How to cut the window glass. How to cut old glass so that it does not crack

This tool is presented on the market with such a wide assortment that consumers get confused in their choice, wonder what option is best to buy. To make the right decision, first you need to not only learn the basic rules of how to cut with a glass cutter, but also decide how often they will have to use.

Glass is a fragile material; working with it is very problematic. Cutting such material requires a delicate attitude, and not everyone succeeds. For cutting glass in order to give it the desired shape, today several types of glass cutters are used, but more often the classic version is preferred. He leaves a neatly 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 popular model, characterized by ease of use. The glass cutter is very often chosen by beginners, since it is convenient in work. 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 using special hard alloys, the diameter of the element is 5 mm.

That's just the working life of such a tool is limited - it lasts for three and a half - four hundred meters of glass material. But since it is very affordable, you can buy a new tool at any time. In addition, several interchangeable roller elements are included in the kit, so changing the acquired tool does not have to be long enough.

Diamond

Another common, effective and popular glass cutter is diamond. This option is great for both professionals and inexperienced glass cutters.

We will figure out how to cut glass using a diamond glass cutter. Just note that in the learning process you will spoil more than a dozen glasses, but all your expectations will be met as soon as you master the technique of using 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 shaped differences of the heads affect the principle of operation. For example, it is much more difficult to cut the glass with a head in the shape of a pyramid - this requires a developed, almost “musical” ear. Let's see how to properly cut glass with such a glass cutter. During operation, the diamond moves along the glass surface and makes a sound of a certain frequency. When the sound is “wrong”, it confirms that the movement of the diamond element occurs with a violation, and chip glass with a high degree of probability will turn out 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 another feature here - with real diamond you will cut glass of a centimeter thickness, and artificial glass is only 5 mm long. And the operational period of such samples is different - a real diamond will cut from ten to fifteen kilometers of glass, while the artificial one will finish its operation after the fifth kilometer.

Oil

This version of the glass cutter is a revision of the tool with a roller head. The handle has a small reservoir in which lubricant 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-term tool life. In the end, the operational period of the oil glass cutter, compared with a simple roller, is increased by fifteen times.

In addition to the above 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 handle with a cutting element. In addition to circles, an ellipse-shaped hole can be cut with this glass cutter.

Instructions for use glass cutter

We will figure out how to cut glass with a glass cutter at home. For convenience, we will distribute the entire workflow into several stages.

Preparatory Activities

Such events affect a lot. Preparation depends primarily on your choice for cutting glass. The purchased material should be wiped off from dust using an old newspaper so that no stains and lint remain on the surface. Glass that has been in use requires more thorough preparation. To begin with, it should be washed using special tools. After this, the surface is degreased, the glass is dried in a closed room so that dust does not settle on its surface.

Glass cutting

Many of this process is also referred to as the preparatory stage, but we will single it out as an independent type of work. It is no secret that there is absolutely no waste 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, do not rush to throw out the remaining trimmings - they can come in handy in the future.

Cutting technique

It remains to learn how to properly cut glass with a glass cutter. To do this, you need 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 it is forbidden to conduct a glass cutter in one place.

If the tool is roller, more pressure is exerted on it than on diamond. Proper cutting is accompanied by a characteristic crunch. Closer to the edge of the glass, the pressure decreases so that a chip does not occur and the cutting edge of the tool is not 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 glass cutter handle on the line to deepen the cracks and facilitate the process of breaking. If you need to break off a narrow strip, you can use pliers or a glass cutter handle, on which there are special grooves.

Possible mistakes

Most often, inexperienced carvers make the following erroneous actions:

When cutting corrugated glasses, they do not use a roller tool, but another model of glass cutter. In addition, frosted glass, with patterns and corrugations, they try to cut not from the smooth side;
often the dimensions of the final blanks are not respected. Cropping should be performed in such a way that the dimensions are a couple of millimeters smaller than the frame into which it is planned to insert glass;
when working with a glass cutter, additional materials are ignored - the pattern, which is a special line;
before each cutting it is recommended to make sure 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 precautions

In order not to be injured, work should be worn with gloves. Pay attention to shoes that must be tough so random glasses do not cut your legs. It is necessary to dress in dense overalls made of thick fabric.

