Handheld glass cutter damage?

bluehorse

Grumbler in Training
Joined
Apr 27, 2006
Posts
5
Loc
CT
Thanks to all who responded to my plea for help on cutting glass. I'm still trying. Now I think perhaps my wheel might be damaged. How would one know? I was just getting the hang of it and scoring some nice pieces while practicing, when one piece broke and micro shards went scattering. Now I think perhaps my wheel has some shards in it, because it sounds terribly gritty and sandy and I'm not even putting a lot of pressure on it. Is there any way to clean it? It's a self-oiling one. Also, it drips oil - can you have too much oil on the wheel? Thanks again EVERYONE for your replies as I learn to frame (will I ever make $ doing this???) YIKES!
 
Good thing glass cutters are cheap - try another one - when they make too much noise they are probably shot.

And I know everyone tells you to use oil - but I never have and I've been a framer since 1969 - so go easy on the oil!
 
Mar, Hes using a "self oiling" cutter. The kind with the oil resevoir in the handle... We had one that worked for ages... then you couldn't get the old style heads, and the new one leaks all over the place. I'm going back to the "old tried and true, throw it out at the end of 6 months cuz they only cost about $5".

bluehorse, you're flogging a deadhorse. throw the head and get a new head.
 
I have had my cutter for so long that I have worn a groove in the side where it slides against the straightedge - It has a resevoir for oil but I have never filled it.
I got a new cutter for my wife - but she never uses it as she prefers the feel of the old one. Its that Zen thing again - its got to feel and sound right when you cut.
It may be significant but my old cutter has a big wide cutting head and its very stable when cutting. The new cutter has a small head and is prone to deviating from the straight line. So, go for a good quality broad headed cutter - and make your own mind up about filling it with oil
 
I use cutting oil on the glass when I have to remove a 'milliscrump'. You know, you measure, but somehow when you put it in the frame it just doesn't q-u-i-t-e fit. You turn it, you try taking it in flat, but nothing works. So you remove the ms by brushing a little cutting oil on the score line, run the glass cutter and voila! it snaps right off! Triumph!!!
 
Blue Horse, wall mounted cutter. Can't afford then make it from the link in the previous thread.

I hand cut when nec, but thats not often. Since 99.5% of my cuts are straight lines, I swear by my wall cutter. (And swear AT my hand held!)

The other .5% are ovals and they are now score with my albatross (C&H OvalMaster) Prior to buying that I hand cut ovals. Threw out 2 for every one cut right, or at least that is how it felt!

Hand cutters swear by it love the feel and control they get for the cut, but they are also the "old hands" in the field! Hand wrappers and french line afficiendos! Their work is beautiful, but for every day work you are only as good as your tools, get one for the wall!
 
I have "Mr. Leaky” the clear handle oil reservoir cutter with the carbide wheel. I use a dry wall T with “Foamies” pads stuck to the bottom to prevent slipping. The wide T area keeps it square. Its no wall cutter, but it works quickly.

I am amazed at how well Mr. Leaky cuts glass as compared to the hardware store cutters. Something to do with angles cut on the carbide wheel.

John
 
Blue horse I just started rereading this thread and when I heard you had the cutter with the resevoir handle I 'd like to suggest that you get the Black cutter with the gold ball ( I don't know the model name) it has a dtachable cutter head in which you can put a few drops of oil instaed of the entire handle.

also the cutter wheels are of a better quality to the standard throw away Fletcher but they cut fine while they last.

When you asked,'How would one know" if the score skips or if you hear that grinding souns as oppsed to a smooth scratching sound or both chances are it is damaged .

The skips in the score are caused by micro small dings in the cutting edge so the score isn't continuos and when you try to break the score it will run where ever there is even the tinest skip.

That is why a lot of framers like the cheaper green and gold Fletcher cutter and they also are the ones that slideinto a C+H wall cutter.
Hope that helped and wasn't repeatative.
BUDDY
 
just get 1-2 of the fletcher(green/gold) ones...last quite awhile & putout till the bitter end...unlessthere is NO other choice, dont bother with the crap they push at most hardware joints
 
Back
Top