Question Cutting Pyrex

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The Toxic Framer

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Yes...... believe it or not, I just had someone come in here and ask if i could cut down a pyrex baking dish...............

I told her to call one of our local glass shops.

What's even more interesting was that she is a graduate student in the engineering school ?!?!?!?! :shrug:

Ok just in case she comes back in.... any thoughts ?

Rob
:help:
 
Engineering school huh??

OK, Pyrex will start to get soft around 1500F.....tell her to use her lab torch to heat it that high, then use scissors.....:p

Otherwise, I doubt anything else will score or cut Pyrex (safely at least!)
 
Because it is tempered it can not be cut without shattering. Maybe could be done with a laser but nothing else.
 
2. What would possess someone to think of a custom framer to do it?

Because no one else would be so eager to please by entertaining every crazy request that comes in. (See: every post that has ever warned a fellow framer to send the customer to a conservator.)
:icon11: Rick
 
A stained glass diamond blade band saw??? I have one sitting in my garage...
 
Some treated glassware has its surface under greater tension than its interior, to make it resist breaking and when its surface is interrupted, it can shatter with force.
Pyrex may not be consturcted thus, but cutting it should be left to others, as has been suggested.



Hugh
 
If it cuts anything like convex mirror, then it doesn't. You can score a nice line with a glass cutter, but the first tap releases a ton of internal tension. Believe me.

Only practicle way I can see being successful with this is to use a water cooled tile saw with a diamond blade. You might check with the local fabricator of marble/granite counter tops to see if they would take on the project.
 
Use a hammer to tap the score line. Or a nail set. You won't be able to cut it down so you might as well get the shattering and smashing over with! The hammer would be great stress release but the nail set might make a nice focal shattering effect.

If you do manage to cut it down you do realize that you'll need to smooth the edges, or when she goes to use it it'll shatter!

Go to a cooking/kitchen shop, price out new pyrex pan the size she wants and then double the price.
 
We cut the center out to make a frame once. Only cost us about $400, and three attempts.

heat in chamber to about 1200 degrees.... anneal for an hour, then while still hot, cut opening with plasma torch.

guy said a few months later that he was still finding little pieces of the first two.... everywhere... and would never do it again. :D
 
pyrex

Since it is clear that she has no idea what she is dealing with, it would be a kindness to warn her if she comes back in! Sooner or later she will try it at home...
 
Baer Charlton said:
We cut the center out to make a frame once. Only cost us about $400, and three attempts.

heat in chamber to about 1200 degrees.... anneal for an hour, then while still hot, cut opening with plasma torch.

guy said a few months later that he was still finding little pieces of the first two.... everywhere... and would never do it again. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Bear.

What she had explained to me was that she just needed a flat piece of pyrex for some project she was doing at the school. I am most DEFINITELY NOT going to try to cut it if she comes back in.
I will just smile and ask her why she can not just flip the dish over and use the bottom. :icon9:
 
The Toxic Framer said:
Thanks Bear.

What she had explained to me was that she just needed a flat piece of pyrex for some project she was doing at the school. I am most DEFINITELY NOT going to try to cut it if she comes back in.
I will just smile and ask her why she can not just flip the dish over and use the bottom. :icon9:
Click to expand...

Refer her to a laboratory glassware supplier.
 
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