Glass Cutting Large T Square

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Interesting question... seriously. In the U.S. I have rarely seen one used in frame shops. Typically most framers use a glass wall cutter like the Fletcher F3000 or they "eyeball" the cuts hanging over the frame.

I have seen what you are describing used in a classic, traditional glass business, where they did windows, door, picture frames and just about anything. Watching a veteran at work with hand pressure, steady eye and this very long wooden Square, was impressive. Watching this person gave me a good perspective on the physics of "cutting" glass. :thumbsup:

I'm guessing that you might get more Ireland - UK responses on one of the FB groups. Otherwise, give Dermot Cox a ring... He's in Wicklow.

John
 
Lion uk sell them but you’ll probably find the same for less by just googling.

www.lionpic.co.uk

Resin and Set Squares

High quality resin L-Squares and T-Squares. Cut from one piece of reinforced resin plastic, they are square within the manufacturers tolerance range. L-Square has neat plastic lips, which allow it to hook on to the glass, either way round. T-square can be used left or right handed.
www.lionpic.co.uk www.lionpic.co.uk

You may have better luck in the future on the uk framing forum.





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That's a grand idea if you don't have a wall cutter. I didnt know they made them with the glass cutter built into a rail, but before I got my own wall cutter, big BIG lites were far too dangerous to cut into the frame without numerous supports. It was often easier to gently lay it down on a piece of foamcore, mark points with a sharpie, and follow the line with a cork backed ruler and my glass cutter.
 
We have had such a parallel glass cutting speed cutter with automatic lubrication for many years, and I can honestly say: for a workshop where glass is cut right on the table, it is a very good tool.
Yes, the Fletcher 3100 (Fletcher 3100 - wall-mounted cutting machine) also does a great job, but you need two of them to work properly: one separately for the glass, the second for everything else. And this requires space, which is almost always lacking in a real workshop.

Therefore, we have long concluded that a good parallel speed cutter is a very practical solution. Yes, it takes a little getting used to. Not everyone can "fit into their hand" right away. But when a person adjusts and gets their hands dirty, they can really cut very accurately - literally millimeter by millimeter.

In my opinion, it is best to have two such speed cutters in the workshop: one about 60 cm, and the second 120 cm. But it is not necessary to buy both at once. It is better to first take one, work with it, understand whether this principle of operation suits you, and only then buy a second size.

And one more important thing: God forbid you buy such a tool from unknown manufacturers. Here it is better to take only a normal, proven brand. Outwardly they may be similar, but in fact the difference in accuracy, smoothness of movement and general reliability is very noticeable.

And be sure to immediately think of a convenient place for it on the wall where it will hang. This is exactly the tool that you really want to just put somewhere near the table or on the floor “for a minute”. And then someone accidentally steps on it. Since the cart there is aluminum, it is easy to bend, and after that the tool may no longer work properly. In the worst case, you will have to buy a new one.

Screenshot_4.webp
 
Rick Granick said:
Never seen that tool before.
:cool: Rick
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I feel like we've been using it for over 20 years... I can't even remember the last time we cut glass with anything else.
 
TatoKarlo said:
I feel like we've been using it for over 20 years... I can't even remember the last time we cut glass with anything else.
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I see you’re in UK, I don’t think any uk framing supplier sells that!
 
Ylva said:
I have a Fletcher 3000, no need to have two.

I never heard of Bohle speedcutters either. Looks like UK only as far as a quick Google search revealed.
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In my experience, if the craftsman has mastered such a parallel high-speed cutter well, then he doesn't really want to go back to the Fletcher (wall-mounted cutting machine) for cutting glass. In terms of speed, the work is noticeably faster with it, somewhere several times. And in terms of accuracy, when the tool is of high quality and the hand is already used to it, there is no difference.
 
RoboFramer said:
I see you’re in UK, I don’t think any uk framing supplier sells that!
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It’s not just in the UK that nobody sells this sort of thing — as far as I can tell, you’d be hard pressed to find it from framing suppliers anywhere in the world. It didn’t really come from framers at all, but from glaziers, who once shared their trade secrets with us so that we framers wouldn’t hold back human progress and the evolution of civilisation.))
 
Ok - could be ideal for the OP, easy to find on line and I’m surprised lion don’t sell it.

Horses for courses - it would slow me down - the wall mounted thang worked for me, and does for most custom framers, I think.
 
I use plex for most frames, glass only in sizes up to 20x24 inches. Can cut that size glass in my mat cutter, with a hand held glass cutter.
 
Of course I vacuum up the glass chips immediately :=)
 
It appears that several companies in UK sell these things.

Please excuse this old 'has been' framer from poking my nose in, but this might help:
www.bohle.com

Speed Cutter with Silberschnitt® carbide wheel | 110 - 1,200 mm | BO4580.1

Precision tool for simplifying repeat cuts in production. Fast and effective working of large glass sheets. A Silberschnitt® carbide wheel is installed in the cutting head for long-lasting and sustainable use
www.bohle.com www.bohle.com

Bohle Ltd.
Fifth Avenue
Tameside Park
Dukinfield
Cheshire, SK16 4PP

T +44 161 3421100
F +44 161 3440111

Freephone Number: 0800 616151​

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Or this - https://www.glassparts.co.uk/speed-cutters
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I reckon every glazing company in Australia has some of these speed cutters.
Back in the 70's when I was cutting 1/4 inch glass on the floor, on my mother's carpet to make hundreds of glass aquariums I could have done with one, but it never happened, unfortunately.
I also used to be able to cut half inch wide strips from quarter inch thick glass back then. It's a little more trickly than cutting glass for frames.
(Sorry for reminiscing there.)
 
Larson Juhl used to sell aluminium glass cutting straight edges which had grippy plastic insets on the underside and a moulded handle running the full length of the tool.

I always cut my glass into the frame on the bench by positioning the lite in one corner, supporting the overhang then scoring with an oilfilled glass cutter like the ones glaziers or leadlighters use. When I removed the support the glass would snap under its own weight or I would give it a quick tweak with my fingers. I could pare a 1mm sliver off a piece of 2mm glass that way.

The only time I used my Fletcher wall mounted cutter for glass was when I had multiple frames the same size and I hated doing it because the bottom of the lite would be at waist height and the thought of that glass breaking above me was scary. I have had lites which cracked wildly into multiple pieces when snapped and while it was a rarity some things only have to happen once.......:eek:
 
artfolio said:
I have had lites which cracked wildly into multiple pieces when snapped and while it was a rarity some things only have to happen once.......:eek:
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There are several possible different causes of glass not breaking along the score with a wall cutter.
If the two surfaces that the glass edge sits on are not perfectly aligned it can happen. Once I corrected that on my wall cutter it never happened again over many years.
If there is a small fragment of some hard foreign matter behind the glass it can happen.
A new very sharp glass cutter that causes small shards to pop off the score line, it can happen. I always ran a new wheel along a very fine sharpening stone a few time to remove that super sharp edge on the cutter wheel before use to eliminate the cracking.
 
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