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  1. #1
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    Default How would you hand cut glass like this?

    Not sure if this is the right forum for this - mods feel free to move somewhere more appropriate.

    Came across these beautiful pieces recently (River Archives - Greg Klassen Furniture). I understand that the glass was hand cut to form the various curves and shapes.

    Out of curiosity, does anyone know how you would do something like this?

    X8A0133-web-540x430.jpg

    Cheers,
    Af.
    ___________________________________________________________
    "The things I make may be for others, but how I make them is for me."

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  3. #2
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    Youtube will reveal all.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Afro Boy View Post
    does anyone know how you would do something like this?
    I have done a little bit of leadlighting. It is amazing the type of curves you can get with a normal wheel glass cutter and a bit of patience. Just by coincidence, I was sent a link to Greg Klassen's work last night, or was it the night before. Damn this time-compression.

    I have never personally attempted such deep curves on the scale that he does in the work pictured. I have done very sharp curves on smaller parts.

    I am guessing that he would be working taking off the bulk first then working freehand with the glass cutter into the deeper bits, similar to how we would do it with a bandsaw, except you cant do relief cuts as they would continue into the workpiece.

    Once he has gone as far as he can with a glass cutter he would likely use a leadlighter's grinder, which is like a mini router table with a grinding bit designed to grind out the glass down to the line. It does not grab like a router bit so it is easy to guide by hand without fences or pin guides and I have never heard of anyone using anything else to guide the cut other than the eye and hands. Once you get the skills with the glass cutter you really only need the grinder to fine-tune.

    I think what Greg does is a very creative way to fill in a void in a slabbed hollow log and I am keeping my eye out for more of his work.

    Cheers

    Doug
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  5. #4
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    SWMBO has al the gear for glass cutting/grinding/polishing including they little diamond impregnated router. She hasn't used it for yonks, it just sits there in the corner of the shed and takes ups space in the shed

  6. #5
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    Thanks for the responses folks. Very useful stuff.

    Quote Originally Posted by doug3030 View Post
    I am guessing that he would be working taking off the bulk first then working freehand with the glass cutter into the deeper bits, similar to how we would do it with a bandsaw, except you cant do relief cuts as they would continue into the workpiece.

    Once he has gone as far as he can with a glass cutter he would likely use a leadlighter's grinder, which is like a mini router table with a grinding bit designed to grind out the glass down to the line.
    Ahhh, that would make sense. I just watched a few vids of glass cutting. I was amazed at how little a score-cut you seem to need to get it to snap along that line. Does this work the same for thicker pieces of glass, say around 10 - 15mm?

    I assuming then if you're cutting a curve, you would cut straight lines in segments and sneak up on it (like you described)?

    Quote Originally Posted by doug3030 View Post
    I think what Greg does is a very creative way to fill in a void in a slabbed hollow log and I am keeping my eye out for more of his work.
    I agree. I only just discovered his work and it is quite stunning.


    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    SWMBO has al the gear for glass cutting/grinding/polishing including they little diamond impregnated router. She hasn't used it for yolks, it just sits there in the corner of the shed and takes ups space
    Hmmmm, I might be interested in giving you back that shed space. Wouldn't mind trying my hand at something like this down the track. I guess however I could always route out a template and give it to the glass manufacturer to cut for me.

    Cheers,
    Af.
    ___________________________________________________________
    "The things I make may be for others, but how I make them is for me."

  7. #6
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    Hi,
    The glass also has to be new and presteen (the spell checker can't spell it either), if it's old and brittle or the tiniest scratch - buy buy.
    Regards
    Hugh

    Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Afro Boy View Post
    I assuming then if you're cutting a curve, you would cut straight lines in segments and sneak up on it (like you described)?
    Not quite, I cant have explained it well enough.

    You cut as steep a curve as you dare on the first go. Like roughing over the general shape with a bandsaw. then you try to cut out some of the deeper bits that would not have come out the first time, then maybe a bit deeper again on a third or subsequent go. Unless you are cutting a straight line, you dont cut straight, always the deepest curve you dare to up to what the pattern calls for.

    I did a leadlighting course must have been seven or eight years ago, with the girlfriend. I think it was six four-hour sessions or something like that. It started out with design then went on to cutting glass, cames etc, assembly, soldering, finishing etc. It was designed for housewives, and the pace of delivery was getting boring for me as I had done simple glass cutting, knew how to cut lead cames and solder so the instructor tried her best to keep me entertained while she coaxed the housewives along.

