How to cut glass and what you need for this. How to cut glass without a glass cutter: step by step instructions, methods and recommendations How to cut thin glass
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Glass is used in many areas of life. It is often necessary at home to replace a cracked window, a latch in a fireplace, an apron in the kitchen, or to make a canopy from plexiglass, to glaze a greenhouse. And the work is to be done with a fragile and traumatic substance. To avoid injury and significant consumption of fragile material, you need to know how to cut glass.
Types of glass cutters
First of all, you need to remember that glass can be different: ordinary window, tempered, plexiglass, acrylic, corrugated and ten more options. Also, even the usual one can be quite thick or, conversely, thin and very fragile. Depending on the type, the tool and the cutting method are also selected. But using a glass cutter is the most common option.
The construction market offers several options for glass cutters:
- diamond can cut glass almost any thickness and its service life is long. As a working element, a diamond is used, which, if necessary, is easily turned by a non-sharpened face;
- roller has a working part, which is made of an alloy of cobalt and tungsten and is different increased strength . The number of rollers varies from one to six and they can be replaced;
- oil has rollers and a reservoir of lubricant that flows to the surface and reduces friction. When worn, the roller itself and its fastening require replacement;
- with circular function, which allow you to cut circles. Most often, an ordinary oil glass cutter is mounted on a special device with a scale that allows you to set the diameter of the circle.
Before cutting glass with a glass cutter, it must be prepared:
- clean from dirt, possibly wash and wipe dry;
- remove the slightest dust, as smallest particle, which the glass cutter stumbles upon can become a source of cracking;
- if used glass is used, it is also degreased with kerosene;
- cutting lines.
Safety regulations
The approaches to how to properly cut glass with a roller or diamond glass cutter are the same. The main thing to observe certain rules And remember about safety:
- wear protective equipment: gloves and goggles;
- put the glass on flat surface and check that it fits well with it and does not vibrate;
- strike at the ends of the cut line so that it is possible to loosen the pressure and avoid chipping the edge;
- a diamond glass cutter is taken at the base of the handle and is carried out without much pressure along the intended line;
- the roller glass cutter is clamped with a pinch between the thumb, ring and middle fingers, and is responsible for pressure forefinger. It should be pressed to get a whitish incision;
- on reverse side lightly tap along the incision line;
- move the glass to the edge of the table and break off along the cut line.
There is a relationship between the width of the glass and the width of the strip that breaks freely:
Masters have their own style in working with glass surfaces, but some general recommendations about how to cut glass:
- there is no strong pressure on the glass cutter so that the edges of the cut do not crumble;
- one line - one incision, it is impossible to “cut” again in one place;
- glass cutter movements must be quick and confident. Optimal: 1 m in 2 seconds;
- to the edge, the pressure decreases, which allows not to crumble the edges;
- mark the table, not the glass itself.
How to replace glass cutter
Not only professional tools will help when cutting glass, but not quite ordinary ones, for example, such as scissors or a grinder. They can easily cope with such work under certain conditions.
Scissors do not cut glass in air, but you can cut glass with scissors in water. In a liquid, gravity is less and the scissors do not make an incision, but a microcrack. This crack acts as a capillary for water to enter. Capillary water has a wedging effect on the weak points of crystallization and the glass breaks off into pieces.
Interesting! If it is necessary to cut curly parts, the glass is placed in cold water and then boil for several hours. After cooling, the tension inside is removed and the material becomes soft.Ways and options for how to cut thick glass several. The simplest is to use an oil glass cutter if the thickness is not more than 20 mm. But as an option, The dimensions of the tool should be small and convenient. The diameter of the circle is the smallest, then it will be easier to work with it.
Plexiglas: glass or plastic
Not all types of glass can be cut with glass cutters. There are materials on the construction market that either cannot be cut at home at all, or you need to familiarize yourself with some rules to cut them, and some are cut very simply.
One of the most malleable materials for cutting is plexiglass. it transparent plastic with thermoplastic properties. The material is very easy to process, but there is one feature: low thermal conductivity, due to which the edges of the cut immediately heat up. So before cutting acrylic glass, you need to think about how to cool it.
