How To Properly Cut Glass With A Roller Glass Cutter

Diamond glass cutter

The diamond glass cutter can be safely called the “flagship” among such tools. As a cutter in such glass cutters, diamond is used. the most durable material in the world. Thanks to this, the diamond glass cutter is able to cut glass with a thickness of up to 10 millimeters, while making the most even cut, practically free of chips and requiring minimal processing. The only drawback of a diamond glass cutter can be considered only its relatively high cost, and even in those cases when not natural, but artificial diamond is used as a cutter.

Working with a diamond (as well as with any other glass cutter) requires certain skills.

The first step is to prepare the surface on which the glass will be cut. For this purpose, an ordinary table is perfect, which must first be covered with something soft (for example, carpet or linoleum). Prepared glass is laid on the surface.

Before the main cutting, it is recommended to check the glass cutter on an unnecessary piece of glass. To do this, take the tool with your thumb and forefinger and slide the line over the glass with slightly more pressure than when writing with a ballpoint pen or pencil. If the result is a thin white line, the glass cutter is ready to work and you are doing everything correctly, If the line is thick and filled with small glass chips, try changing the angle of inclination of the cutter.

The process of cutting glass with a diamond glass cutter itself is as follows. Using a ruler and a square, the necessary markings are applied to the glass. After that, along the side of the same ruler or any even bar, they carry out a glass cutter with a medium pressure. The white line remaining from the cutter is aligned with the edge of the table and lightly pressed against the hanging edge of the glass. If you did everything correctly, the glass will break off quite easily exactly along the cut line of the cut.

When working with thick (thicker than 2 millimeters) glass, before breaking, it is recommended to slightly “tap” the cut line with a hammer.

If the glass does not break, do not try to re-cut in the same place as the previous one. Better shift the markup a little and repeat the whole operation.

In order to better understand the principle of working with a diamond glass cutter, we recommend that you look at the following:

Selection of cutting tools

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 completely correctly, but the process goes on with disappointing results. Often the problem lies in the correct selection of tools, the following types of glass cutters are distinguished:

  • The diamond glass cutter is a classic tool that has been used for many years. For home use, a glass cutter with a beveled cutting edge is optimal, it withstands about 10 km of cuts. From time to time it is necessary to re-sharpen the tool on the bar;
  • Roller glass cutter. the cutting element consists of 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 to be cut, such a glass cutter is optimal for working with thick glass;
  • Glass cutter for cutting circles and ovals. the tool resembles a compass or a mechanism of several devices. If it is a circus-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 are set. Most often, such tools are oil, 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 held. In glass cutting work, this device is called a mold. If it is necessary 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 required.

When choosing the glass cutter itself, you must stop at the tool that allows you to break the glass into pieces from only one cut. If the cutter is not of very high quality, then the line will need to be cut several times. When cutting, you need to be as accurate and careful 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 alignment.

Glass preparation

If the new glass does not need special preparation (it is enough just to wipe it from dust), then you will have to “tinker” a little with the used glass.

To begin with, the glass must be thoroughly washed using special detergents. Then degrease with kerosene or alcohol-containing compounds, and finally, dry well before wiping.

It is better to use an old newspaper rather than a rag to wipe the glass. Thanks to this, there will be no small lint and stains on the glass.

Having prepared the glass, you can start cutting it.

tips for cutting glass

And I want to give a few tips that are applicable when working with any kind of glass cutters:

  • If one or more edges of the glass have defects and chips, it is advisable to remove them by cutting off a thin (2-4 centimeters) strip and only then proceed to marking the glass.
  • On board the head of almost any model of glass cutters there is a special notch with which you can break off small pieces from glass.
  • If it is necessary to make a curved cut, then it is advisable to break its line into several straight lines. If it is not possible to do this, then it is necessary to make the appropriate patterns from a hard material (for example, plywood) and make a cut by moving the tool along the edge of the patterns.

We hope that after reading our article you will easily cope with such a simple, but still having its own subtleties and nuances, task like cutting glass. Happy renovation!

Preparatory activities

In order for the cut to be of high quality, you must first prepare the material for work. If the glass is new, then just wipe it down. A newspaper is best suited for these purposes, it mainly wipes the surface dry, and also does not leave lint and stains behind.

If the glass was previously in use, then before cutting the material with a glass cutter, it will take a little more time to prepare it. First of all, such a surface will need to be thoroughly washed using special glass cleaning products. This is followed by a thorough degreasing process. Alternatively, you can use kerosene. To do this, wipe the glass thoroughly with a cloth soaked in kerosene and wait until it dries completely.