    Her main distraction for me was getting me to cut ever increasingly intricate patterns of glass while everyone else caught up. She would draw a line on a piece of paper for me to trace over with the glass cutter and see if I could cut out the required piece. Well, one day she handed me a piece of paper with four consecutive curves like the tongues on a jigsaw puzzle. I looked at her and said it was impossible. I said I would try it but if I could not do it she had to show me that she could. She snatched the paper back off me, stamped her foot and stormed off.

    Afro Boy, cutting curves in glass is something that comes with practice and familiarity. It is hard to describe without actually doing it. Dont get me wrong about the leadlighting course. It was money wel spent even though I didnt have as much to learn as the others. It is another skill and I can incorporate it into my projects now with ease when required. Having said that, I cannot see my path in life going towards emulating Greg Klassen.

    Cheers

    Doug
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Afro Boy View Post
    Hmmmm, I might be interested in giving you back that shed space. Wouldn't mind trying my hand at something like this down the track. . . . .
    I suggested something along those lines a few weeks ago and got the "hard stare". It might take her a year or so but she will get back to it maybe when she retires?

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    Quote Originally Posted by doug3030 View Post
    I think what Greg does is a very creative way to fill in a void in a slabbed hollow log and I am keeping my eye out for more of his work.
    I hadn't considered that. I had assumed it was done using a whole slab width from a tree, then cut the slab in half, and lay it out to have the natural bark edges facing inwards, and the straight cut tree centre on the outside of the tabletop. Hope that makes sense.

    I saw his work online a few days ago - it has been going viral on Facebook recently. It is one of the few "WOW" moments in design I have seen in quite a while. It's the kind of thing I would half love to copy (if I had the glass skills), but the other half of me thinks that this is such a one-of-a-kind fantastic design, that he truly deserves the asking prices of his pieces for their uniqueness, and to copy his designs wouldn't be flattery - it would be stealing.
    Simon.

  11. #10
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    We have a very good glazier here in geelong with a water jet glass cutter. It will cut any shape you like or want, think of it as a plasma cutter for glass. They can use a basic JPEG file and it costs the price of the glass essentially bugger all in the scheme of things. Or if they have to make the file I assume there would be a design charge.
    To give you an idea of what is possible i wanted to make a Mickey Mouse shaped mirror(never got around to it) and they said yup no worries
    cheers

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    Quote Originally Posted by Afro Boy View Post
    Not sure if this is the right forum for this - mods feel free to move somewhere more appropriate.

    Came across these beautiful pieces recently (River Archives - Greg Klassen Furniture). I understand that the glass was hand cut to form the various curves and shapes.

    Out of curiosity, does anyone know how you would do something like this?

    X8A0133-web-540x430.jpg

    Cheers,
    Af.

    Good Morning Af

    Last month we did a tour of the Waterford Glass Factory in Ireland and watched incredibly complex glass objects - lead crystal, actually - being cut, shaped and engraved.

    Most of the cutting was done on a 12-inch, V-shaped diamond wheel. A waterjet played on the cut continuously to remove glass dust and heat and to let the craftsman see his work. A surprisingly small amount of the finish work was done with a diamond tool in a dremel.

    As always, the skill was in the grey matter and the hands, rather than the tools.

    Those guys would have not trouble cutting along those curves.



    Fair Winds

    Graeme

  13. #12
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    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    I suggested something along those lines a few weeks ago and got the "hard stare".
    Pfffft, you're letting your technique slip in your retirement Bob. Why didn't you say "Sweetheart, if you sell that stuff that you don't use, then I could buy xx tool that I will use".

    Works for me anyway.

    Or not.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    Quote Originally Posted by Wrongwayfirst View Post
    We have a very good glazier here in geelong with a water jet glass cutter. It will cut any shape you like or want, think of it as a plasma cutter for glass. They can use a basic JPEG file and it costs the price of the glass essentially bugger all in the scheme of things. Or if they have to make the file I assume there would be a design charge.
    To give you an idea of what is possible i wanted to make a Mickey Mouse shaped mirror(never got around to it) and they said yup no worries
    cheers
    I agree with Wrongway, I once saw a water cutter cutting holes in armoured glass for ticket selling booths. The finish was surprisingly good and needed very little diamond polishing after. If I remember correctly, the only difficulty was that they couldn't start a cut on the line because the first penetration wasn't a neat cut so they would start off the line in the waste area and then move to the line. I particularly like the desk with the glass flowing over the edge and the single glass 'leg'
    fletty
    a rock is an obsolete tool ......... until you don’t have a hammer!

  15. #14
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    I've never been one for natural/live edge finishes, but turning the edges to the inside has changed my perspective it looks bloody great. Its given me an idea on how to utilise with effect some Cape Lilac timber that I have. Thanks for the post Af.
    Experienced in removing the tree from the furniture

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