Glass - This material is special and different from other building materials.

This building material is extremely fragile and for the most part is transparent.

That's why before you buy glass and work with it, you need to start shopping with a tool.

But the first tool you come across should not be bought, 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 which tool you need, because there are several types of glass cutters:

Roller
Diamond
Oil;

Roller

A special roller is built in the glass cutter for cutting glass, which is made of a very durable tungsten-cobalt alloy. The usual diameter of the roller is 6.6 mm; this diameter of the roller 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 long been used for cutting glass.

Nowadays, as before, diamond glass cutter is considered the best tool to cut glass.

Oil

Not so long ago, an oil glass cutter added to the list of glass cutters.

This is essentially an improved roller tool, in the handle of which a reservoir for supplying lubricant to the roller is integrated. This grease binds particles that are formed when cutting glass while ensuring smooth movement. This glass cutter can cut glass up to 20 mm.

Before buying any type of glass cutter, it is best to ask the seller to check.
In the event that the tool suits you, 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 needed.

Training

It will be enough to completely clean the glass from dust and wipe it dry with newspapers, the fabric is not suitable for such work.
In the event that you have to cut the old glass, then first it should be degreased, then the glass is washed well with water and detergents.
After all the above manipulations, the glass will need to be dried in a closed and clean room.

Glass cutting

Also, preparatory work includes cutting glass and preparing containers for waste collection. There should be two containers, that is, for the collection of small waste and for the collection of larger ones, which may later be useful for something.

Glass cutting is best started with a simple window glass, and then move on to more complex options.

Glass Cutting Technique

When using diamond glass cutter, it is necessary to keep it at the very bottom of the handle and draw a smooth line along the ruler, almost without pressing on the glass.

When cutting glass with a glass cutter a slight pressure is required and when the glass cutter moves, a whitish strip appears on the glass surface and is deeper than when using a diamond tool.

Possible mistakes

There are two mistakes in a river of glass:

The glass cutter pressure is too strong;
Glass cutter is carried out several times in the same place.

When cutting glass, try to press the tool evenly over the entire length of the cut.

If you notice chips when cutting glass, it only means that you press the tool too much. To prevent this, reduce the pressure on the glass cutter.

In no case do not draw along the cut line twice, this can ruin your tool.

The final stage - breaking glass

Thin glasses break hands. A piece of glass that has already been cut must be placed on the edge of the table, so that the cut line is on top and slightly protrudes beyond the edge of the table, and the main part of the glass should lie on the table.

You need to press the glass cloth with one hand, and with the other you need to grasp the protruding part of the glass and gently push the glass down 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.

Knowledge of the theory of cutting stele 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 cutting glass in practice in the future, you will be more confident in your skills. We hope you find this information helpful. We wish you good luck and patience!

To smoothly and accurately cut glass, you do not need to be a hereditary glazier, enough high-quality glass cutter and a little preliminary practice. Today we will tell you how to use the two main varieties of glass cutters, touch on the aspects of choice and the technique of working with them.

Safety precautions

Glass cutting is a rather traumatic process. The main risk factors are three:

microscopic glass dust, causing irritation of the mucous membranes;
small needle-shaped fragments that can damage the eyes when bouncing;
sharp edges of the workpieces.

Glass cutting even on a small scale should always be carried out with glasses and cotton gloves. If you plan to continue working on this front, then an ordinary petal respirator will not hurt.

Most injuries are due to excessive force on the tool. The likelihood that a hand with a glass cutter slips off the excess voltage is quite high, it can not only lead to serious cuts, but it will also ruin the material.

And, of course, the traditional source of injury is human carelessness. There is nothing worse than a glass splinter, so do not check the quality of the cut edges to the touch before grinding them and do not cut the glass in a canopy or on your knees. Keep your workplace tidy, especially on the floor, prefer covered clothing, and don’t place glass sheets at too steep angles.