At the same time, the stage of glass preparation also includes its cutting. There is no doubt that you will be able to achieve the final result without waste, especially if you need to cut an item of irregular geometric shape. But if you make the calculation as correctly as possible, then you can reduce the amount of waste several times.

Also, make sure that the working surface is sufficiently flat and without slopes, but not too hard, it is advisable to make the working surface of plywood or fiberboard, and cover it with an oilcloth or soft cloth on top.

Diamond glass cutter

Diamond glass cutter is able to cut glass up to 10 millimeters thick

The diamond glass cutter can be safely called the “flagship” among such tools. As a cutter in such glass cutters, diamond is used. the most durable material in the world. Thanks to this, the diamond glass cutter is able to cut glass up to 10 millimeters thick, while making the most even cut, practically free of chips and requiring minimal processing. The only drawback of a diamond glass cutter can be considered only its relatively high cost, and even in those cases when not natural, but artificial diamond is used as a cutter.

Working with a diamond (as well as with any other glass cutter) requires certain skills.

The first step is to prepare the surface on which the glass will be cut. For this purpose, a regular table is perfect, which must first be covered with something soft (for example, carpet or linoleum). Prepared glass is laid on the surface.

Before the main cutting, it is recommended to check the glass cutter on an unnecessary piece of glass. To do this, take the tool with your thumb and forefinger and slide the line over the glass with slightly more pressure than when writing with a ballpoint pen or pencil. If the result is a thin white line, the glass cutter is ready to work and you are doing everything correctly, If the line is thick and filled with small glass chips, try changing the angle of inclination of the cutter.

The process of cutting glass with a diamond glass cutter itself is as follows. Using a ruler and a square, the necessary markings are applied to the glass. After that, along the side of the same ruler or any even bar, they carry out a glass cutter with a medium pressure. The white line remaining from the cutter is aligned with the edge of the table and lightly pressed against the hanging edge of the glass. If you did everything correctly, the glass will break off quite easily exactly along the cut line of the cut.

When working with thick (thicker than 2 millimeters) glass, before breaking, it is recommended to slightly “tap” the cut line with a hammer.

If the glass does not break, do not try to re-cut in the same place as the previous one. Better shift the markup a little and repeat the whole operation.

In order to better understand the principle of working with a diamond glass cutter, we recommend that you look at the following:

Cutting technology

Glass markings. On opposite sides, mark the desired length with a marker, and draw a straight line with a ruler on the plane of the table.

Then align the marked edges of the glass with the line on the table. The method is, of course, only suitable for transparent glasses.

The ruler or rail is laid parallel to the mowing line of the future cut so that it does not interfere with the tip of the diamond cutter or the roller of the glass cutter to move freely exactly along the intended mowing line.

You can make sure that the roller is on the line by experience: by installing a ruler, apply a glass cutter and visually assess the accuracy of the coincidence of the cutting tip or wheel with the marked line.

Holding the ruler firmly, draw a strip along the mark with a tool.

It should be borne in mind that you should not put too much pressure on the glass cutter to cut the glass correctly. The most important thing is to guide the instrument with the same pressure on the glass plane and constant speed. It is recommended to release the pressure at the edges of the glass. This will help avoid chipping and chipping in these areas.

Master class for working with a diamond glass cutter. Preparing glass for cutting

The degree of complexity of the preparatory work depends on the state of the material. So, if you need to get finished products from glass that has just been purchased, you don’t have to make much effort. In this case, just wipe the surface. You do not need to use special detergents. At the same time, they use a newspaper to remove streaks and dust. This method provides the ability to quickly prepare glass surfaces. Do not use a cloth, as there is a risk of fluff getting on the glass surface. The only exception is microfiber.

Used glass is prepared more carefully:

  • It must be washed using a special glass cleaner;
  • Wipe the surface dry;
  • At the last stage, it is necessary to degrease the glass, for this use a rag soaked in kerosene.

Before starting work, the sheet must be dried, leaving it indoors. You can additionally cover the material with foil so that you do not have to repeat the cleaning procedure. The preparatory stage also includes cutting the material. If you need to make a circle of glass or other curly elements, it is advisable to apply the contours as close to each other as possible. Then the material consumption will be small. Long pieces should be placed along the larger side of the glass sheet.

Preparatory activities

In order for the cut to be of high quality, you must first prepare the material for work. If the glass is new, then just wipe it down. A newspaper is best suited for these purposes, it mainly wipes the surface dry, and also does not leave lint and stains behind.