Basic tools for cutting plexiglass:
- hand saw for metal;
- a circular saw;
- cutter;
- milling machine;
- stationery knife.
The choice of tool directly depends on the thickness of the glass: thin - with a knife, the thickest with a circular or on a machine. Electric saw blades are used special for plexiglass, but are suitable for copper, aluminum.
It is necessary to work with a hacksaw or a clerical knife quickly. Unlike window glass, the cut line can be drawn several times. During cutting, the blades are cooled so as not to melt the edges of the cut. The resulting cut will have roughness, which is removed when processed with sandpaper.
The low melting point makes it possible to cut plexiglass with a jigsaw and obtain a wide variety of curly products. In the jigsaw, the saw blade is replaced nichrome wire. which is connected to a transformer with an operating voltage of up to 4 V. The heated wire easily and gently passes through the plexiglass along any path. the cut is smooth and even, requiring no additional processing.
Rules for cutting tempered, corrugated and fire-resistant glass
Very rarely, but it may be necessary to cut fire-resistant glass, for example, for replacement in an oven or fireplace door. At home and without special skills, such a procedure should not be carried out, since heat-resistant glass is a split system of several tempered and non-tempered glasses. But some craftsmen use a grinder with diamond disc very small diameter. To avoid crumbling while cutting refractory glass with a grinder, the cut line is poured with oil. 
If you use not a grinder, but a machine with a diamond wheel, you can cut tempered glass at home. In this case, a cooling emulsion must be continuously supplied to the cutting wheel. You can cut it, but all the properties of such glass will be nullified. The technology for the manufacture of tempered glass often involves the imparting of certain properties already finished product such as a fireplace door.
Another type favored by designers and often used in everyday life for decorative purposes is corrugated glass. It differs from the usual one in that it has a non-smooth surface on one side. It is necessary to cut corrugated glass from a flat side with any glass cutter, but oil is preferable. To make it convenient to work, the table is covered soft cloth on which the glass sheet is placed.
Glass This material is special and different from other building materials.
The construction material is extremely fragile and is mostly transparent.
That is why before you buy glass and work with it, you need to start shopping with a tool.
But you should not buy the first tool that comes across, because it may be of poor quality and will not be able to cut the glass as it should.
It is very important to determine what kind of tool you need, because glass cutters come in several types.:
- roller;
- Diamond;
- Oily;
Roller
The roller glass cutter for glass cutting has a special roller, which is made of a very durable tungsten-cobalt alloy. The usual roller diameter is 6.6 mm, this roller diameter allows cutting glass up to 4 mm thick.
Diamond
The diamond glass cutter is equipped with a correspondingly small diamond, this diamond cuts glass. The hardness of diamond is well known and therefore it has been used for cutting glass for a very long time.
Nowadays, as before, a diamond glass cutter is considered the best tool to cut glass.
Oily
Not so long ago, the list of glass cutters was replenished with an oil glass cutter.
This is essentially an improved roller tool, the handle of which has a reservoir for supplying lubricant to the roller. This lubricant binds the particles that are formed during the cutting of glass while providing a smooth movement. This glass cutter can cut glass up to 20 mm.
- Before buying any kind of glass cutter, it is best to ask the seller to check.
- In the event that the tool suits you, then you can buy it, but buy the one that was shown to you.
How to cut glass
A sheet of glass is not so easy to cut off as it seems the first time. To make a cut of glass, preparation is necessary.
Training
- Absolutely new glass will be enough to be well cleaned of dust and wiped dry with newspapers, the fabric is not suitable for such work.
- In the event that you have to cut old glass, then first it should be degreased, after which the glass is well washed with water and detergents.
- After all the above manipulations, the glass will need to be dried in a closed and clean room.
cutting glass
Also to preparatory work include cutting glass, and preparing containers for collecting waste. There should be two containers, that is, for collecting small waste and for collecting larger ones, which may be useful for something in the future.
It is best to start cutting glass with simple window glass, and then move on to more complex options.
Glass cutting technique
When using a diamond glass cutter, it is necessary to hold it at the very bottom of the handle and draw a line smoothly along the ruler, almost without pressing on the glass.