Glass Cutters: Which is Better

In the matter of choosing a tool for cutting glass, nowhere else is the dependence on training. Roller glass cutters are great for training and rare use, diamond tools are preferred for experienced carvers.

Roller glass cutters differ from diamond ones not only in their appearance and design, they act differently on the material. The main advantage of the roller tool is the absolutely visual marking process. When using such a glass cutter, it is almost impossible to make a mistake, but the quality of the edge and the speed of work usually leave much to be desired.

In addition, the rollers, as a rule, have a small operational resource. Depending on the cost and, accordingly, the alloy used, one roller can be designed for 200-500 m cut, subject to operating rules. After that, it must be replaced, which is not very convenient for large volumes of work, in addition, not every model of glass cutter provides such an opportunity.

More or less experienced glaziers use practically indestructible diamonds for cutting: it is easier to learn how to work them once, than to change rollers every 40-60 minutes. These two types of tools do not have other fundamental differences: of course, there may be additional “lotions” like a breaker or edge stripper, different forms of handles. But these are all secondary features that determine usability, but not the basic technique.

As for oil glass cutters, this is a way to eliminate the ubiquitous glass dust, and an attempt to bring the roller tool closer to the diamond for durability. The attempt, by the way, is quite successful: in the presence of lubrication, the roller can perform several kilometers of cutting, which is still far from a diamond tool, but not bad. The only quality criterion for such a tool is the reliability of the lubricant supply mechanism: when working, the roller should leave a small point, but not a spreading spot.

Workplace preparation

When cutting glass, the quality of the result is determined by the convenience of work. Regardless of whether you just want to shorten the mirror or are going to earn extra money by cutting, the place should be equipped with several requirements. But the approach to their execution can be completely different.

The first is the soft surface of the table, against which dust particles and grains of sand cannot be pressed against a sheet of glass. Brush skirting boards are recommended for professionals, for a one-time job an old carpet or a soft thick sheet will do. The size of the table should allow the part to be placed at least 2/3 of the area, while the cut line should be entirely on the table.

One of the keys to success in glass cutting is quality lighting. Of the additional tools you will need a thick metal rail with a straight edge and a small thin bead for breaking. Before cutting, all glasses must be thoroughly washed and dried, markings are interrupted on dirty glass, and the workpiece cannot be broken off evenly.

How to work with oil glass cutter

Due to the amorphous structure, glass has an interesting nature of destruction. It always breaks “along the shortest path”, that is, in the thinnest place. Therefore, the most insignificant scratch is enough if only it starts from one edge and ends on the other.

Roller glass cutter does not scratch, it pushes a groove, breaking off the edges with many small scales. The pressure on the tool should be proportionate to the thickness of the cut glass and, accordingly, the diameter of the roller. Remember also that there is only one attempt to mark out, when you re-pass through the risk, the roller almost immediately crumbles and becomes dull.

It is correct to hold the glass cutter as a handle, using the edge of the palm of your hand as a stop and pushing the little finger forward for greater stability. The movement is always directed towards itself, that is, the glass cutter simply reaches for the hand, the necessary pressure is provided by the fingers. The position of the glass cutter in the longitudinal projection is always strictly perpendicular.

All talk about the correct tilt of the handle in the direction of the cut is a pure heresy: it doesn’t matter to the round roller at what angle it is turned. However, for oil glass cutters, it is preferable to hold the handle closer to the perpendicular position for normal pressure on the lubricant supply wick.

So, having put the roller to the far edge, you need to stretch 3-5 mm with minimal pressure to the risk so that the marking is guaranteed to touch the end of the glass sheet. After that, the main line stretches at the same risk, this time with a normal clip. If the marking was forced to be interrupted, you need to start with a small approach to the scratch done and mark the place of interruption, so that after it carefully knock. The main specificity when working with an oil glass cutter is to provide sufficient pressure to press the feed wick. Otherwise, such a tool cuts, like a conventional roller.