If the glass was previously in use, then before cutting the material with a glass cutter, it will take a little more time to prepare it. First of all, such a surface will need to be thoroughly washed using special glass cleaning products. This is followed by a thorough degreasing process. Alternatively, you can use kerosene. To do this, wipe the glass thoroughly with a cloth soaked in kerosene and wait until it dries completely.

At the same time, the stage of glass preparation also includes its cutting. There is no doubt that you will be able to achieve the final result without waste, especially if you need to cut an item of irregular geometric shape. But if you make the calculation as correctly as possible, then you can reduce the amount of waste several times.

Also, make sure that the working surface is sufficiently flat and without slopes, but not too hard, it is advisable to make the working surface of plywood or fiberboard, and cover it with an oilcloth or soft cloth on top.

How to cut glass with a glass cutter: detailed instructions

If you have planned to carry out work on cutting glass, then first of all you should decide which glass cutter is best suited for your case. At the moment there are two types of tools. diamond and roller.

How To Properly Cut Glass With A Roller Glass Cutter

The diamond model is considered to be the leader among the tools of this type. If you are going to use it at home, then the model that has a beveled edge is perfect, which is very convenient for breaking off cut pieces. You can cut glass with such a glass cutter almost ten kilometers of material, with a thickness of up to one centimeter. But at the same time, it should be borne in mind that there are cheap types in which an artificial diamond is installed, which allows cutting glass with a thickness not exceeding 5 mm.

Unlike diamond, a roller glass cutter has a working element in the form of a small roller, usually made of carbide materials, usually a tungsten-cobalt alloy, which is capable of cutting material up to 4 mm thick. The advantage of this type of tool is that the roller can easily move on the glass, while not putting much effort to lay the furrow.

The work process is carried out in the following order:

Clean and dry glass is laid on the surface of the working table. The necessary markup is made with a marker. Further, at both ends, small cuts are made along the marked mowing line. Please note that the material used must be in close contact with the surface of the desktop.

After that, you need to put a ruler on the glass and draw a line along it with a tool. It is worth holding a diamond glass cutter in your hands in the same way as a regular pencil; when passing along the marked mowing line, only a little effort should be applied. As a result, only a barely noticeable mark remains on the glass, which looks like a scratch. If the instrument is in good working order, then a characteristic crackle-like sound must be present. If the sound is creaking, then this means that its cutting element needs to be sharpened on a special bar for this.

Hold such a tool during operation at a slight angle, the correctness of which is determined empirically. Note that a tool that is in the correct position relative to the glass leaves a colorless thin line.

A roller glass cutter, unlike a diamond one, must be held strictly at right angles to the surface of the glass, while pressing it with the middle and thumb, and pressing it with the index finger. Please note that the roller tool is pressed a little more than the diamond one, and the cut itself should turn out to be white.

In order to get a high-quality and, of course, even cut. remember a few simple rules that must be followed while working with glass using a diamond tool:

  • Do not press on the glass while moving the cutter, otherwise the cut will be too deep and the edges will be uneven.
  • In no case should you make another cut on the resulting mowing line. Otherwise, the glass may break. The incision should be done as quickly as possible. For example, if we cut a length into a meter, then you need to spend no more than two seconds on it.
  • In order for the workpiece to break off quickly and accurately along the mowing line of the cut, lightly tap on the back of the glass. After which you will not need any effort to break it off.

If you are just a beginner, it is best to practice on small pieces, this will help determine the correct angle of inclination of the instrument, gain experience, reduce losses, and also avoid mistakes in the future.

How to cut glass without a glass cutter

You can cut glass without using a glass cutter. Very often the simplest scissors are used for this procedure. To cut fragile material with scissors, place it in warm water and cut out pieces of the size you need underneath. Regular glass will be as easy to cut with scissors as cardboard or other sturdy paper.

If a large piece of glass needs to be cut, it can be placed in a large basin or tub. Then run the sharp part of the scissors over the glass, break off the unnecessary parts of the glass. Be sure to put on gloves to avoid cutting yourself on the sharp edge. At the same time, it is also desirable to protect the eyes.

In this way, you can cut glass no more than 3 mm. Shapes can only be cut with straight contours. It is imperative to prepare a template in advance and glue it to the glass using glue. It is worth noting one interesting point: the more water is above the glass, the easier it will be to cut the future product.

