How to cut a mirror neatly and easily at home
Well, let’s start another lesson on the Better Homes blog with a little commonplace truth The work can only be done qualitatively when a good tool is used. Of course, this truth also applies to cutting mirrors, which is what we will talk about today. There are two types of glass cutters: diamond and roller, and you can cut the mirror at home with both of them. The diamond cutting part is a piece of industrial diamond, and the roller cutter has a wheel of a special high-strength alloy.
Preparation of the mirror surface
First, the entire surface of the mirror should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with a soda solution. If there are traces of stains, it is a good idea to clean such areas with alcohol, otherwise the line of the cut can “go” sideways, and the glass will be spoiled. The place where the cutting will take place must be flat, so that the mirror will lie flat on the whole surface. In addition, it should not be hard it is better to lay a soft cloth. After that you make a marking of the cut on the mowing line.
Then a ruler, preferably a metal ruler, should be attached to the cutter line. You need to prepare the ruler for more accuracy. To its ends (for example, with adhesive tape) two erasers (school eraser) are attached. This will slightly raise the ruler above the surface of the mirror. This method allows you to control the correct positioning of the cutting part of the glass cutter and ensures that the glass cutter will not jump off this line on the ruler.
Cutting the glass
It is clear that the cutting element should be positioned strictly on the marked mowing line and perpendicular to the mirror surface. With a little pressure on the glass it is led “towards yourself”. There should be no hurry. Pressure and movement of the glass cutter should be smooth and gradual. If everything is done correctly the sound of the cut glass can be heard, it cannot be confused. Creaking indicates either the unsuitability of the tool, or the wrong position, too much pressure. When cut correctly, a thin white fishing line will remain on the surface of the mirror.
When the cutting line is ready the mirror is put on the edge of the surface (table, workbench, stool). Then put it so that the line is slightly protruding over the edge. After that, holding the mirror with one hand, you need to press down a little with the other, the cut part should fall off. If this does not work, then a small hammer should be tapped from below on the entire mowing line, moving the hammer from its far end towards yourself. After that, if the piece does not separate, the cutting process should be repeated.
If possible, it is better to buy a diamond glass cutter it cuts better, and its service life is longer. When using it you should be guided by the marks, as it has two corners: sharp and blunt.
It is better to use protective glasses when cutting the glass. If they are not present, one should not incline the head too low to avoid the eyes being hit by shards of glass.
Principle of Glass Cutting Technology
Here’s how to properly cut a mirror with a glass cutter at home:
- First you need to prepare the mirror surface and tools.
- After that make a marking with a ruler and a marker. For the shaped version. use special templates.
- Then carefully guide the glass cutter with the fishing line, keeping a constant pressure.
- Then very carefully tap with a hammer, through several layers of cloth, the edge of the mirror to be removed. Beforehand it is slightly hanging down from the table edge, obligatory supporting so that the mirror or glass does not fall to the floor.
- After that the work is carried out on a fracture. That is, they try, by applying a slight effort, to break off the unwanted piece from the base. After that, wipe the cut edge with a damp cloth, which was previously folded in several layers. This is done to remove small particles of glass.
Use the advice of a professional when cutting mirrors.
Safety Precautions for Cutting Glass
Before you cut a mirror with a glass cutter, familiarize yourself with the safety requirements.
- Tidy up the work area, remove unnecessary material from the table. Place trim boxes, work tools, and the product itself in their proper locations.
- Make sure that all equipment is in good working order.
- Wrap rubber tips or something on the jaws of the pliers.
- Always place glass crates vertically.
- Always wear protective clothing, gloves and goggles.
- Take your time and try not to make any sudden movements.
- Do not touch the cutlass line with fingers that are not protected with gloves.
- Do not cut on anything that is not designed for cutting.
- Do not push glass down when working at heights. Always take all pieces and pieces of glass with you.
- It is allowed to make the cut only in the side opposite to the direction of the cutting part.
- Place the glass on sturdy supports with an inclination of up to 15°.
- As you work, put unnecessary scraps in a drawer and send them to the trash as they accumulate.