Roller and grease selection

There are many types of rollers for different tasks and different types of glass. For oil glass cutters, rollers from the same material are used that for ordinary ones - tungsten carbide or tungsten-cobalt alloy, products from hardened stainless steel are somewhat less common. In terms of the cut quality of each material, one cannot give an unambiguous answer: all alloys are uniquely harder than glass, and the assessment of the convenience of working with them is mostly subjective.

The diameter of the roller is selected exactly according to the thickness of the cut sheet. If the roller is smaller, problems with fracture are possible, a larger one will leave an ugly, chipped edge. For cutting with a curved contour or if the glass has an uneven surface, very small rollers are used, but in this case, the marking should be very carefully knocked.

Rollers may differ in sharpening angle. Glass with a thickness of 4-6 mm is perfectly cut with a roller with an edge of 135 °, this is the minimum value. The thicker the glass, the more obtuse the sharpening angle is used, in some models the angles reach 160 °.

There are also nuances with grease. To preserve a quality tool, it must be seasoned with a special water-based compound. The oil has a certain consistency, due to which its minimum consumption is ensured, and is easily washed off with water. In the absence, you can use Vaseline lubricant: the flow rate will be slightly higher, but no problems with cleaning.

Raising the skill level: working with a diamond glass cutter

If the resource of the oil glass cutter is still not enough, get a diamond. But be prepared to conduct a series of test cuts - a total of about a couple of hundred meters. This is necessary to determine the individual characteristics of diamond - sharpening angles and turning edges.

At first, carefully examine the crystal under the magnifying glass. The diamond stone has the shape of a tooth with two slopes - one gentle and straight, the second steeper and with two faces. The normal direction when working is a gentle straight edge towards yourself.

The main task in mastering a diamond tool is to find the most advantageous tilt of the handle towards / away from you, at which the diamond tooth will most easily scratch out the miniature groove. At the same time, the marking itself is almost not visible on the glass, and when the glass cutter moves, a characteristic ringing is heard.

Do not forget that it is impossible to tilt the diamond glass cutter left / right: if we tolerate a couple of degrees for the roller, then when working with a diamond cutter, the scratch will get torn edges and the quality of the edge will be disgusting. Therefore, train on glass scraps, fill your hand and form muscle memory: many people have a good diamond glass cutter for almost their entire life.

From the glass cloth, you can get different in shape designs, however, for this you need to learn how to trim it. If there is a glass cutter, then this task can be easily dealt with. And if he is not? How to cut glass without a glass cutter? In fact, there are several ways to cut the 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 with gasoline. If it will be mounted in a frame, you will have to adapt the product to the desired size. Moreover, on each side, an additional 2 mm of material must be cut. This applies only to wooden frames, since under atmospheric influences they are able to shrink and expand.

Before you cut the glass, you need to prepare the space. To work with him you will need a table or some kind of stand. This will facilitate cutting and help break the product more evenly. If the master has to cut the material for the first time, then he should practice in small pieces to understand the basic principles. Only then can we proceed 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. Slightly press the tool and gently begin to "lead". If everything is done according to the rules, then the sound of the cut glass will be heard and a thin white line will appear on the sheet. Squeaking when cutting indicates an incorrect tilt of the tool, its breakage, or too strong pressing.

After cutting with a glass cutter, the glass is placed on the edge of the table (or stool) so that the resulting line goes slightly beyond its edge. With one hand you need to hold the sheet, and with the other press on the hanging part (it should fall off). If it does not work with your hands, you can gently tap with a hammer along the cut line. If necessary, the process is repeated from the very 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, it means that toughened glass has come across (cutting features are indicated below). To cut a large piece you will need a bath or a large basin with water.

The procedure is as follows: markup is carried out with the tip of a pair 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 the work of cardboard make a template that is glued with glue to the workpiece. You should be aware that the material will be more malleable under a large layer of water.

Twine, gasoline and lighter

The method described below will tell you how to cut the glass evenly if there is no glass cutter under your hands. Everyone knows that the material is afraid of sudden temperature changes. This property can be used to cut it. For work you will need: twine with a maximum thickness of 2 mm (only made of cotton), a lighter, gasoline (kerosene).