When cutting glass roller glass cutter a slight pressure is required and when the glass cutter moves, a whitish strip appears on the surface of the glass and is deeper than when using a diamond tool.
Possible mistakes
There are two mistakes in the river of glass:
- The pressure of the glass cutter is too strong;
- The glass cutter is carried out several times in the same place.
When cutting glass, try to press the tool evenly along the entire length of the cut.
If you notice chips when cutting glass, it only means that you are pushing the tool too hard. To avoid this, reduce the pressure on the glass cutter.
In no case do not draw on the cut line twice, this can ruin your tool.
The final stage - glass breaking
Thin glass is broken by hand. A piece of glass that has already been cut must be placed on the edge of the table, so that the cutting line is on top and protrudes slightly beyond the edge of the table, and the main part of the glass should lie on the table.
You need to press the glass sheet with one hand, and with the other hand you need to take hold of the protruding part of the glass and gently press down on the glass with your hand.
If the edge to be broken off is small and it is impossible to break it off with your hands, use pliers.
Knowing the theory of stele cutting allows you to put this knowledge into practice. That is, you can take a small piece of glass and practice on it.
After you try glass cutting in practice, you will be more confident in your skills in the future. We hope this information is helpful. We wish you good luck and patience!
Glass products have always been very popular: frescoes, dishes and many other things created from scraps of this material have always amazed people with their grace and smoothness of lines. Looking at this splendor, it seems that to create it you need to be a real professional with vast experience in working with glass and a lot of necessary tools, and a simple "mortal" would never master this complex science. In fact, not everything is as sad as it seems at first glance, and anyone can get knowledge on how to cut glass at home.
Glass preparation for cutting
A lot depends on this stage, and the preparation process itself depends on which glass you decide to use for cutting. New glass, bought specifically for this purpose, is easy to wipe, and it is best to use it for this old newspaper(this will avoid streaks and settling of small villi). With used material, you will have to work, spending much more effort. First, it must be thoroughly rinsed using special means for washing glasses. Secondly, degrease with a cloth soaked, for example, in kerosene and, finally, dry in a closed room to avoid dust on the surface.
In addition, the preparation of glass implies its cutting. As you know, you are unlikely to achieve completely waste-free production when working with glass, especially if you are planning to get a product that is not quite correct. geometric shape. However, an accurate calculation will reduce possible waste to a minimum. At this stage, more rational decision there will be a combination of the longer side of the glass with long side blanks. Please note that the resulting trimmings should not be thrown away, they can be used in the future to create new products.
What tools to use?
Many of us are accustomed to believing that it is possible to cut glass correctly and efficiently only with a glass cutter. But what if you need to cut off a piece of glass urgently, but this tool was not at hand? There is another unusual, but no less effective method who helped our great-grandfathers get out of this situation. Such a tool is ordinary scissors available to any owner. Let's consider each method in detail.
Option 1: glass cutter
The technology for cutting glass with a glass cutter is quite simple. For this, it is necessary to comply certain conditions and choose the right glass cutter. To date, the choice of this tool is quite wide, which allows you to turn work into pleasure.
- A diamond glass cutter that has stood the test of time and remains a leader in its field to this day. For home use glass cutters with a beveled cutting edge are suitable. Such a tool is designed to cut glass up to ten kilometers and is suitable for any thickness of the material used. From time to time, such a glass cutter needs to be sharpened on a special bar.
- Roller. As the name implies, the cutting part of such a glass cutter is made in the form of a roller made of durable cobalt-tungsten alloy. The number of rollers can be from one to six.
- Oil. Such a tool works on the principle of a roller glass cutter, with the difference that a reservoir of oil is built into its handle, which is automatically fed to the roller. Suitable for cutting thick glass.
To learn how to choose a good glass cutter, watch the video:
So, having dealt with the glass cutter, place the glass on a flat surface. Mark up the glass and get to work. You can use a ruler to make things easier. It is worth considering the moment that the line must be drawn the first time, otherwise a second attempt will lead to cracking of the surface. To cut glass with a glass cutter, you need to apply the same effort along the entire length of the line being drawn.