You can also use twine, some hot liquid, and a small vessel that needs to be filled with cold water. You need to make the necessary marks on the glass, then soak the string with alcohol or gasoline, fold it onto the marks and set it on fire. Immediately after the fire goes out, pour a thin stream of water over the fishing line. At this point, the glass must be cracked. Then break off the glass along the crack that appears and sand all the edges with sandpaper. If no cracks appear, then you need to repeat the whole procedure again. In this way, you can cut very complex shapes, everything will depend on how you lay the twine.

How to cut a circle out of glass

In order to be able to cut a circle out of glass, you can use several different methods, which may differ depending on the diameter of the future circle and, of course, the thickness of the glass.

The simplest and most common way to cut an even circle is to use a circular glass cutter. Usually, the presence of such a tool on the farm is quite rare. But for these purposes, you can use the usual tool.

First of all, you need to designate the central part of the future product and fix a special suction cup on it. Then to this suction cup you need to tie a strong thread or fishing line with a length equal to the radius of the planned circle. The glass cutter itself must be tied to the end of this rope. Tighten the rope as much as possible and then draw the line in a circle around the suction cup with the tool. When the circle is drawn, it is very important to additionally make more beam mowing lines, which will eliminate unnecessary pieces of glass around the finished product.

How to cut glass with a glass cutter at home

Sooner or later, the household may need to replace the glass on its own. But working with such a fragile material is very traumatic. In this connection, in order to avoid injuries and excessive consumption of material, you should know the basic rules for working with this material and the selected tool.

Cutting ordinary glass is very simple and it will not cause any difficulties for a person. You can cut such glasses with a special glass cutter or even ordinary scissors.

If you have no idea how to properly handle this tool, then you can look at our site numerous on this topic. They will help you cut the desired shape and provide the necessary information on working with a rather complex and fragile material like glass.

Safety compliance

When cutting glass, it is very important to observe safety precautions, because the material is quite fragile and dangerous. You may not only cut yourself, but also injure your eye with shrapnel.

In no case should you cut glass on your knees or on unreliable objects with a glass cutter. Never grasp the edge of the glass, as raw edges can be very sharp. If you want to raise the workpieces, then you should make a wrap with your hands from the sides.

Wear protective gloves and goggles before handling to avoid cuts. It is also important to wear closed shoes so that the glass does not cut your foot if accidentally dropped. Clothing should be made of dense and thick fabric, which will also help to avoid accidental injury.

In order to prevent small glass fragments from getting outside the working room, clothes and shoes at the end of the work must be changed.

Glass preparation

If the new glass does not need special preparation (it is enough just to wipe it from dust), then you will have to “tinker” a little with the used glass.

To begin with, the glass must be thoroughly washed using special detergents. Then degrease with kerosene or alcohol-containing compounds, and finally, dry well before wiping.

Having prepared the glass, you can start cutting it.

Diamond glass cutter

Diamond glass cutter is able to cut glass up to 10 millimeters thick

The diamond glass cutter can be safely called the “flagship” among such tools. As a cutter in such glass cutters, diamond is used. the most durable material in the world. Thanks to this, the diamond glass cutter is able to cut glass up to 10 millimeters thick, while making the most even cut, practically free of chips and requiring minimal processing. The only drawback of a diamond glass cutter can be considered only its relatively high cost, and even in those cases when not natural, but artificial diamond is used as a cutter.

Working with a diamond (as well as with any other glass cutter) requires certain skills.

The first step is to prepare the surface on which the glass will be cut. For this purpose, an ordinary table is perfect, which must first be covered with something soft (for example, carpet or linoleum). Prepared glass is laid on the surface.

The process of cutting glass with a diamond glass cutter itself is as follows. Using a ruler and a square, the necessary markings are applied to the glass. After that, along the side of the same ruler or any even bar, they carry out a glass cutter with a medium pressure. The white line remaining from the cutter is aligned with the edge of the table and lightly pressed against the hanging edge of the glass. If you did everything correctly, the glass will break off quite easily exactly along the cut line of the cut.

If the glass does not break, do not try to re-cut in the same place as the previous one. Better shift the markup a little and repeat the whole operation.

In order to better understand the principle of working with a diamond glass cutter, we recommend that you look at the following:

Roller glass cutter

Roller glass cutter uses heavy-duty cobalt-tungsten alloy rollers as cutter

In this model of glass cutter, rollers made of heavy-duty cobalt-tungsten alloy are used as a cutter. As a rule, three to six rollers are attached to the rotary head of such glass cutters, which can be used instead of blunt ones.

