How To Cut Glass With A Diamond Glass Cutter

Glass cutting with a diamond glass cutter. what are our actions?

Here we come to that controversial moment, which frightened you by stretching the entire article. Let’s try to figure out what is so special about working with this tool.

Cutting glass with a diamond glass cutter. Step by step scheme. Diamond glass cutter. tool types

Once we started talking about facets, it’s time to explain what it is. By the number of working edges, two types of glass cutters are distinguished. difficult to handle, but long-lasting is a tool with a four-sided diamond pyramid, which is soldered into a square holder. The second type is more suitable for the novice glazier and is equipped with a curvilinearly cut diamond, which is fixed in a round base. This option is easier to use, because the chip is in a plane with the main axis of the device, and the master intuitively understands how glass is cut with a diamond glass cutter of this type.

With a tetrahedral diamond, things are more complicated. The cutter has a marking for 4 positions, that is, it shows the orientation of the working face, which will then allow NOT to get confused when turning the ground face. Another feature that is already more difficult for a novice owner is the process of use itself. The cutter is not located in the tool axis, but at an angle of 200 degrees, therefore, it must be held a little differently than it seems at first glance. From here, at first, you can spoil a lot of glass.

Glass cutters differ in the size of the stone, which is to blame for the thickness of the glass planned for cutting. The smallest diamonds (up to 0.05 carats) cut only thin-sheet products (up to 5 mm). But glass with a thickness of 6-10 mm will cut qualitatively only a diamond of more than 0.11 carats. The cost of “precious” glass cutters is actually not as prohibitive as it seems, but significantly more than in conventional roller tools. An artificial stone of a small mass for thin-sheet glass will determine the price in the region of 10, but a larger and more natural stone will be in the instrument for 30

Diamond glass cutter. what is a “precious” tool for? Professional diamond glass cutter. construction

We will consider the device of such a glass cutter from our philistine point of view, and not go into the wording of GOSTs, according to which hand tools are made today. Since we will have to work with our hand, the first thing we feel is the handle. Its shape must meet certain requirements. To make it comfortable to sit in the hand, its end has a drop-shaped puffy shape, closer to the working part of the tool, it bends slightly. This allows you to transfer the necessary force to the incisor, which our hand practically will NOT feel, but also its position will create it.

Next comes the rod, that is, the frame, which comes out of the handle and holds the rest of the tool. Usually made from brass or steel. As is customary in modern production, this section of the rod is coated with an anti-corrosion compound. Such a frame is crowned with a hammer, represented most often in the form of a rhombus, which has two corners cut off. On this with a hammer, there are sometimes slits on the sides, this is not for beauty, they are useful for breaking off glass along the cut mowing line. In addition to directly breaking off, this accessory is used to tap the mowing line of the cut if a large sheet of glass is being processed and it is not possible to grab it by the edge.

At the end of the tool there is a cutter, which consists of two parts. First comes the steel state, and diamond is deposited on it with the help of silver solder, most often. The incisor is held in the hammer by the fastening screw. When you manage to blunt the diamond, the screw is unscrewed, and the cutter is turned with the other face of the stone. Yes, they DO NOT throw it away, but choose a new, still sharp edge of the diamond. This is another advantage of such a glass cutter, it dulls for a long time, and then it does not require a new cutter, it will be enough to return the existing one.

Required tools

A diamond glass cutter is not as easy to use as a roller tool popular in everyday life, but having mastered it perfectly, it will work an order of magnitude faster and more economically. Why this is so, let’s try to figure it out using this review.

What is the feature of the diamond glass cutter?

For those who are used to solving all everyday problems with their own hands, such a tool as a glass cutter is not something mysterious, because there are usually enough glasses in our house. A large amount of fragile breakable material is present in windows, furniture or interior doors. For home use, there are, of course, devices that are simpler and cheaper than a diamond head, but experts still choose a noble stone, why?

Glass is a very capricious material, metal often makes the edge look unsightly, and requires a long and thorough grinding. Diamond works more accurately and accurately, and it seldom falls into disrepair itself, because it is the most durable material in the world of stones, which cannot be said in metal cutting rollers. But do not think that the same precious stone is in the tool, in fact, a less processed diamond is used for cutting, it is often even replaced with an artificial one. This is possible for the reason that they DO NOT differ in strength at the level at which we use them.

A diamond of any origin, be it natural or artificial, applies a very thin line of cut, works very accurately, the output is much less waste. But this is if you know how to handle it correctly. Do not be afraid that such a professional glass cutter, a diamond tool simply requires some skill, and a little below we will try to find it. There is little value in such a device, because the size of a pebble can only reach 0.16 carats, and the smallest representative will weigh about 0.02 carats.

Glass preparation and cutting

Bring and place the sheet carefully on your work area. It should be remembered that this is a heavy material, and if the dimensions are impressive, then use the help of a friend or a rope bandage to secure the glass from falling. Now wipe the material from dust or dirt, inspect for defects (bubbles, chips, cracks, scratches). Check out how your tool cuts somewhere around the edge. The glass cutter should be held by the hammer with two fingers (index and thumb), you should NOT press harder than a simple pencil when writing.

