How to cut this glass?

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Ylva

Ylva

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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Jul 14, 2008
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Gloucester, MA
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Artemis Custom Framing
One of my best customers has another fun project for me and brought in the glass that I need to use.

It's tinted (dark brown) glass, one side mirrored (reflection, but still a bit see through) and is 7/32" thick.

How do I cut? I assume the opposite side of the mirrored side? What problems (other than breaking the glass, and she has signed a release) can I expect? Do I score it only once? Will the colored glass cause a problem?

Again, this is an extremely good customer, driving all the way over from Boston because she likes my designs and service, and I would like to impress her even more.

HELP!!!! :icon45: :icon45: :icon45:
 
I would cut it like normal, and only score once. If your really concerned break out a new cutting wheel.
 
Find a local glass company that you can partner with. I have one just up the road from my shop. I send out all my trickier cutting jobs to them. In this case, with the customer supplying the materials, I would refer them to the glass shop directly and stay out of the loop...
 
Seems the general advise is; don't do it....

Will discuss further with customer, she is aware that it is a risk, and I might refer her to a glass shop instead. The thickness, coating and so on is making me a bit nervous.

:faintthud:
 
Awww... I was just going to post...JUST DO IT!

just-do-it-blade.jpg


If you mess it up I'll send you chocolate.
 
Ylva, get some 1/4" mirror from Don Mar or a glass shop and try. Make sure the score you are practicing with is close to the one you will cut on the customer's glass. If you can cut that ok, you will probably be fine with the customer's glass.

I've found I can cut some 1/4" but if I am cutting off less than about 6" the torque is insufficient for the score that my cutter makes. (Even with pliers) Then, I send them tothe glass company.
 
Cutting glass that thick isn't that difficult, unless the piece you are cutting off is too small. It should be possible to cut 2 inches off one side.
Lay something like a blanket or towel on the bench to put the glass on and mark where you want to cut it. Then score the line, having dipped the cutter wheel in some air tool oil or machine oil first. Place the wooden end of the glass cutter, or a piece of 3/8 dowel right under the cut at one end, then press down on either side of the scored line and the cut should run along the scored line.

Confidence is the key. If you hesitate during the scoring or dither about, thas when problems arise.

In a former occupation I made hundreds of aquariums from quarter inch glass. Usually cut them from 6ft x 4ft sheets on the carpeted floor. I had a 4 inch wide board about 3/4 inch thick for a straight edge and to reach the other side, I would put one knee on the board and lean right across to make the score. Also had to cut half inch strips, 6ft long, out of quarter inch glass. Easy when you know how.
 
Send it to my boss Shar at Americana, here in Portland, OR. :D

it has always been the running joke and tease since the day she went to work for me . . . um.... wait.... I think it's her shop.... so that would mea.....

anyway.... I've got 43 years in and shes got 32.... but our true experience in doing things make the gap huge in some aspects and not so huge in others. From the first week we have been finishing each others sentences and go at designs so different that we end up so near but different. (kind of like identical twins in different clothes.)

So one day I came around the corner to see her scoring a customers old 1/4" plate mirror to fit a curvey swervey frame. I have done a few ovals..... and am one of the first to just farm it out to the glass house....
So I was just silently standing there watching her..... after about ten seconds she rounded on me and yelled "Get OUT!"
I left for lunch.
When I got back, the mirror was all cut, the backing was all cut, and waiting for me to work my magic on the frame finish a bit and fit it.

When I was starting to fit it, I was cleaning the mirror and admiring the cuts as well as seaming a few sharper edges before shellacing to seal. She came around the corner and I could see her shoulders drop. I could almost feel and hear her self esteem hit the bottom pan with the resounding thud.
"What?" I asked. I thought maybe her mother had died again. :icon11:
"What did I screw up?" She asked indicating the mirror.
"Are you kidding?" I gushed. "I have never seen anybody cut eight inside and eight outside curves in one piece before. Not in plate mirror."

Shar is my size..... and you could have knocked her over with a feather.

Good news is; I don't ever have to go near cutting mirror again as long as she's around. . . . as long as I eat a little crow pudding when I have her do the cutting. :D

We each have our talents, or not. Know yours or what you farm out.
 
I may be wrong, but I think I remember reading somewhere that cutting thicker glass requires a wheel that has a different angle than that on the one we use to cut framing glass. Is this correct?
:cool: Rick
 
Rick, that's what I heard, as well.
 