The glass sheet is laid on the table and a marker is drawn on the line along which it needs to be cut. Measure and cut the twine so that it covers the entire slice along the length. After that, it is watered with gasoline and applied to the line on the glass. The twine must be set on fire so that it lights up along its entire length. When the thread goes out, it is watered with cold water. As a result, the glass will crack at the point of temperature difference. If the crack did not extend over 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 on hand? The material is placed on a flat surface and with the help of a needle file make risks at the edges. A ruler is applied to it and touched with a soldering iron indented by 2-3 mm. It is necessary to warm up each place so that the glass cracked. A soldering iron passes through the entire cut - so it turns out pretty even.

Break the glass with special forceps or lay on the edge of the table. The fault will pass exactly along the furrow when sticking along a section of adhesive tape or a wet newspaper. If the product needs to be inserted into the frame, you will have to cover the installation site with putty or strips of rubber. It is applied to the frame and closed with glazing beads, under which a rubber sealant is placed.

Charcoal cutting

Below we will talk about how to properly cut glass with a carbon pencil (you can do it yourself). It allows you to cut various shapes from the material. To make the tool you will need: charcoal (linden, birch) and gum arabic. The 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 carefully dried.

Before cutting, they make markings on the glass and file the edges with a file. The pencil is set on fire on one side and carried along the line. The result is cracks along which the product breaks easily.

Cutting different types of glasses

When cutting ordinary glass should not be a problem. 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, as they are inserted into the doors and various interior designs. This material is easy to cut (like ordinary glass), so you can use the above tools. It should be remembered that the cut should be made from the smooth side.

Make holes

Cutting a piece of glass cloth can be easily and simply with conventional tools. But how to make a hole in it and what is needed for this? It is necessary to stock up with wet sand of a fine fraction, lead (tin) and a tank for melting it, acetone, a template. The template is a stick with an end in the form of a cone, the diameter of which should coincide with the size of the future hole.

To complete the work, you must:

lay the glass on a flat surface;
degrease the site of the cut and sprinkle it with sand so that a slide 50 mm high is obtained;
take a template and make it a hole in the top of the slide;
to melt lead in aluminum or enameled dishes (can be heated with gas or blowtorch);
pour hot lead into a sand funnel in a thin stream;
wait 5-7 minutes and remove sand around the hole;
finger carefully check the cooling of the casting and remove it.

An under-hole will remain under the casting. However, a handle, decorative elements, fasteners and other closing parts can be easily inserted into the resulting structure. Before you cut the 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 without special glass cutters. However, in the process, you need to observe accuracy and some rules so as not to damage the material and not accidentally get hurt.

Almost any of us was faced with the need to process transparent material, but in fact, not everyone knows how to properly cut glass with a glass cutter. In addition, this material is quite fragile, and injuries of varying degrees are not excluded when working with it. Of course, you can entrust this business to specialists who will do everything quickly and professionally. But at the same time they will ask for a decent payment for their work, and many of us want to save.

But if in fact, then you can cut the glass of the required size at home or in your own garage. Work, although it can be dangerous, is not very complicated, as it may seem. One has only to know the technology and observe safety precautions.

Safety comes first!

Most owners of apartments or private houses do home repairs on their own, of course, when there is time for this. As with any other business, safety precautions must be followed when working with glass to avoid serious injury. Simple ignorance of how to cut glass with a glass cutter correctly can lead not only to cuts, but also to wounding the eyes with shards.

Cutting glass on your knees or moving objects is highly discouraged, for this you need to use a solid and even surface. Do not grab onto the raw edges, it is better to lift the workpieces from the side edges. To work with glass you need work clothes made of thick dense fabric. Shoes should be closed so as not to injure your feet. Having changed clothes before starting work, you also need to take care of the safety of your face and hands. To do this, always wear gloves and safety glasses. At the end of the work, it is necessary to change clothes and change shoes so that the fragments (and they will certainly be on clothes) do not leave the working area.