One roller is designed for an average of 300 meter cuts

Before starting work, as in the case of a diamond glass cutter, it is necessary to prepare the glass and the surface, as well as apply the appropriate markings on the glass.

Cut once along the mowing line with a roller glass cutter (for a guaranteed even cut, it is better to use a ruler). Please note that the roller glass cutter must be pressed slightly harder than the diamond one. In addition, unlike a diamond glass cutter, which must be held at an angle when cutting, the roller must be placed strictly perpendicular to the glass.

You can break the glass with light pressure, aligning the cut line with the edge of the table, or placing matches under it on both sides.

Oil type tool

An oil glass cutter differs from a roller glass cutter only in that it is equipped with a special container from which oil is supplied to the cutting roller during operation

By its design, an oil glass cutter differs from a roller glass cutter only in that it is equipped with a special container, from which oil is supplied to the cutting roller during operation. As a result, the cutting effect is greatly enhanced, which makes it possible to cut thicker glass.

The principle of working with an oil glass cutter practically does not differ from working with roller models.

How to cut glass with a glass cutter correctly

Added by: Sergey Kolosov on August 12

Not one house can do without glass and, therefore, the question of cutting it arises practically with every renovation. For this purpose, glass cutters are used. diamond, oil and roller. Let’s consider each of the above varieties in more detail, but before that we’ll figure out how to properly prepare the glass for cutting.

tips for cutting glass

And I want to give a few tips that are applicable when working with any kind of glass cutters:

  • If one or more edges of the glass have defects and chips, it is advisable to remove them by cutting off a thin (2-4 centimeters) strip and only then proceed to marking the glass.
  • On board the head of almost any model of glass cutters there is a special notch with which you can break off small pieces from glass.
  • If it is necessary to make a curved cut, then it is advisable to break its line into several straight lines. If it is not possible to do this, then it is necessary to make the appropriate patterns from a hard material (for example, plywood) and make a cut by moving the tool along the edge of the patterns.

We hope that after reading our article you will easily cope with such a simple, but still having its own subtleties and nuances, task like cutting glass. Happy renovation!

Features of the work

First you need to prepare the basis on which the work will be carried out. It is better to put thick fabric, cardboard or newspapers in several layers on a flat table.

Marking is carried out with a marker, the line should be even, and the glass at the cut is clean.

The thickness of the ruler should ensure normal sliding of the tool, so that the ruler does not slide over the tool from the side that is adjacent to the glass, you can glue electrical tape.

In order to get a perfect cut, professional craftsmen use a special oil, but it can be successfully replaced with ordinary kerosene.

The use of kerosene allows even a person who does this work for the first time to normally cut glass even 6 mm thick.

Special oil or kerosene is poured into a container that is in the handle of the glass cutter, if it is not there, then you can simply moisten the tip of the cutter in kerosene.

When working with thick material, it is necessary to moisten the cutting line abundantly and then you will get it even.

The ruler must be of sufficient thickness, and the glass cutter is attached to it in such a way that its cutter moves exactly along the mowing line of the cut.

Moderate force should be applied to the instrument, it should not be very strong or weak.

It is necessary that the cutting line be continuous, you cannot stop while guiding the glass cutter. It is impossible to carry out the tool several times on one mowing line, everything must be done in one pass.

Features of cutting glass with a glass cutter

Very often, when carrying out construction or repair work, it is required to cut the glass to size, although this is a complex process, it can also be done at home.

Many home craftsmen are worried about how to cut glass with a glass cutter. if the technology is followed, then you will succeed.

What is needed to get the job done?

When deciding how to properly cut glass with a glass cutter at home, you must first purchase all the necessary elements. In addition to a glass cutter, you will need a ruler if the cut is straight and a curve, if it is curved. You won’t be able to make an even curvilinear cut of both plain and tempered glass without a normal pattern.

You need to buy a good diamond glass cutter and then, in order to cut tempered or plain glass, you just need to make one pass.

Cheaper models may need to do multiple passes.

In addition to the quality of the glass cutter, care and accuracy of work is of great importance.

Of no less importance is the surface on which the cutting is carried out, plain or tempered glass. It should be flat and the glass should fit snugly against it. Some people find that cutting tempered glass at home cannot be done.

Everything will depend on the degree of hardening, if it is high, then there is a high probability that it will crumble into small pieces.

It is especially difficult to cut tempered glass with an angle grinder. If you nevertheless decide to use an angle grinder, then you need to use a diamond disc and supply water to it.