Option 2: ordinary scissors
Cutting glass with scissors like paper is not a fairy tale, but quite an ordinary reality. For this purpose, you will need the scissors themselves (sewing is best for this) and a tank of water (preferably hot). It is necessary to mark the glass in advance, and then elementary physics comes into play: scissors create a microcrack, and the capillary effect completes the process. Of course, the result obtained will differ from that achieved with a glass cutter, but if necessary, this method can greatly help out.
Types of glass and features of work
Cutting ordinary glass does not cause almost any difficulties. Not only glass cutters, but also ordinary tailor's scissors do an excellent job with this task. But what about those who set themselves the task of obtaining a glass product with a more complex configuration. To do this, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the properties of some glasses.
- tempered glass products. In fact, cut strained glass at home is impossible - it loses its properties. If you want to purchase an item with elements this material, it is worth thinking about cutting it in the early stages. In addition, work with it should be carried out by professionals, since the hardening process of the resulting product can only be carried out under certain conditions.
- corrugated glass. This patterned glass is especially popular in door glazing or creating decorative elements interior. Unlike tempered glass, such glass is quite capable of being cut independently. Working with it differs little from working with ordinary glass, the only difference is that the cut is made from the smooth side. For this, a roller glass cutter is best suited.
- Acrylic or organic glass - This is a transparent plastic created on the basis of synthetic resins. No special tools are required to cut it. At home, a metal saw, cutter and other tools used for edge processing do an excellent job with this task. In addition, with glass, the thickness of which does not exceed 2 mm, an ordinary stationery knife does an excellent job.
In any case, it is worth remembering that working with any glass must be accompanied by certain precautions. The presence of tight gloves and goggles is the main condition for the implementation of their own safety. It will not be superfluous to take care of the arrangement of the workplace. Since working with glass involves the presence of fragments, cover the work surface with any material that you would not mind getting rid of. Feeling safe will allow you to achieve the best results.
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Discussion:
Pavel said:
For some reason, everyone writes about scissors as science fiction. I read somewhere about this method about 25 years ago ... and tried it - I had to cut it out figured glass. In a basin of water, ordinary scissors, glass and go! - I didn't expect it to be so easy! Of course, it didn’t cut, but pieces broke off, but exactly in the right place! ..
Glass has always stood apart among building materials. Fragile, mostly transparent, it is not given to everyone, but those masters who make friends with glass can create real miracles from it: frescoes, mosaics, colored stained-glass windows of incredible beauty. And even simple windows, if they are fitted and inserted correctly, akin to magic: letting light into the house, not letting heat out of it.
The main wealth of a glazier has always been, is and will be the knowledge of how to cut glass so that its pieces are obtained right size and shapes, with even, without chips, edges. But if earlier both the glass itself and the tools for cutting it cost fabulous money, so cutting was trusted by the most experienced craftsmen However, today the situation has changed dramatically. Today, everyone can work with glass, and rarely is a home workshop of a self-respecting owner complete without tools for cutting glass.
Which tool to choose
Glass, like no other building material, requires good and quality tool. Therefore, you need to start with its search and purchase. But if you just go to hardware store and buy the first glass cutter that comes across, then there is almost no chance that he will be able to cut glass.
First of all, you need to decide which tool you need. Glass cutters are of several types:
- diamond;
- roller;
- oil.
The diamond glass cutter uses a small diamond as a working tool. Everyone is well aware of the extraordinary hardness of this stone, so it has been used by craftsmen for cutting glass since time immemorial. Despite its venerable age, the diamond glass cutter is still considered the best tool for cutting glass today.
Roller glass cutters use a roller made of heavy-duty tungsten-cobalt alloy for cutting. The standard diameter of such a roller is 6.6 mm, which allows cutting glass maximum thickness up to 4 mm.
The oil glass cutter has recently expanded the list of glass cutting tools. In fact, this is an improved roller glass cutter, in the handle of which a special reservoir is mounted to supply lubricant to the cutting roller. The lubricant binds the glass microparticles formed during cutting, reducing roller friction and ensuring smooth movement, deep penetration glass cutter. This glass cutter can cut glass up to 20 mm inclusive.