Glass selection

As experts in glass craft say, the main thing is to choose a good material, otherwise glass cutting will lose its meaning. This is especially important when deciding to replace the window glass yourself.

When choosing glass in the store, if you look at its ends, you can see a bluish or slightly green hue. This indicates high quality material. However, products may be defective. Even if this is a home repair, you should not take glass with scratches. It also happens that during the production of the material the rules are not fully observed, and then various defects appear on the sheets. Characteristic of them are stripes that significantly distort the view.

Choosing glass on the windows, you should choose the optimal thickness, which depends on the dimensions of the frame. For example, its height is not more than 60 cm, then the thickness of the sheet can be from 2 to 2.5 mm. Otherwise (more than 60 cm) you need to select a larger thickness - up to 3.5-4 mm. When cutting glass, a sheet should be formed 3-5 mm smaller than the frame. Otherwise, at the slightest distortion, the glass will not fit into the opening.

Types of glass cutters

For cutting glass, a special tool is used, which everyone knows. It can be of several types:

roller;
diamond;
oil;
compass.

Glass Cutter have a cutting tip of a round shape. An alloy of cobalt and tungsten is usually used for its manufacture. The number of rollers in one tool can vary from one to six. Unlike other analogues, such an instrument is inexpensive, due to which it received great appreciation.

Diamond glass cutter enjoy Despite the high price, he was, remains and will always be the undisputed leader in the field of glass cutting. It is better for home craftsmen to choose a professional diamond glass cutter, which has a beveled cutting edge, since it will cut more linear meters of almost any thickness. Only need to be stored in a special case. A diamond crystal is used for the cutting tip, and it is known to be the hardest mineral that can be found on Earth. It is worth leaving a small scratch on the glass, as it will crack at the slightest effort. Diamond glass cutters need periodic sharpening by means of a special bar.

Oil tools similar to roller counterparts, with the only difference being that there is a capsule with oil in the handle. It is automatically fed to the roller during operation and to the glass surface. Such a cutter is well suited to solve the issue of how to cut thick glass with a glass cutter.

With help compass it is convenient to cut round or oval shapes. It consists of several elements and looks like a well-known school clerical item.

Workplace preparation

Before proceeding to cutting glass, it is necessary to prepare a workplace. Usually this is given little attention, but in vain. It is important to prepare the material itself for work. If the glass is new, then there is no need to wash it. Otherwise, it may contain small chips, cracks, scratches or plaque. Then you need to rinse the sheet well with detergents, and then dry it by wiping it with paper or newspaper. It is better not to use the fabric, because there are fibers and stains that are useless. Dry glass must be degreased. To do this, you can use rags soaked in kerosene. After this operation, the sheet is dried, but without wiping it dry and indoors to avoid dust.

It’s not enough to know how to properly cut glass with a glass cutter, it will not hurt to cut it in order to minimize unnecessary waste of material. A competent drawing drawn up on a piece of paper will make it possible to achieve virtually no waste home production. It will be especially useful if you need to cut out a complex or uneven shape. In this case, it is optimal to position the longest side of the workpiece on the same glass parameter. Sheets need to be cut on a flat surface, excluding slopes. As an impromptu table, plywood or fiberboard is suitable. You can lay an oilcloth or soft cloth on top.

Cutting technology

A clean and dry sheet is placed on the table for cutting glass, and it should be located entirely on the work surface. It is more convenient to first make notes with a marker or a special pencil. For straight lines, you need a ruler, and for complex cutting, you need a pre-harvested pattern. The thickness of the ruler must be at least 7 mm for a snug fit. And so that it does not slip on the glass, you can stick small rubber pieces to it.

A diamond glass cutter should be held, like a pen or pencil, at a slight angle, with little effort. If a thin, colorless line is visible, then everything is done correctly. The roller tool must be held strictly perpendicular to the surface of the glass, holding it with the thumb and middle finger, and pressing the index finger from above. Unlike diamond glass cutter, a slightly greater force is needed when cutting 3 mm glass. The trace remains white.