But keep in mind that the slightest deviation of the angle grinder or glass cutter from the mowing line when cutting tempered glass will crumble. If it becomes necessary to work with tempered glass, then it is better to do this on a machine with a diamond wheel, while a cooling emulsion must be supplied to it.

Before starting this work at home, you need to decide on the type of glass with which you plan to work. Regular glass is easily cut with a glass cutter or even scissors.

If it is necessary to cut corrugated glass, this must be done from the smooth side, for these purposes it is better to use a roller glass cutter.

If the glass is organic, then it can be cut either with a glass cutter or an angle grinder, or with a regular saw.

If the thickness of the material is less than 2 mm, then it can be dealt with with a clerical knife.

When choosing a glass cutter, you need to pay attention to its sharpening angle, it is within 77-165 degrees.

For thin glass, take an instrument with a sharper angle. At home, it is difficult to properly cut glass that is more than 6 mm thick.

You can purchase a universal tool with replaceable rollers with different sharpening angles. The more expensive models have a better quality roller, which makes the cutting process easier. The quality tool in the handle has a container for oil.

Breaking process

It is necessary to break the glass immediately after the line has been laid, since over time it cools down and will break worse. The material is placed on the edge of the table along the mowing line of the cut and the necessary piece is broken off with one push.

In order for it not to break, you can press it from above with a wooden bar, and you just need to spread the thin one to the sides.

To break off a thick glass or narrow strip, you can place a pencil or similar object under the break line. Some people prefer to tap the back of the glass with a hammer before breaking the glass.

To grind the resulting edge, you can use a touchstone or sandpaper, but during operation, so that the glass does not burst, they must be moistened with water.

The cost of cutting glass will depend on whether the edge is straight or curved; on average, you will have to pay from 200 to 400 rubles per square meter.

If you adhere to the technology, then you can perform the specified work with high quality at home.

Roller glass cutter

A simple and relatively inexpensive tool that has become an indispensable tool for working with glass. Does not require much experience in handling and allows you to confidently cut glass even for novice craftsmen. In this article we will talk about the design features of roller glass cutters, consider the pros and cons of these devices and show how to use them correctly.

Roller glass cutter device

A semi-professional tool primarily aimed at home use. Roller glass cutter is one of the most important tools in glass work and is in the arsenal of almost any home craftsman. This device has an uncomplicated design with a minimum of features and does not require special skills for effective use.

The roller-type glass cutter consists of a handle, a metal head with grooves for breaking glass and a cutting disc. Depending on the model of the device, several cutters (3 or 6) can be installed in it. For more convenient replacement of cutting elements, they are fixed in a special drum. When one disc becomes blunt and stops performing its task, the drum is turned and a new, sharp roller is installed on the workplace.

The cutting elements of the roller glass cutters are made of tungsten carbide tungsten carbide, strong enough to “bite” into the glass. However, regardless of its strength, the roller gradually wears out and becomes unusable for further use. Usually the cutting disc is enough for 300-350 meters of glass, after which it needs to be replaced or sharpened.

How to cut glass correctly

Working with such a fragile material as glass is very specific and radically different from the usual wood, concrete or metal. Cutting here is a jewelery process based on precise and fast movements. Working with glass has its own unique features, but it allows you to quickly fill your hand in elementary tasks. To understand how to properly cut glass with a roller glass cutter, it is enough to know a few basic rules.

The thickness of the glass that can be used with a roller glass cutter should not exceed 6 mm. For large sizes, a diamond cutter is used.

The work surface must be even and flat, and the glass to be treated must be clean and dry.
the cutting line can be marked with a marker on the glass itself or on the surface under it. In the second case, on the glass you need to make 2 marks along the edges and align with the line on the working area.

When all the preparatory work has been done, you can start cutting. Be sure to remember that when cutting, the glass cutter must be perpendicular to the glass. It is best to start with a small incision (1. 2 mm) from the top edge of the glass. This is done to avoid possible chipping. Next, we run the cutter along the mowing line with medium effort. For convenience, a straight rail can be attached to the mowing line, but not close, but with an indent of 3-5 mm, depending on the width of the glass cutter head.

After all the manipulations, it remains only to break the glass along the cutting line of the cut. To do this, you can put a match under the cut and press on both sides. If the size is small, you can break it in your hands. If the text description was not enough, and you want to clearly see how to use the glass cutter with a wheel, will dot all over the “I”.