I have cut plenty of old mirrors 1/4 thick and as long as I have a sizable part to cut off I've been fine. I always clean the mirror first and put more pressure when I make my score. If the piece doesn't snap off on the wall cutter I will lay it flat on a table with the score to the edge and snap it off that way. Heck whats the worst that can happen, you break it and have 7 years bad luck. If I break it just break another one, two negatives equal a positive.
 
Rick Granick said:
I may be wrong, but I think I remember reading somewhere that cutting thicker glass requires a wheel that has a different angle than that on the one we use to cut framing glass. Is this correct?
:cool: Rick
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I've never heard that before and have never seen any different angled glass cutting wheels promoted here either. There could be some technical reason why this is true!

I have used a few different brands with great success on glass thicknesses up to quarter inch. Cutters with oil-filled handles are really good as the wheel and the cut is lubricated constantly.
 
I guess I have to find me some test pieces. Will get some 1/4" mirror and practice.

I only need to cut about 1 1/2" off though...seems that might be more of a problem if I read everyone here correctly.
 
Ylva said:
I guess I have to find me some test pieces. Will get some 1/4" mirror and practice.

I only need to cut about 1 1/2" off though...seems that might be more of a problem if I read everyone here correctly.
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It could be done by hand, but it would be an advantage to use glass breaking pliers to break that piece off.
 
If it is tempered glass you cannot cut it.Tempered glass has a logo somewhere on it unless the customer specifically requests no logo , and this is rare. It must have blunted edges. Previous use can be indicative, for instance, if it was in a door it would have to be tempered.

If you try to cut it, it will not break after the score or you will have a million pieces.

I help out a framer/glazier one day per week and this is accurate info.
 
Al E said:
If it is tempered glass you cannot cut it.Tempered glass has a logo somewhere on it unless the customer specifically requests no logo , and this is rare. It must have blunted edges. Previous use can be indicative, for instance, if it was in a door it would have to be tempered.

If you try to cut it, it will not break after the score or you will have a million pieces.

I help out a framer/glazier one day per week and this is accurate info.
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That is good information.
There is no logo, is there any other way to find out. This piece was apparently special ordered. I have asked the customer to try to get me more information before I even start this. If I know where the glass came from in the first place, I can call them and ask about the hows and whats.
 
Now you have too much info to feel safe doing the job! Bring it to a glass shop and they can cut it for you. Stand there and watch them and you'll feel more comfortable next time around. If it's tempered they may be able to tell before they cut it.
 
I would find out from the customer if they asked for tempered glass and/or what it was to be originally used for and if that fails try to call the place they got it from. Tempered glass is like in a windshield and is considerably more expensive than regular.
 
Another reason to cultivate a relationship with a glass shop - referrals. I either refer or outsource unusual glass jobs to this one local shop, and they in turn send folks to me that they can't service (just yesterday they sent me a customer who needed some Conservation Clear glass).
 
i tried cutting some kind of glass for a lady. not a customer. or at least will never be now.

it just wouldn't break. so i gave it back to her with the score line through it and said you have to go somewhere else to get it cut. she wasn't happy.

never again!!!!
 
jim_p said:
Another reason to cultivate a relationship with a glass shop - referrals. I either refer or outsource unusual glass jobs to this one local shop, and they in turn send folks to me that they can't service (just yesterday they sent me a customer who needed some Conservation Clear glass).
Click to expand...

The problem I woul dhave with that is the local glass shop offer everything I do in glass and plexi and more.
 
Thank you all.

The customer suggested herself that she would take it to her glass shop to have it cut. I offered to go to the glass place myself, but she absolutely doesn't want to hear of that. (she is a very fantastic lady) So, I'm first going to build the frame (need the right outside dimensions) after the glass will be cut and I will put everything together for her.

Thank you all for your input!
 
I worked at a stain glass place. We would bring glass to the glass shop to get it cut on occasion. Work with them, even if they do sell the same glass you do. The local glass shop just brought a frame in to get the mat replaced. A customer of the previous owner had brought an old framed job to them to get the glass replaced and the pastel had smeared all over the mat. ;) BTW a neilson 33-50 frame and their edges were handcut and seamed and you could see where it wasn't held in place by the lip. I almost replaced their glass :)
 
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