Tool guidance should usually be accompanied by a slight crackle, indicating good performance. Simple rules will help to avoid mistakes:

The speed of reference should be uniform and not interrupted.
It is better to drive the glass cutter faster than slower, but not too fast.
Regardless of the type of instrument, the movement is always directed towards itself, that is, the instrument follows the hand.
It is not necessary to press the tool strongly on the glass; uniform force must be applied throughout the entire segment.
The line of glass cutters must be carried out only once, no more so that the glass does not crack.

In the absence of experience, it is better to pre-train on some pieces. So you can avoid mistakes, learn to hold the tool and gain experience working with different materials, including corrugated glass.

Correct breaking glass

After an incision, the glass breaks. Thin and small pieces can be broken off with your hands. Larger sheets need to be moved to the edge of the table so that the cut is 3-5 cm from its edge. You need to gently tap the tool handle along the entire line from the back of the glass. Do not forget to hold the hanging part of the sheet. After a while, tapping will give the desired result.

But there is another safer way. Matches are placed under the sheet on one side and at both edges, and then gently and abruptly press the glass. The fault should go exactly along the notch line.

In some cases, the cut-off part of the glass is too narrow. For this, the glass cutter has special recesses in the “head”. They need to be inserted into the edge of the detachable strip, for example, 4 mm, after which it should be pulled down with a little effort - the material will break off just by an incision.

Edge processing

After breaking the glass, there is a risk of cutting into sharp edges. Therefore, they need to be "disarmed." At home, this can be done with an ordinary donkey, which is usually used to sharpen kitchen knives. Only previously it should be moistened with water.

An angled oselok having diamond spraying will allow to process both edges at once. A diamond-coated sponge also works well for handicrafts. But if there is a drill, then the process can be accelerated. It is enough to use a grinding nozzle.

Corrugated glass

Corrugated or patterned glasses are sheets on which a relief pattern is periodically repeated. Such material performs various functions:

is a decorative ornament;
able to partially scatter light;
limits pass-through visibility.

At the same time, corrugated glass does not interfere with the penetration of sunlight or artificial light. As for the pattern, it can be on one or both sides. The pattern is obtained by knurling a special roller with some pattern. Mostly widespread corrugated glass received in the field of decoration of doors and furniture. For cutting such sheets, it is better to use a roller glass cutter. Moreover, the work should be performed on their smooth surface.

Tempered glass

Sometimes some home masters are interested in the question of how to cut. The answer is simple - nothing! There is no way to cut it or drill it, because when you try to act on it mechanically, it crumbles.

Such material long before the advent of technology "triplex" was used in the automotive industry. In the event of an accident, the glass simply shattered into small fragments, which eliminates the possibility of injury to drivers and passengers. Therefore, in relation to such a material, one should not even wonder about how to properly cut glass with a glass cutter.

How to cut circles?

In this case, it is convenient to use a circular glass cutter, but not everyone has it, and therefore you have to resort to different methods. First you need to determine and mark the center of the circle, and then fix the special suction cup. It is sold at any hardware store and you can find cheap options.

Next, you need to tie a thread to it, and preferably a fishing line, the length according to the desired radius of the circle. The other end is tied to a glass cutter. It remains to pull the fishing line as far as possible and guide the tool. After the incision, it is necessary to make radiation incisions from the circle to the periphery of the glass. If it is necessary, on the contrary, to cut a hole in the glass, then the rays should be carried out inside the outlined circle. And so, as a result, to get equal sectors.

Complex cutting

To cut out a complex arch or different geometric shapes for stained glass using a glass cutter, you need to prepare a tracing paper. But it is better to make a template from plywood or very thick cardboard. Just take into account the allowance for the width of the tool. The template should be firmly held and lead the glass cutter along its edges, preferably without interruption. After the contour is outlined, you need to cut a line perpendicular to the curves at a distance of 7-14 cm from each other. Then you can proceed to tapping. Thin strips break off the grooves of the glass cutter. In conclusion, you must remember to grind off all the edges.