If you got a thin, barely noticeable white fishing line, then you have found the correct position, and you can start the main work, if it turns out to be thick and leaves a lot of glass dust, This will not work. Find the desired position by slightly changing the orientation of the instrument. Under no circumstances should you attempt to cut twice on the same line. This will not add quality, but only permanently ruin your glass.

Finished table and tool

First of all, we choose a spacious flat surface, cover it with something soft, for example, a carpet. The entire working surface should be larger than the largest piece of glass, the margin should be at least 15%. Do NOT plan to cut the product on the edge of the table, although this is practiced by some craftsmen, the risk of ruining both the glass and the tool is much higher in this case. Additional tools are required to make it easier for you to work with a glass cutter. For example, you need a long ruler, and preferably of certain dimensions (up to 2 cm in width and up to 1 cm in thickness). With this “Assistant” your hand will not flinch at the most crucial moment. Also, for marking, you need to have a square, tape measure, marker and protective gloves in front of you.

We hold the glass cutter correctly

Tool selection

Glass, for all its fragility, is a fairly hard material. The traditional tool for cutting it is a diamond glass cutter. As the name suggests, the cutting tip of this tool is made of diamond, the hardest and hardest mineral.

How To Cut Glass With A Diamond Glass Cutter

Glass professionals value their instrument very much; to protect it from premature damage, they wear it in a special case.

For household work, when the need to cut glass arises periodically, in one-off cases, a roller glass cutter is more suitable. The tool is much cheaper than a diamond equivalent due to the use of hard alloy in the cutting part, rather than an expensive diamond.

How to properly cut glass with a roller glass cutter

Such a glass cutter is kept strictly perpendicular to the plane. This situation is due to the structure of the wheel, where a change in the angle of inclination will NOT allow the cutting edge of the roller to affect the plane of the glass. Note that when working with this type of glass cutter, the groove is more noticeable, usually white.

How to properly cut glass with a diamond glass cutter

It needs to be held slightly tilted to the right to the plane of the glass. Its cutting tip does NOT move, so the furrow is made by one of its edges. The diamond trace is thin, almost invisible. However, this does not prevent them from being used for cutting glass of significant thickness.

How to properly cut glass with a roller glass cutter and diamond: a master class

Many people like to do small home repairs with their own hands, because it is so nice to feel like a master. Replacing broken glass is a fairly simple task for an experienced builder, while the rest should learn how to cut glass correctly and master some of the subtleties so that the preparation of a workpiece of the desired shape and size does NOT turn into a bad mood, damage a few glasses or even a little bloodshed.

Preparation for work

In order to get the result of a piece of glass of the desired size with an even edge without chipping and chipping, you should prepare the surface on which you will be cutting. This is usually a table with a sturdy, level tabletop and sufficient area: the edges of the workpiece should not be suspended.

The wheel is replaced as follows: the screw in the head of the tool is loosened and another one is put in place of the damaged one with one turn, which is then fixed with the same screw.

The surface of the glass sheet is cleaned of dust and debris, since the slightest obstacle during cutting can ruin the result.

Be sure to prepare a ruler or even block of sufficient length.

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 glass cutter roller to move freely exactly along the intended mowing line.

Firmly presses the ruler, draws a strip along the mark with a tool.

It should be borne in mind that you do not need to 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. Release pressure is recommended at the edges of the glass. This will help avoid chipping and chipping in THESE areas.

Breaking glass along the cut line

It often happens that the glass splits into two halves at the cut site from a light touch when trying to move or lift it. However, this does not always happen, for other cases the following methods are used:

The glass is moved to the edge of the table so that the line is cut slightly protrudes beyond the edge (about 1 cm). Then, with the handle of the tool, they begin to lightly tap on the cut mowing line, in the direction from one edge to the second from the seamy side of the glass.

While tapping, you need to keep the side on the weight. At some point, the micro-vibrations from tapping sometimes unexpectedly lead to the desired result.

Place matches under the glass on both edges of the mowing line on one side, and then press lightly. This method is simpler and safer, since both parts lie on the table, this allows you NOT to fear that any half will slip out of your hands and break.

Sometimes the section to be cut is very narrow. To separate such strips into the glass cutter, special grips are provided in the form of recesses in the head part, they are inserted into the edge of the glass and gently pressed down, after which the glass breaks exactly to cut.

Do NOT neglect safety precautions and first you need to thoroughly study the issue of how to properly cut a glass cutter. Safety glasses and gloves will protect you from minor accidents such as a cut or falling glass chips into the eye. Experienced glaziers say that the correct movement of the glass cutter is accompanied by a clear sound.

Safety regulations

How to properly cut a glass cutter at home (and photo)

Preparation for work

In order to get the result of a piece of glass of the desired size with an even edge without chipping and chipping, you should prepare the surface on which you will be cutting. This is usually a table with a sturdy, level tabletop and sufficient area: the edges of the workpiece should not be suspended.