- Remove glass from drawers with care. If the glass is cracked, take it out in separate pieces.
- Do not cut the product on your knees.
- Use electric glass cutters carefully.
- If the item was brought in from the cold, be sure to warm it up.
- Sweep the floor and clean workbenches with a special brush. Do not try to blow off glass dust.
- Shake the cutlass suit thoroughly before finishing your work to remove any shredded glass particles.
First, the entire surface of the mirror should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with a soda solution.
The place where you will be cutting must be flat so that the mirror will lie flat on the whole surface.
How to cut glass without a glass cutter
Before we begin a detailed description of the methods of cutting glass, we want to remind you of safety. Always wear work gloves and goggles when working to avoid cuts and small pieces of glass in the eyes. Be careful not to put too much pressure on the glass.
With a flaming thread
Soak the thread in flammable liquid and fix it on the glass by the cutting line. Ignite, wait for complete burnout and immediately place in cold water or pour it over the place of heating. The main thing is that the glass cools down as quickly as possible and breaks from the temperature drop. A “click” sound indicates the success of the operation. If the glass is not cracked, you can try to repeat the operation.
This method is quite even for chipping bottles, but does not always work with large glass sizes. It is also very flammable and requires a fire extinguisher or a container of water, which is a must.
Soldering iron
After marking the line of the future cut on the glass, take a file and make a small groove with it at the very edge. With 1-2 mm distance from it, heat the place with a soldering iron until a micro-crack is formed between it and the groove. Then we step back from the crack itself by the same distance and gradually move to the finish point. It takes a long time to cut the glass this way, but you can get any shape. To speed up the process a little, you can periodically cool the glass by putting a wet rag on it.
Using scissors in water
A simple method of directional glass breaking. Makes it easy to cut out round shapes, but not perfect for making straight lines. For this cutting you need a pair of scissors and a container of water, which will serve as a lubricant. The maximum thickness of the glass should not exceed 4 mm.
The process of cutting with this method is very simple. We take a piece of glass to be processed, immerse it in water and use scissors to cut small pieces off the edges. Water will not let the glass crack, allowing you to make a controlled chipping. It is possible to obtain shapes of oval and round forms.
Diamond disc
Not the safest way to cut glass, it requires extra accuracy and obligatory following of safety rules. Can easily chip off glass and launch a shard in any direction. Otherwise, the method is quite effective and can cope with the task. For cutting you need a special tool (angle grinder, drilling machine or drill) with a diamond disc with a thickness of 0.1 mm.
The cutting process itself is quite simple, but requires a certain skill and a steady hand to guide the tool precisely along the mowing line. Let’s lay the piece of glass to be cut on the flat place, then take the cutter and guide the disk with the fishing line on the glass surface. The main thing is not to plunge into the depths, but only to touch lightly, so that a small groove is formed, similar to a wide line from the glass cutter. Next, simply break the glass in the right place.
To reduce the chance of glass breaking and to reduce the amount of glass dust, you can periodically sprinkle the place of the cut with water.
Use a file
Another way to cut glass at home without the need for an expensive power tool. You will need a file and some experience with glass. Note that a file must have angles, so a round one won’t do.
To cut the glass it is enough to make a few cuts on its surface with the file’s corner. Apply a little more pressure than average to create a clean groove similar to a glass cutter. When the place of the chip is marked, simply break the glass against the edge of the table or put a match under the place of the cut.
This method requires some skill, and if you are faced with cutting glass for the first time, we strongly recommend practicing on small, unnecessary fragments before moving on to the main material.
With a beveled drill bit
If you know what glass cutting is all about, here is another way to cut glass without a glass cutter. With some experience, a single drill bit with a pobedite tip may be sufficient for this operation. The main thing is that the drill bit should be more or less new, with sharp corners on the head.
The process itself of cutting glass with a drill, is much the same as with an ordinary roller glass cutter. The differences include a higher pressure force, but otherwise all operations are standard. Lay the glass on a flat surface, mark the line of the cut, attach the bar, and along it lead the line from top to bottom. Before cutting, turn the tip so that the sharpest corner is in contact with the glass. After obtaining a clear line, we break the glass along the beveled line of the cutter.