Sharpening the cutting roller

The safety margin of a carbide cutter is not unlimited and over time its sharpness will fade away. To get the glass cutter back in service, the cutter wheel can be replaced or sharpened. And if the replacement operation is extremely clear, then sharpening such a piece of jewelry can cause a couple of questions.

To sharpen a glass cutter roller, you will need a medium hard (ST), fine grain grinding wheel and a sharpener. The main thing is that the density of the abrasive is higher than the density of the tungsten carbide from which the cutter is made. The main task will be to fix the small part in a fixed position. To do this, you can build a simple device. A regular block is suitable as a handle. As a pin for fastening, you can drive a small drill into the block, the diameter of which will be equal to the hole in the cutter. So that the roller does not fit tightly to the bar, between them, on the drill, you can wind a wire or install several washers. After installing all components, sharpen the cutter on the grinding wheel at an angle of 90-110 degrees.

In the above diagram, there is no fastener that secures the roller to the drill. In order to stop or at least limit the rotation of the part during sharpening, after the roller, on the drill, you can wind several turns of wire and press the cutter with them at the moment of contact with the sharpener.

You can also use a dremel (drill, screwdriver) in conjunction with a diamond bit. A detailed demonstration of the process is as follows.

Method 1

For this method of curly cutting, a do-it-yourself pencil made of charcoal (wood) is used as a glass cutter.

It is done in this way: well ground (almost to a state of dust, in any case, the finer the better) coal is mixed with gum arabic (this is such a water-soluble wood glue, available for sale). Roll the resulting mass into a kind of sausage the size of a children’s thick pencil, and dry it very well.

Now, in order to use them for cutting out almost any shape from glass, cut the edge of the glass in the right place with a triangular file or a file and light the charcoal pencil. With the burning end of a pencil, touch the cut made, lead from this place in any direction you need. the glass will easily burst under the influence of the burning temperature of charcoal.

In this way, you can cut out the most intricate shapes from glass, which can be preliminarily marked on the original glass, it is not complicated and at the price of “mere pennies”.

In addition: a charcoal-gum arabic pencil is certainly better, a wider field for creativity, but in principle, for this method, you can use a soldering iron and a ruler.

Preparing glass for cutting.

The glass you just bought can only be lightly wiped with a cloth and then wiped dry. For the latter, I recommend taking an old newspaper. before using it, crumple it well (sorry for such details, but you need to wrinkle it, since you do this when there is no toilet paper at hand) so that it adheres more tightly to the density of the glass. In my opinion, humanity has not yet found the best means for cleaning and drying glass.

Old glass is more difficult than new. It must be washed, moreover, very thoroughly (old glass during its service is covered with soot, grease, again dust, etc. all this will prevent normal glass cutting). After which it will need to be degreased, even turpentine is quite suitable for this. lightly wet a cloth and wipe the glass surface, then let it dry, it is better to let it dry indoors, again because of the danger of dust getting on its surface.

Take my word for it. the importance of the condition and the degree of cleanliness of the glass is actually important, and not just senile grumbling.

Since glass is now “in price”, then, of course, a prudent owner will not throw them around. Hence the conclusion. glass cutting should be such that the waste remains as little as possible. This is perhaps the main rule when cutting. Since you cannot completely avoid waste, try to cut the glass sheet so that this waste can be used somewhere. I quite recently, for example, changed the shelf in the bathroom (I broke it with a can of shaving foam, and my neighbor cut the glass for the glass door in the stove in the bath), for which he used the old section left after cutting, which he made several years ago.

For the most successful cutting and cutting of glass, the glass must be positioned so that the longest side of the sheet is parallel to the long side of the workpiece. This requirement is optional, of course it all depends on the size of the glass you want to cut, but in most cases it assumes the most rational cutting based on the amount of residues.

By the way, when starting work, be sure to check the corners of the glass sheet, they often do not have the prescribed 90 degrees.

600 × 1200 standard glass sheet:

Option 1: Wanting to get 4 glasses of 300×500 with economical and rational cutting, the remainder will be 200×600. Such glasses can then be easily used, for example, for windows in a bathhouse, outdoor shower, vents, etc.

Option 2: With irrational cutting, wanting to get the same number of glasses as in the previous example, the remainder will be 1200 per 100. These scraps will not fit anywhere, except for very rare and exotic cases.

Glass cutting with glass cutter.

In addition to the glass cutter itself, for this work you will need a ruler, template or square.

They must be flat and fit snugly against the edge of the glass for accurate labeling. Try to choose the least sliding tool for these purposes (for the same reason. when working with glass, the saying beginning with the words “measure seven times.” is as accurate as anywhere else.)

