Thread: How good are you at cutting curves in glass ?

Jake,

I have had a fiddle with some old glass and found it to be very brittle to work so I do not know if it will work. Perhaps there is a way of making glass less brittle ? Maybe a glazier will respond to your enquiry.

I can usually cut new glass without too many problems but always stuff up on the old glass.

Regards Mike

Use a jig.

Precut the curve in a bit of masonite and use that to guide the glass cutter.

Before making the actual cut, dip the cutter in oil and then LIGHTLY run the cutter over the projected cut line.

Only cut the glass ONCE! Any more than that and you will stuff it up.

If the glass is old and has been weathered then it may not cut accurately.

Small jaggy bits can be ground away on the belt grinder with a suitable belt. Be gentle.

Fletty, gentleman woodworker .... and leadlighter!

All good advice so far but, as MickyG said, old glass does get brittle. You need the right tool and I can send up a cutter that will help. The technique depends on the radius of the curve but a 'tight' radius will do better with tangential relieving cuts wheras a 'bigger' radius won't. Other tricks include making sure that the cut begins, and ends, right to the edge of the glass, after you have made the single and clean cut, tap under the glass along the line of the cut using (usually) the bob on the end of the glass cutter. Support the glass either side of the cut, never 'bend' it and, as you go along, you will see the 'cut' turn into a break through the whole thickness ... and don't forget the baby oil (how often do you hear that?).
Don't bend or flex it until you have tapped along the underside of the whole length.
Good luck, Fletty
PS, PM me if you need the cutter

Thankyou kindly for the tips. I've never cut old glass, so I'm a bit worried.

Thanks fletty for the offer on the cutter, but I have one. There isn't a special one just for curves is there ?

No bending. Must remember. Cause thats something I do when cutting straight.

Originally Posted by apricotripper

There isn't a special one just for curves is there ?

You 'betcha, Jake. Google will be your friend, unless someone else jumps in. Oil filled handle and a small circular cutting wheel mounted on a pivot. Google stained glass hobby supplies.

Cheers,

eddie

Originally Posted by eddie the eagle

You 'betcha, Jake. Google will be your friend, unless someone else jumps in. Oil filled handle and a small circular cutting wheel mounted on a pivot. Google stained glass hobby supplies.

Cheers,

eddie

Thanks Eddie. Can you still cut glass curved consistantly enough without the special wheel on a pivot, you reakon ? ie. with just a normal glass cutter.

Yes