How to Cut Glass for Stained Glass Projects

Cutting glass is an essential skill in making stained glass, requiring practice. Starting with float glass or scrap pieces, practice straight cuts before you graduate to curves. As with any artistic technique, make sure you maintain control throughout the process. You will ruin fewer pieces of glass and your project will take less time overall.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stained glass marked with paint pen or waterproof marker
• Glass cutter
• Small jar of lubricating oil and a cotton ball
• Rag on which to wipe your glass cutter
• Breaking pliers
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

1. Hold the cutter at a 90-degree angle to the glass, which allows the maximum amount of force between the cutting edge and the glass. Use the thumb of your free hand to guide the cutter.

2. Cut around the pattern piece, keeping speed and pressure the same throughout the cut. If cutting off a panel, cut from one end of the glass to the other, to ensure it will break cleanly. Maintain a perpendicular orientation to the glass. Cut away from you so you can see the pattern clearly as you proceed. Wipe the cutter with the rag after every cut.

3. Maintain a perpendicular orientation to the glass. Cut away from you so you can see the pattern clearly as you proceed. Wipe the cutter with the rag after every cut.

4. Break the glass by grabbing both sides and applying equal pressure to each side. If this technique does not work, use a tapping tool and breaking pliers.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy the most expensive glass cutter you can afford. Glass cutters come in steel, carbide or tungsten.
• Glass cutters need to be lubricated, so dip your cutter in oil every few cuts.