easiest way to cut oval glass

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Justin Alvarez

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Posts
152
Loc
Alberta, CANADA
Hi everyone,

Ok, now I was wondering if anyone has any tips on cutting a piece of oval glass. A client of mine came in today with an oval frame (11 by 14) and wants glass and mats for it. Sure no prob. Now I need to cut the oval. Any tips?

Thanks!

Justin Alvarez
 
G'day Justin,There are numerous ways to cut an oval / circle / other shapes in glass, and everyone seems to end up picking one they feel most comfortable with.

Go to the main Grumble window, click search, and type in cutting oval glass.
You'll get a lot of threads, and much good advice in the many that come up.

I just spent some time trying to find a particular diagram, but couldn't find it.
Still the printed info is just as good, and then you should grab some scrap glass and get some practice in.

You'll also find lots of references to various oval / circle cutters available commercially.
While most of these work ok (again, with practice), unless you are cutting lots of ovals etc ongoing, then generally hand cutting is so much more convienient.
 
You can order glass cut to size from Inline Ovals. That's probably alot easier and cheaper than trying to do it yourself. Once you're proficient at cutting ovals, maybe it will be cost-effective, but think of all the glass you will waste getting to that level of proficiency.
 
Justin DECOR March 2005, page 141. It will take you longer to read the article then it will to cut the oval.

Or, you could have taken my class at Vegas.... next year, don't miss it.
 
I usually cut the backing first and use that as a template for the glass. Draw round the backing with a water soluble pen. Cut the glass following your mark. Slowly...

Then lay it scored side down on your bench. Press gently round the score so you can see the cut "run" and chase it right around your score till it meets the start point. Then score the diagonals and flip the glass and press on the scores again and that will free your oval or circle.

Thats the way I always do them and it makes a good job of it. I have an oval and circle cutter on a mountcutter but I really dont like using it.

Hopefully that will save you from traipsing through the archives here.
 
Hi Justin,

Although I cut all of my glass with a handheld glass cutter, I never bothered to learn the technique for cutting oval glass. It isn't worth my time for the very few requests that come by my way. However Larson Juhl will cut it for me if I provide them with a template. Their price is fair and makes sense for me to job it out to them. I just make sure that I charge my customer enough for me to make a some $$$ for the shop. If your LJ doesn't do ovals, your local glass or framing supplier might do it.

Happy Grumbling!
Susan
Whispering Woods Gallery
 
Justin,

It's actually quite simple to cut an oval glass.

Start with an 11 X 14 rectangular piece. Lay the glass on the frame and score with a hand held cutter the arc connecting to where the frame meets the glass at the center of all four sides.

Next, score several radius scores on all four corners going almost from the the arc to the outer edge of the triangle. On an 11 X 14 I'd probably do two on each corner.

Snap off the glass and you are done.

The radius scores take off the excess pressure and the glass will break along the scored arc.

If there are any small abutments left on the glass you can use a flat nose plier to chip them off or a Dremel type tool with an abrasive disc will remove them easily too.

I drew a diagram but it's a pdf file and I don't know how to convert it so I'll email it to you. If anyone else wants it let me know.

Dave Makielski
 
Very good Grasshopper.... good to see you were paying attention last year.

Dave discribes [sort of] the way I taught, and the same basically that is in the March 2005 issue

I still suggest that you either "tap" the score or place the glass face down on a soft surface and push
the score with the "ball" end of the cutter, and follow the "run" around.... then push on the relief cuts untill they run from outside to oval and release the oval.

If you need pictures.... either call DECOR and ask for an archive sheet, or email me and I send you a photo copy.
 
Thanks everyone! I will definately be trying these tips when I get in on Tuesday. I appreciate all the help. I am not a fan of ovals already, but hey thems the breaks!

Justin Alvarez
 
Come to the Baltimore Decor Expo Show....

Indeed these oval pieces of glass can be cut "by eye"...and one can use a template to trace the perimeter....but why, when this simple little tool makes it so easy.

occirgl.into.jpg



I can cut an oval piece of glass in 60 seconds with an extremly clean edge and perfect proportions with this tool. Stop by the Fletcher-Terry booth at the Decor Expo show in Baltimore and I'll be glad to demonstrate this for you.

With the number of CMC's in frame shops these days....this little tool will just pay for itself in two jobs!

John
 
Until recently I always cut oval glass by hand but then I had several pieces come in at the same time and decided to invest in the Fletcher oval/circle cutter that John described ... it is a REALLY nice tool, and makes the job effortless! Now I can't understand why I didn't buy it sooner! Highly recommended!
 
Sad.

When you come to rely on a machine... you can then never enjoy the exhilaration of cutting the museum glass for frames like this.

3256.jpg
 
SHOW OFF!
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;)
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Dave Makielski
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No Dave. I can cut the glass.... but I didn't make the frame or do the work.... just a picture I found....

But MAN, I want to know what that Jade panel is all about! THAT is McDreamy. and I've go just the twins I want to do that with.
 
You show me yours and I'll show you mine! Agree that for some things you have to go manual!
mvc-254s.jpg.w300h225.jpg
 
To illustrate what others are saying:

Start with a piece of glass larger than the 11 x 14 you wish to cut e.g. 12 x 16. Score the oval with one of the techniques suggested.

Oval1.jpg


With a hand held cutter, scribe tangential lines from several points (at least eight but twelve may be better) from the scored oval to the edges of the glass.

Oval2.jpg


Flip the glass over, so that the scored side of the glass is down against a relatively firm surface.

Oval3.jpg


Save you fingers; use gloves! Press firmly on the scored glass starting at a tangent juncture, then continue pressing (moving counterclockwise if the scores are in this direction) on both on the oval and the tangent until you notice the break is running. Continue around the oval until you reach the starting point. The “tangent” scores need to run completely to the edge of the glass blank.

Oval4.jpg


Remove the scrap and you’re good to go (with luck).
 
Bill ...your illustrations are great! You do the score lines a little differently than I've always done them and the next time I cut one I'm going to try your method ...probably get a little cleaner break than the way I've done it for umpteen years.

Dave Makielski
 
Great illistration Bill.

Let me save you some time and make more profit.

Score only 3-4 relief scores ONLY.. they don't need to get even near the oval or outside end... they should take about a second to do.

Flip the glass.

Forget the gloves.... take the cutter and flip it over... this is the second reason for the "ball" on the end of the cutter. Push down on the OVAL score and "run" the entire oval. You have now effectively seperated the oval from the waste...
Now push the relief lines.. and the waste will free the oval... with out risking a shearing across the oval.

This is the "ah ha" concept in my glass cutting class.

It's also why I don't have gold paint on the "head" of my ball cutter; just smooth metal. :D

Andrew... you lucky dog.. I searched all over for a fan that nice.. they are getting VERY rare.
 
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