The method of cutting glass with a pobedite drill, requires skill and practical experience in handling this material. Beginner masters have very little chance to make an accurate cut by this method, but with patience and straight hands, it is possible to obtain the desired result.
Necessary tools
Be sure to check the availability of all materials before you cut the mirror. The most standard table will do, the main thing is that the size of the table top must correspond to the size of the mirror surface and ideally it must exceed it.
There are two types of glass cutters: diamond and roller, and you can cut the mirror at home with both of them.
If you are planning to insert a mirror into a frame, get it beforehand.
Then you need to attach a ruler to the mowing line, preferably a metal one.
The work should be done accurately, without rushing.
The most important tool is, of course, the glass cutter. Tools, with the help of which you can cut glass at home, come in three types:
- Roller. the cutting part is made of a particularly strong alloy;
- diamond. technical diamond is used as a cutting part;
- oil-operated. has the same features as the roller but with an additional reservoir.
This technique allows you to control the correct positioning of the cutting part of the glass cutter and gives a guarantee that the glass cutter will not slip off this mowing line on the ruler.
if you are hesitating which glass cutter to buy, choose a diamond one. It is superior to the roller one, both in quality and in service life.
It is clear that the cutting element must be positioned strictly on the marked mowing line and perpendicular to the mirror surface.
During operation, the glass cutter is pressed firmly against the surface of the mirror and the ruler.
Another necessary tool is a special thick ruler or angle piece for cutting glass. However, you can use an ordinary metal ruler, you just need to slightly improve it. You will need a few pieces of rubber or leather. You need to put a ruler on them. This will prevent the metal from sliding on the glass and will raise the ruler high enough to support the glass cutter.
The pressure and movement of the glass cutter should be smooth and gradual.
You will also need pliers and a hammer, which is designed to make breaking the glass easier by tapping the mirror from the back. It is desirable that the hammer is small.
A thin white fishing line will remain on the surface of the mirror if it is cut correctly.
A specialist is able to determine by ear the correctness of the cut. by the characteristic light crackle.
It is highly desirable to cover the table top with a blanket. The cloth should be natural and have the necessary density, because you will manipulate the mirror on it. If you don’t use a blanket, the fragile glass can crack with any careless movement on the hard surface of the table.
When the cutting line is ready, the mirror is placed on the edge of the surface (table, workbench, stool).
The last element is a water-soluble felt-tip pen or wax pencil for marking.
If this does not work, then a small hammer should be used from below to tap the entire mowing line, moving the hammer from its far end towards yourself.
Little nuances in the work
Before you begin, you should first study the general recommendations, and then the technology itself, step by step. This will prevent damage to the mirror, especially if there is no experience with the glass cutter.
What you need to know before you take up the mirror:
- During work, the tool is held only at an angle of 90 degrees. A slight deviation of a few degrees is allowed. The support for placing the mirror must also stand straight.
- Never change the angle in the process. Otherwise then you can not divide the cut parts evenly and neatly, they can break.
- The cut is made in one precise, quick and continuous movement.
- Do not change the pressure. Edges are an exception. 5 mm before the end of the glass must be released so as not to allow the cutter to slip. This causes splinters to form.
- The cut should be made from the far side toward you.
- Only the front side may be cut (where no amalgam is present. the alloy that covers the back side).
- A good cut leaves a dark mark on the glass. If it comes out whitish when working with a roller tool, it means that the cut can only remain on the surface.
- Always leave a white streak when using a diamond glass cutter.
- If you want a straight cut, use a thick ruler. To avoid slipping, you can put pieces of rubber (bicycle tire cuttings are used) under the ruler from both sides.
Help. Do not try to deepen a cut that has not been properly made. It is difficult to hit the same fishing line perfectly, repeated manipulation will lead to damage to the mirror (or you will have to cut a smaller piece from it).
Cutting a mirror
It is necessary to prepare not only the tool and the working place but also the mirror itself. It is washed and degreased. Dirty, dusty or “greasy” surfaces can cause the glass cutter to go sideways.
