Glass Cutting recomendations for occasional use

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stoneandarch

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What kind of glass cutter would you recommend for an artist who is cutting their own glass at home, and would never need to cut anything larger than 24 X 36? I have tried cutting on a table by hand with mixed results. I use Ultraview glass and I am ready to invest in a proper tool, but I will be looking for something second-hand to keep my costs down. I have space for a stand-up style machine. Also, advice on how to evaluate a used tool is also appreciated. Thanks!
 
My advice is to forget about wall-mounted cutters.

I only used my Fletcher 3000 wall-mounted cutter for glass when I had big jobs involving multiple frames the same size. I regard lifting lites onto the cutter and scoring and breaking them there as dangerous with a risk of glass cracking unpredictably and giving me an unwelcome sharp edged "shower". I will probably responses along the lines of "I do this all the time with no problems......." but my response is that I have seen this happen and some things only have to happen once.:eek:

I would suggest you buy a good quality oil filled glass cutter with a tungsten carbide wheel of the type used by leadlighters and a glass cutting straight edge with a grippy back - I bought mine from Larson Juhl. A thick blanket on a benchtop or a piece of carpet on a bench provides an ideal working surface - just sweep up any little splinters occasionally or they may scratch the glass.

When you get your new cutter test drive it with some scrap glass by cutting thin slices - around 1/4 inch. You should hear a clean high-pitched ssshhhh sound, and see a thin white line. You should be able to break the strips off with your fingers and if you start at one end (as you should) the strip should peel off neatly with clean edges. If the sound is harsh and the cut line looks a bit ragged that is a poor tool although, sometimes, making a few cuts will deburr the wheel and improve it but if it doesn't - take it back for replacement or refund. Some cutters, like some people, are useless from the get-go.

Practise is the key.
 
Head to your local stain glass store and ask them for their best......................and maybe signup for a stain glass course............if you are a sole proprietor you can play with stained glass during those long lonely hours during the off season.
 
I've used a diamond headed cutter in the past and liked it. If you're having problems getting the right pressure for a good score, a diamond cutter is a little more forgiving.
 
artfolio said:
When you get your new cutter test drive it with some scrap glass by cutting thin slices - around 1/4 inch. You should hear a clean high-pitched ssshhhh sound, and see a thin white line. You should be able to break the strips off with your fingers and if you start at one end (as you should) the strip should peel off neatly with clean edges. If the sound is harsh and the cut line looks a bit ragged that is a poor tool although, sometimes, making a few cuts will deburr the wheel and improve it but if it doesn't - take it back for replacement or refund.
Click to expand...
or, it could mean using too much pressure when cutting scoring.
:coffeedrinker2: Rick
 
I've tried 3 different handheld glass cutting tools. Could never get the hang of it.

As others who do this regularly by hand have noted, get the best possible tool for the job.
And practice a lot. You'll probably have better success than I did. 👍

I quit trying, and am more than happy to keep using my Fletcher wall mounted cutter. It's super fast and accurate.
If you have the wall space for it. I prefer that than needing a huge flat area to lay an entire glass lite on.
 
I have a fletcher cutter, not far from you if you're interested. Sent you a PM
 
thanks everybody for the advice. Sounds like I might have a line on a wall mounted Fletcher at a good price. In the meantime, I had a great day cutting glass this week by hand, with no failures. Listening for the sound is key and doing a test drive on a scrap piece helps me get the right angle and pressure.
 
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