Cutting 1/4" Plate Mirror

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MerpsMom

MerpsMom

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Jul 30, 1997
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Leawood, Kansas USA
I want to cut down a plate mirror. What's the best way to do it by hand?

This is my own product so if it breaks, so be it. It's too large a piece to fit in my wallcutter so I must use the manual method.

Hints? or am I capable? (Would be fun to know how just in case I'd ever need to fit a customer's.)

Cathie
 
It's just like cutting regular glass...scoring the top side of the mirror. Use your own glass cutting method. Hint: After scoring the mirror, move the mirror so the score line is off your table, lightly tap the score line at the edge of the mirror to start the "run" Place your thumbs on each side of the score line. Snap up and you should have a clean cut.
 
If the piece being broken off is large move the score line to the edge of the table and have someone hold down the saved piece and give the break off a hard push. Put your back into it.

I like to wear gloves so I'm not afraid to snap hard but be sure the score is right at the edge of the table to avoid a chip on the saved piece.

For smaller 1" or 2" wide pieces it is best to use flat glass pliers (not running pliers) and begin the break at one end and it will run to the other end.
 
use your newest/sharpest cutter....ensure your straight edge does NOT wander off line(you get 1 chance to get it right).. oh yes....and take a big /deep breath before you snap it!
 
cutting 1/4" mirror

After trying the above mentioned method several times, sometimes with success and sometimes without, I take mine to a mirror and glass company a couple of miles away.....used to be $10 a cut but recently they figured out this was too cheap and now charge $20 a cut. Sometimes my cuts looked a little "raggedy" and I was not pleased with the cut edge looking funky in the frame.

P.S. be sure to paint or use black masking tape to cover the rabbet in your frame-looks so much better.
 
I once tried cutting a chunk off a 10mm thick mirror. I just scored it as usual, ducked down behind the bench and reached up and snapped it by hand. Had to use a lot of pressure. It cracked with a sound like a gunshot. Worked OK though. :D
 
I learned this lesson on a customer's mirror. I figured "How hard could it be? It's just like glass, which I cut down every day." Hard enough to replace their mirror. Now when they want a cut-down, it's off to the glass company.
 
I wouldn't try this on a customer's piece. But, I have six 2' x 6' panels which are being replaced by sheet product in a smaller area.

So....who would ditch those other pieces? :) Two go in one closet, two in another, etc., and two need to be cut down.

If you don't hear from me for awhile............(that's a horrible thought, isn't it?)

MM
 
The "wheel" angle of a glass cutter for cutting 1/4" glass is actually different that for SSB ("regular" glass.) 134 degrees for 1/4" vs 120 degrees for thinner glass.

It may be worth a few $$ to invest in the proper tool.

Yeah, yeah I know some of us have gotten away with a "regular" glass cutter but Mr. Natural says "use the right tool for the job."

Another tip- always start the break where the cutter stopped (ended the cut).

Here is a great resource for all things glass related:

http://crlaurence.com/ProductPages/0/02F_963.html?Origin=
 
work out a deal with glass & mirror company nearby..they have the tools and experience to cut mirrors...why bother when it's so cheap to get it done right?
 
1/4" Mirror Cuts

I draw the score line on the glass with a thin marker, and follow that line instead of trying to hold down a ruler. Put a little more pressure on the glass cutter to get a good score. Tap the score from underneath to start it, then a good hard snap (you have to cut a lot off for it to work.) Hit the rough edge with a grinding stone or seamer to smooth it out. Paint the side of the cut edge black, as well as the inside of the frame. Use a frame with a wide rabbet, or add a rabbet extension.
 
We have a glass company next door to us that supplies our mirrors. Once they sent over a glazier to cut two inches off one of the mirrors for us. Here's what he did:

Score with a lubricated wheel cutter.
Tap the score from underneath, you can see the run.
With his bare hands he picked up the plate mirror on each side of the score and broke it just like a fortune cookie.

He used almost no force. I think if you do a heavy snap method like glass, you're in for a world of trouble. Could work, could go to the hospital. Good luck.
 
MabSadie2 said:
Score with a lubricated wheel cutter.
Tap the score from underneath, you can see the run.
With his bare hands he picked up the plate mirror on each side of the score and broke it just like a fortune cookie.
Click to expand...

Lubrication is helpful on the thick glass or mirror but most importantly he used the appropriate angle on the soring wheel.

We use glass cutters that are designed for single strength glass.

Now let me just say that we are supposed to be professionals here. Why not just learn how to do it rather than lugging it around to someone else who is going to add a fee for something that takes a couple of minutes to learn. More time, more money and more risk of breakage.

Maybe that is just one more reason why people think framing is expensive. It is because we make it that way by not knowing how to do things we should know within the first couple of months that we choose this occupation.
 
We had the same thing happen, we had a 36 x 60 - 1/4" mirror that while being installed at home, cracked. Way too much good mirror to throw out. I put it on the wall cutter and scored it, layed it on our center work table with the score side up and on the edge, snapped it. I got it down to 6 x 6" pieces (ok, I have a plan for them). It did take a lot of pressure but it can work. The proper tools are always the best way to go................
Ruth
 
Jeff Rodier said:
Lubrication is helpful on the thick glass or mirror but most importantly he used the appropriate angle on the soring wheel.

We use glass cutters that are designed for single strength glass.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I was so impressed, my neighbors ordered me one of their cutters. It was about thirty five dollars and works like a charm, although I am not confidant enough to start ordering sheets of mirror. It's nice when you have that occasion oops mirror and you want to recycle the cherry parts.
 
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