When buying a glass cutter of any model, be sure to require the seller to demonstrate the tool in operation. If the result of the demonstration suits you, you can purchase the instrument, but always the one with which it was produced. Definitely, you should not buy an untested tool, even if they are from the same batch as the demo one, since very often in modern glass cutters the cutting edge turns out to be defective.
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Glass preparation for cutting
It is a mistake to believe that it is enough just to put a sheet of glass on the table and start cutting it. Preparation for cutting, albeit the most minimal, should be. New glass can simply be cleaned of dust and wiped dry with newspapers. It is better not to take a cloth for this, because after it small fibers remain on the glass, making it difficult for the glass cutter to work normally.
If you have to cut used glass, then it must first be degreased. This is easy to do with a clean linen or flannel cloth soaked in kerosene. Then the glass must be thoroughly washed using special detergents for this purpose. And the final stage of preparation will be drying the glass in a closed clean room so that a minimum of dust gets on the cleaned surface.
The preparatory work includes cutting glass, as well as preparing containers for waste. It is better that there are two of them: then it will be possible to put small waste in one, which will be subsequently disposed of, and in the second - larger ones, which can still be useful for other purposes.
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How to cut glass
When cutting glass, you should always follow the principle “from simple to complex”. In practice, this means that you need to start practicing on an ordinary window glass, and the cutting itself should be done in straight lines. And only after gaining sufficient experience, you can take on artistic cutting or for cutting expensive glass.
The cutting technique is quite simple. First you need to prepare a table or other flat surface on which the cutting will be performed. It is better to cover the surface with 4-5 layers of newspaper, this will, firstly, protect the surface of the table from glass chips, and secondly, more evenly distribute the pressure of the glass on the table, preventing it from cracking.
The glass must be completely laid on the countertop, stepping back from its edge by 5-7 cm. The cutter itself must be strictly opposite the cut mark. It is better (and more convenient) to spread your legs shoulder-width apart in order to securely fix the body and at the same time be able to freely move the body over the incision site. It is this position that gives the maximum chances for a successful final result.
During cutting, the glass must fit snugly against the tabletop, so to avoid vibration, press it against the surface free hand, but without fanaticism, otherwise glass, especially thin glass, can be crushed.
Taking a glass cutter in your hand, you need to draw a line from one edge of the sheet to the other. The glass cutter wheel must follow the marked line, but must always be strictly at right angles to the glass surface.
There are some subtleties when using different types glass cutters. They cut with a diamond glass cutter, taking it at the very bottom of the base of the handle, drawing along the ruler smoothly, like a pencil, along the marked line, practically without pressing it on the glass.
If you are cutting correctly, you will hear a subtle crackling sound as the glass cutter moves. A correctly made incision line will be thin and shallow, barely visible against the background of the glass.
Unlike a diamond one, on a roller glass cutter, when it moves along the glass, it is required to press lightly, so the notch line is distinguished by a whitish, clearly visible strip, moreover, deeper than when using a diamond glass cutter.
Glass cutting failures are most often caused by 2 reasons:
- too much pressure with a glass cutter;
- holding the glass cutter several times along the same line.
During cutting, the glass cutter must be pressed evenly along the entire length of the slot.
For glass with a thickness of 2 mm, the pressing force should be from 1 to 1.5 kg, for 4-5 mm glass, this force should be much greater - 5 kg. But the speed of the line special significance does not have.
If you, leading a line with a glass cutter, notice that small chips fly off the glass at the cut point, this means that you are putting too much pressure on the glass cutter. To correct the situation, you need to immediately reduce the pressure.
Re-cutting the glass along the same line is unacceptable in any case. This will practically kill the cutting part of your glass cutter, and the likelihood that the chip will go wrong in this case is very high. No matter how hard you try, hold on again exact copy the first line is impossible, imperceptible shifts to the side will be necessary.
How to cut glass and which glass cutter to choose - novice homeowners are interested in this when planning repairs in an apartment. Choose a modification depending on the type of glass and its thickness. Focus on the price indicator, the durability of the device and the resource - the number of meters that it can cut through. In the process of working with fragile glass, use tricks to quickly make a cut with smooth edges, no chips, scratches or cracks.