Then the mirror is wiped dry and put face up on the table top covered with a cloth.
Make a marking, apply a ruler so that the marks coincide with the working part of the glass cutter (roller or diamond), and this requires a small indentation.
The glass cutter itself is held perpendicular or at a slight angle to the surface, but the diamond cutter has its own specific position.
The glass cutter itself is held perpendicular or at a slight angle to the surface
The crystal is inserted in the metal frame in such a way that it may have an acute or dull angle in reference to the mirror. It is the acute angle that is the working angle. For the correct orientation of the glass cutter make a mark on the frame, which in the process of cutting should be facing the ruler.
In order to make the work with the roller glass cutter easier, you can moisten the surface of the mirror in the place of the cut with turpentine.
You must cut the mirror with a one-movement cutter. repetition is not allowed, this is a direct way to spoil it. Therefore, the movement must be progressive-even with the same force along the entire length, except for the edge (on the edge of the pressure is slightly weakened in order not to damage it).
The trace from a diamond glass cutter is thin and almost colorless, from a roller the band is slightly wider and whitish. By the way, it is easier to control the cut on the mirror than on the glass. The force for a roller tool is usually a little bit more than for a diamond tool.
A wide band or whitish glass dust means too much effort. Alternatively, for the roller it could mean that it is blunt, and for the diamond it could mean that the cut is at a blunt angle.
The cut mirror is displaced (not turned over) to the edge of the tabletop so that the trace from the cut goes beyond it at a distance no greater than the thickness of the mirror (3 to 5 mm). Press the mirror to the table with one hand and break it down with one sharp movement (but without fanaticism).
If necessary, use the grooves in the glass cutter or pliers. You could wrap the jaws of the pliers with insulating tape or use strips of rubber (leather).
Tools required
You should check if you have all necessary materials before you cut the mirror. The table is suitable as the most standard one, the most important is that the size of the table top must correspond to the size of the mirror surface and ideally it must exceed it.
There are two types of glass cutters: diamond and roller, and you can cut the mirror at home with both of them.
If you plan to insert the mirror into the frame, get it in advance.
Then a ruler, preferably a metal one, should be attached to the mowing line.
Do the work carefully and take your time.
The most important tool is, of course, the glass cutter. Tools with which you can cut glass at home, there are three types:
- Rollers. the cutting part is made of a particularly strong alloy;
- diamond. technical diamond is used as a cutting part;
- oil-powered. they have the same features as the roller ones, but there is an additional reservoir.
This technique allows you to control the correct positioning of the glass cutter and ensures that the glass cutter does not jump off this mowing line on the ruler.
If you’re wondering which glass cutter to buy, choose a diamond cutter. It is superior to the roller cutter in both quality and durability.
It is clear that the cutting element must be located strictly on the marked mowing line and perpendicular to the surface of the mirror.
During operation, the glass cutter is pressed firmly against the surface of the mirror and the ruler.
How to Cut Mirror Glass. QUICK
Another necessary tool is a special thick ruler or angle piece for cutting glass. However, you can use an ordinary metal ruler, you just need to slightly improve it. For this you will need several pieces of rubber or leather. You need to put a ruler on them. This will prevent the metal from sliding on the glass and raise the ruler high enough to support the glass cutter.
The pressure and movement of the glass cutter should be smooth, gradual.
You will also need pliers and a hammer, which is designed to facilitate the process of breaking the glass by knocking the mirror from the back side. It is desirable that the hammer is small.
A thin white fishing line will remain on the surface of the mirror if cut properly.
A specialist is able to determine by ear the correctness of the cutting. by the characteristic light crackle.
It is highly desirable to cover the table top with a coverlet. The cloth must be natural and have the necessary density, because you will manipulate the mirror on it. If you do not use a blanket, on the hard surface of the table, the fragile glass can crack with any careless movement.
When the cutting line is ready, the mirror lies on the edge of the surface (table, workbench, stool).
The last item is a water-soluble felt-tip pen or wax pencil for marking.
If this does not work, then a small hammer should be tapped on the entire mowing line from below, moving the hammer from its far end towards yourself.