GLASS CUTTING AND BREAKING

1. When it comes to cutting glass, it can be done one of two ways. Either, you choose to do it yourself or you hire a company to do it for you. Plain and simple. For those that opt to cut glass themselves, it’s not as a daunting of a task that one would believe. Like any do-it-yourself project, cutting glass can be successfully accomplished with the right knowledge and tools. As a matter of fact, you could have the best tools that the industry has to offer but if you don’t know how to use them, and worse yet, use them incorrectly, will not only get a sub-par result but potentially get injured while doing it. So if you are opting to save money and do your glass-cutting project yourself, then please read on for some valuable tips. First and foremost, the most basic tool that you will need to cut glass is, well, a glass cutter. These come in various shapes and sizes, depending on how much or how little you want to spend. For those that are planning on doing large projects you may consider purchasing a cordless glass cutter such as the Makita CC301DSYE Cordless Glass and Tiles Saw Kit that is available online at www.ogscanada.ca. Another option could be Silberschitt Speed Cutter (which is manual – not electric or battery powered). Both of these options are great and easy to use if your budget allows it. The price range for both is between approximately $200-$300. You also have a variety of basic manual glass cutters to choose from when shopping around for your DIY project. Another important supply to keep in mind when cutting your own glass is glass cutting oil. The oil helps keep the glass cutting tool lubricated and to give you a clean, successful cut. It’s also important that the oil you purchase wipes clean away when finished. And last but not least – safety goggles. Having adequate eye protection can never be understated. So now that you have the proper tools to work with, how exactly does one cut glass? For some just the thought of cutting glass would make them cringe. But, as you well know, some will choose to do it on their own in order to save money, acquire a new skill or simply for the joy of doing it. If it’s your first time cutting glass, it’s highly advisable to use some scrap glass and practice. Doing this will help build confidence with your technique and if you make a mistake it’s not a big deal. Cutting glass incorrectly when it’s the only sheet you have could be a costly and inconvenient mistake. The first thing you do is to make sure that the glass you plan on cutting is clean. Once you have finished cleaning the glass, make sure it is completely dry. Then, it is very important that you lay the glass down a flat surface – one that is suitable for glass cutting (it’s probably a good idea to do this in workshop-type environment or at least somewhere that is easy to clean up pieces of glass). Keep in mind that once you cut the glass, there are no do- overs. Once it is cut it’s cut so make sure that you measure. And then re-measure, especially if you are new to glass cutting. You can never be to safe and never be too accurate! You can measure with a straight ruler and use marker to identify your cutting areas. Once you have marked where you need to cut then it’s time to score the glass. Make sure you have lubricated your glass cutter and apply light pressure to the glass. glass cutter You're cutting glass AWAY to acquire your preferred shape. If you can, you ought to be standing up to cut glass. It’s important that you cut from one edge to another and not go backwards. Once you have scored the glass it’s time to break the glass. Now this can take some practice. You can mistakenly apply too much pressure and end up crushing your glass or not enough pressure and nothing happens. Once you learn your proper amount of pressure you keep your arms and elbow steady and turn your wrists away from each other until the glass gently breaks.

2. Once you have successfully cut your glass, you are not quite finished. At this point your glass does not have a smooth edge so it is necessary to sand it with a light sandpaper. And then, voila! You have successfully cut glass all on your own!