken from a bicycle tube. The ruler should be placed so that it is slightly further from the marking line.
For home work, a diamond or roller glass cutter is suitable. At the same time, diamond is more functional, but if we are talking about a corrugated surface, then only a roller one will do. Remember that grooved, matte or patterned surfaces should only be cut from the smooth side.
The cutting should start from the main edge of the glass sheet. Further along the line, without stopping, draw a line in your direction. An important condition for the work to be done efficiently is the correct placement of the tool. Here the situation depends on its type:
- when working with a diamond tool, it must be held in the hand almost vertically - like a pencil. They lead it in such a way that the mark that indicates the diamond is turned towards the ruler. If the work is done correctly, then the cut line will be colorless and thin;
- but the roller glass cutter is held perpendicular to the surface of the glass. It is best to hold it between the middle and thumb and press on top of the index. In this case, you need to press harder than in the case of a diamond tool. And the cut line is white.
Sometimes cut glass can break on the edge of a hard glass surface.
cutting with scissors
In addition to the glass cutter, scissors can also be used to cut glass. But you also need to do it right. For work you will need:
- scissors themselves, it is better to take sewing;
- tank with (preferably) hot water.
As in the previous case, mark the glass in advance. In the course of work, when cutting with scissors, a microcrack is created, and as a result, everything ends with a capillary effect. All this is elementary physics.
The result obtained, of course, will not be ideal, but if there is an urgent need to do something, then this cutting method is also suitable.
Features of working with different types of glass
If you work with ordinary glass, then cutting will not cause any difficulties. For this purpose, both a glass cutter and simple scissors are well suited. And if you use glass with a complex configuration for the production of products, then things are more complicated. Features of the work will largely depend on the properties of the materials:
Safety regulations
No matter what kind of glass you are processing and what tool you use, be sure to follow basic safety precautions. Don't forget to wear safety goggles and heavy gloves. This is a key condition for ensuring safety.
It is also recommended to provide for the arrangement of your workplace. Since glass work involves the appearance of fragments, it is recommended to cover the work surface with something that you will not be sorry to get rid of later.
Compliance with safety rules will allow you not only to ensure high quality work, but also to take care of yourself.
So, now you know how to properly cut glass at home if you need to use it for home use.
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