- Compass - for round shapes
- Scissors - unusual solution
- Other cutting equipment
How to cut glass at home - general rules
Do-it-yourself glass cutting is an activity that requires patience and endurance. To evenly cut fragile glass at home with any of the tools, follow the rules:
Cutting glass at home
Observe safety precautions:
Use a ruler for a straight line
Trick: not to mark up clear glass, put it directly on the drawing and fix masking tape
Types of glass cutters and instructions for working with them
Glass cutters are classified according to the type of cutting part, handle and purpose. There are diamond, carbide roller and oil models that can cut straight or rounded shapes.
Diamond - durable and strong
The blade of the glass cutter is made of diamond fixed in the handle with silver solder. Diamond can be:
- natural - cuts to a depth of 5 to 10 mm;
- synthetic - with a cutting depth of up to 5 mm.
Cutting without marking glass
A model with a synthetic blade is cheaper than a natural one, and it copes with cutting just as well. It is designed to cut 10 thousand running meters glass.
Manufacturers perform the cutting head of a diamond glass cutter in one of two forms:
- pyramidal tetrahedral;
- curvilinear.
Tools with pyramidal heads are used by professional carvers, and curvilinear ones are used by novice craftsmen at home. When the cutting part of the diamond becomes blunt, the locking screw of the holder is unscrewed and the tip is slightly turned with another edge, approximately 90°, and fixed again. After the wear of all the ribs, the cutter is replaced with a new one or sharpened on a diamond-coated cast iron bar.
On the basis of a diamond glass cutter, in addition to holders for the cutter, 1-3 slots are provided for breaking glass. The handle is made of wood or plastic, sometimes rubber inserts are made.
Model with diamond cutter
How to cut glass with a diamond glass cutter:
Roller - popular and simple
Do-it-yourself glass cutting requires patience and jewelry precision from the master. When choosing which glass cutter is better - roller or diamond, make a list of tool requirements. If price is the determining factor for you, take a model with a roller. Diamond glass cutters are more expensive but more durable.
The roller tool is easy to use and popular with beginner carvers working at home. Its blade tool, in direct contact with the material being cut, is a tungsten-cobalt tungsten carbide roller. When working with glass, it scrolls, forming a cut line.
On sale there are such types of roller glass cutters:
- conventional with a wooden handle - copes with material up to 5 mm thick;
- with a plastic handle, made in China - has similar properties;
- professional glass cutter - cuts material up to 10 mm thick;
- the tool from Kraftool is semi-professional.
Glass cutter with 6 rollers
Ordinary glass cutters are sold in hardware stores and cost about 100 rubles. Choose wooden or plastic handle- you decide. The kit includes five spare rollers per shift.
Characteristics of a standard roller:
- diameter - 6.6 mm;
- sharpening angle - 100?.
How to replace the roller in the glass cutter:
Movable head allows you to cut curved shapes
You can not replace the roller, but sharpen it using abrasive wheel fine-grained structure.
Kraftool appliances are durable. A model with one roller costs 250 rubles, and its resource is 8000 m. A glass cutter with six rollers is cheaper, but each of them wears out completely in 1000 m. The maximum cutting depth for both tools is 5 mm.
The procedure for cutting glass with your own hands using a roller:
Video: How to cut glass with a roller glass cutter
Oil - with an increased resource
The oil glass cutter is an innovation among glass cutting tools. According to the principle of operation, it resembles a roller, but differs in the presence of an oil reservoir on the handle. From tank to cutting edge the wick stretches, through which oil is automatically supplied to the surface of the glass. Lubricant performs the following functions:
- reduced friction level;
- increase in blade life.
An oil glass cutter is used to work with glass up to 20 mm thick. It is more convenient to use and easy to move on the surface. Tool resource - 5000 running meters without sharpening.
After the resource is exhausted, the working head is completely replaced, along with the roller. To be replaced:
- mounting axes;
- rollers;
- sidewalls.
Usually install rollers with sharpening angles:
- 150? - for working with glass with a thickness of 1-2 cm;
- 135? – for cutting material up to 1 cm thick.
Inside the handle - oil reservoir
The head may be movable or stably fixed in the base. Some models of tools with a movable head provide the possibility of fixing the cutting part.