The wheel is replaced as follows: the screw in the head of the tool is loosened and another one is put in place of the damaged one with one turn, which is then fixed with the same screw.

Firmly presses the ruler, draws a strip along the mark with a tool.

It should be borne in mind that you do not need to 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. Release pressure is recommended at the edges of the glass. This will help avoid chipping and chipping in THESE areas.

Cutting technology

A clean and dry sheet is placed on the glass cutting table, and it should be placed entirely on the work surface. It is more convenient to first make notes with a marker or special pencil. For straight lines, you will need a ruler, and for complex cutting. a template prepared in advance. The thickness of the ruler should be at least 7 mm for a snug fit of the tool. And so that She does not slide on the glass, you can glue small rubber pieces to it.

The diamond glass cutter should be held, like a pen or pencil, at a slight angle, while applying light pressure. If you see a thin, colorless line, then everything is being done correctly. The roller tool must be held strictly perpendicular to the glass surface, holding it with the thumb and middle fingers, and pressing it with the index from above. Unlike a diamond glass cutter, cutting 3 mm glass requires slightly more effort. The trace remains white.

Guiding the instrument should usually be accompanied by a slight crackling sound indicating good performance. Simple rules will help you avoid mistakes:

  • The tracking speed must 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.
  • DO NOT press hard with the tool on the glass, you need to apply a uniform force throughout the entire segment.
  • On the mowing line, the glass cutter must be carried out only once, no more so that the glass does not break.

In the absence of experience, it is better to pre-practice on some pieces. This way you can avoid mistakes, learn to hold the instrument and gain experience with different materials, including corrugated glass.

Selection of rollers and lubricants

There are many types of rollers for different applications and different types of glass. For oil glass cutters, rollers are used made of the same material as for conventional ones. tungsten carbide or tungsten-cobalt alloy; hardened stainless steel products are somewhat less common. It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer regarding the quality of the cut of each material: all alloys are uniquely harder than glass, and the assessment of the convenience of working with them is mostly subjective.

The roller diameter is matched exactly to the thickness of the cut sheet. If the roller is smaller, there may be problems with breaking, the 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 markings should be very carefully tapped.

The rollers may differ in sharpening angle. Glass with a thickness of up to 4-6 mm is perfectly cut by 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 lubrication. For the safety of a quality tool, it must be filled with a special water-based composition. 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 petroleum jelly: the consumption will be slightly higher, but there are no problems with cleaning.

Slicing complex shapes

To cut a complex arch or different geometric shapes for a stained-glass window with a roller glass cutter, you should prepare 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. Hold the template firmly and guide the cutter along its edges, preferably WITHOUT interruption. After the contour is outlined, you need to draw a cutter perpendicular to the curves of the mowing line at a distance of 7-14 cm from each other. Then you can move on to tapping. Thin strips are broken off by glass cutter grooves. In conclusion, you need not forgotten to grind off all the edges.

How to cut correctly with a glass cutter | construction portal

Glass is actively used in all spheres of human life, therefore special tools. glass cutters. were invented for its correct cutting and processing. These devices exist in different modifications, each of which has its own rules of operation. Also, the answer to the question of how to cut glass cutter depends on the type of glass that needs to be processed.

How to cut glass cutter correctly? Tips and tricks from experts

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

But if in fact, then you can cut the glass of the desired size at home or in your own garage. The job, while it can be dangerous, is not very difficult as it might seem. One has only to know the technology and observe safety precautions.

Types of glass cutters

In household glass cutting tasks, roller, oil and diamond glass cutters are most often used. There are also special circulating devices designed for cutting round holes. To create a clearer understanding of how to cut glass cutter glass, consider each tool in more detail.

The roller glass cutter is considered one of the simplest and most budgetary devices in its industry. It has a simple structure consisting of a handle and a metal head with a carbide roller. The sharpening of the cutter is enough for 250-300 meters of glass, up to 6 mm thick. The most optimal option for a small amount of work in the absence of experience.
Oil glass cutter is a more advanced analog of a roller glass cutter, with a couple of significant differences. The handle of this tool also serves as a reservoir for oil that gets on the roller during cutting. The tip of the oil glass cutter is a monolithic piece with internal holes for a wick through which fluid is supplied. Thanks to constant lubrication, the roller will become dull only after several thousand meters of cut glass, up to 8 mm thick. Perfect for beginners and experts alike.
A diamond glass cutter costs several times more than previous models and is usually used in professional cutting. Able to cut glass up to 20 mm thick. Consists of a handle and a weighty tip with a slot for breaking glass, a position regulator and a diamond. The cutting diamond can be artificial or real, which will undoubtedly affect the cost of the tool. Strength is enough for several thousand meters of high-quality cut. Working with this glass cutter requires a certain skill, which makes it NOT the best option for beginners.
Glass cutter. compass is designed for cutting round glass. A very expensive tool aimed at professional use. Consists of a suction cup, a guide fence and a cutting roller. Some models may be equipped with a grease reservoir. Doubtful purchase for household use. An analogue of such a device can be assembled by hand from a suction cup, rails and a regular glass cutter.