For cutting glass in this way, a diamond, less often a roller glass cutter is used.

Let’s start with the diamond.

Take the glass cutter so that your index finger and thumb are close to the hammer.

Press the glass cutter and move it evenly, without sharp jerks and efforts. as a result of the movement of the glass cutter, you should get a thin, almost colorless and inconspicuous line on the glass, and the glass cutter itself should emit a slight crackle.

When you reach the end of the sheet, loosen the pressure, otherwise you can ruin the diamond on the edge of the glass.

If glass dust appears on the glass, or the cut is too wide, it means that you press too hard or the glass cutter is set at the wrong angle (the diamond has 2 angles: sharp and blunt, when cutting in the forward direction, the diamond at an acute angle is easy slides, and does not catch on possible factory defects of glass or any irregularities, at an obtuse angle, the diamond can only be moved “back”, otherwise the cut will be incorrect and the grain will simply fall out).

We repeat once again, do not try to cut the “dirty”, wet and “greasy” glass. you will kill a lot of work, and you will not get any effect other than disappointment and fatigue. Also do not try to cut the same line twice.

It is held perpendicular to the surface of the glass, most often it is held between the ring, thumb and middle fingers, lightly pressing down from above with the index.

The pressure on the roller glass cutter is stronger than when working with a diamond one. When cutting glass with it, it should leave behind a white, distinct cutting line.

After you have cut with a glass cutter (even with a roller or diamond), the glass must be broken off correctly. As a rule, beginners are afraid of this stage.

The main rule is to break the glass down, that is, in the opposite direction from the mowing line of the cut.

To do this, press the glass tightly to the workbench or table on which you cut it (it is better not to carry it with a cut, but to break it (Figure 2) in the same place), so that the cutting line coincides with the edge of the table, workbench and the glass as if “ hanging “with its unnecessary part from him. Then just break off this edge with a light pressure movement. If the glass does not break off, then you should not cut it again, but just tap the notch from the bottom with a hammer on the mowing line.

If you cut off a narrow piece of glass, you can also break it off by hand, or you can resort to a special tool. a comb. Also, for these purposes, they often use special grooves made in a glass cutter. Experienced craftsmen can break off a narrow and “difficult” piece even with pliers wrapped in electrical tape.

Figure 1. How to work with a glass cutter (diamond on the left, roller on the right)

Picture 2. Glass breaking (1. Manual 2. Glass cutter edge or groove. 3. Comb. 4. Tongs).

Glass cutting: methods and choice of glass cutter. Curly cutting-circles and ovals.

Figure 3. Marking and cutting with a moving ruler or rail.

Minimum width of a glass strip that can be broken off for different glass thicknesses
Zmm Zmm
4mm 5mm
5mm 7mm
6mm 8mm
8mm 12mm

How to do something yourself, with your own hands. Home master’s site. How to cut various shapes out of glass. curly cutting. How to cut a circle out of glass

To cut a circle out of glass, you will have to use a suction cup, I adapted for myself a suction cup from an old soap dish.

Attach a suction cup in the middle of the desired area of ​​the glass. Now you need to prepare the rail. for this, drive a small nail into the rail so that it protrudes from it by 3 millimeters with its pointed end, and attach a glass cutter to the other side of the rail. Secure the sharp end of the nail in a suction cup so that it does not fall out when the rail moves on the glass. Now, rotating the staff, outline the circular cut you want. From it, make radial cuts with a glass cutter to the border (edge) of the glass as shown in Figure 6.

Now, by tapping on the bottom of the glass, these “slices” can be easily beaten off and you get a circle of glass.

In turn, in order to cut a hole in the glass in the shape of a circle, you need to do the same procedure, only the cuts will be located inside the circle (Figure 7), so that uniform sectors are obtained, they can be knocked out just like those that were in the previous case, or you can put a sheet of glass on any round object with a smaller circle diameter and knock out all the glass to the bottom, so that it “opens” down.

If you need a curved glass shape (for example, for a complex arch or stained-glass window), then you will have to resort to a template made of plywood or thick cardboard (taking into account the allowance for the width of the glass cutter).

Next, attach the template to the glass and press firmly, then make an incision from one edge to the other edge of the template in an even motion.

In the next step, slide every 70-140 millimeters along perpendiculars to the cut radii from the curve of the mowing line to the edge of the workpiece, tap all the mowing lines of the cut from below and then break off the protrusions with the grooves of the glass cutter.