Due to their ergonomic shape, extensive functionality and reasonable cost, oil glass cutters are more popular than diamond ones. Using such a tool, timely add liquid lubricant to the reservoir.
Key requirements that glass cutter oil must meet:
- consistency of medium density - such that the lubricant easily penetrates through the narrow neck, but does not ooze;
- good adhesion - the oil should not spread over the surface of the material.
High-quality oil easily penetrates the blade of the tool along the wick and, when pressed, leaves a small viscous trace. The glass cutting sequence is the same as when working with a roller tool.
Compasses - for round shapes
The devices described above are suitable when it is necessary to cut glass in a straight line. But which glass cutter is better to buy when required curly cutting? If you need to cut a round shape, look for a compass tool. In fact, this is an oil analog, fixed on a suction cup.
How to cut glass with a glass cutter in the form of a compass in a circle:
Cutting a circle with a circular tool
To cut through the oval, use a system of two rods, fixing them on the suction cup perpendicular to each other, and placing a rod with cutting tool.
Scissors - an unusual solution
If you don't have a glass cutter and buying a tool isn't an option, use regular tailor's scissors instead.
How to cut glass with scissors:
You will be surprised, but due to the capillary effect, the glass is easy to press. A microcrack forms on the surface, and then a fracture, and the material breaks up into pieces. The cut quality when working with scissors is worse, but the method is suitable for irresponsible openings.
Video: Cutting glass with scissors
Professional commercial installations
Professional glass cutters are different from home hand tools. In large enterprises this automatic settings powered by electricity. There are three types of industrial glass cutters:
- laser;
- sandblasting;
- hydroabrasive.
Glass laser cutting machine
Laser devices convert electricity into high-temperature radiation, focused at one point. They allow you to perfectly accurately cut the most complex openwork shapes from glass or mirrors without damaging the material.
Advantages of laser equipment: high speed work, waste-free production, perfect cuts. Disadvantages: the need to work in perfect cleanliness, the requirement of professional knowledge to work with the installation.
Sandblasting units create a cut using an air jet mixed with sand and released under high pressure. The advantage of the method is the possibility of not only cutting, but also decorating glass products. The disadvantage is the inability to use at home.
Hydroabrasive installations operate similarly to sandblasting, but instead of sand with air, water is sprayed. Specialists set the cutting path on a computer, and then only control the process.
Which glass cutter is best for different types of glass
When choosing a glass cutter, consider the structure and properties of the material you plan to cut.
Glass cutting methods various kinds:
- ordinary thickness from 5 mm - cut with a diamond or oil glass cutter;
- normal thickness up to 5 mm - use diamond, roller or oil;
- hardened - not amenable to cutting at home;
- matte - cut along the smooth side with any tool;
- acrylic - is not glass, cut it with scissors or a clerical knife.
Having decided on the type of instrument, select its category:
- home glass cutter;
- semi-professional;
- professional.
glass transfer suction cup
Compare the resource and cost of each tool:
- diamond - 10 thousand m;
- roller - 6-8 thousand m;
- oil - 5 thousand m
Pay attention to the sharpening angles of the blades - the characteristic allows you to determine how thick the tool is able to work.
Other cutting equipment
One glass cutter is not enough to cut glass efficiently and quickly. You will need other tools:
- Desktop. Its surface should be smooth, without depressions and bulges. The table is horizontal. Professional tables have metal guides that allow you to move the glass without the risk of being broken.
- A square for glass or a ruler on a rubber suction cup. If you use professional glass cutters with a ruler, according to which you can set the distance from the suction cup to the notch line, you are unlikely to need a square. The ruler should be suitable for working with fragile materials and fixed with suction cups.
- A simple pencil or marker. For markup.
- Hammer weighing 60-80 g. For tapping glasses that do not break off by hand.
- Kerosene and cloth. For degreasing glass. Kerosene is also fueled by oil glass cutters.
- Roulette. For measurements.
Ruler with rubber anti-slip lining
Tips for working with glass
There are a number of tricks you can use when working with a glass cutter. Below are some:
Video: How to cut glass correctly
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