How to Cut Bottles With a Diamond Cuttoff Wheel
A rotary tool used in conjunction with a compound fiber cutoff wheel can be a versatile tool. However, there are several substances, such as glass, that cannot be cut with a simple fiber wheel; for these tasks, you'll need to employ a special diamond-coated cutoff wheel. Diamond cutoff wheels are more expensive than their simple fiber counterparts, but once you've purchased one, you'll find that the variety of actions that it can perform---even beyond cutting glass---far outweighs its cost.
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Things You'll Need
- Work surface
- Rag or cloth
- Rotary tool
- Diamond cutoff wheel
- Sandstone grinding attachment
Instructions
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1
Check the diamond cutoff wheel's integrity, and then attach it to your rotary tool. Examine your diamond cutoff wheel for cracks or other imperfections---any irregularity in the wheel could cause it to break apart during use or damage the surface that you're cutting. Attach the cutoff wheel according to directions and procedures that came with your rotary tool.
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2
Clamp the glass bottle to be cut to a stable work surface. You will need to use a work surface that is sturdy and solid, with as little shaking as possible. Wrap the end of the bottle that you won't be cutting once with a rag or cloth, and then use a large clamp or vise to secure it to the work surface.
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3
Make the initial cut on the bottle. Start cutting at the top of the bottle, as this will be the best and safest angle to work from. As you cut deeper into the glass from the top, slowly and carefully work your way down to the sides, but do not cut all the way through the sides at this point.
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4
Rotate the bottle. Unclamp the bottle and rotate it so that one of the uncut sides is facing up. Repeat Step 3 on this side. Perform the rotation until all of the bottle's sides have been cut from the top. Once each side has been cut all the way through, perform the rotating and cutting process on all of the uncut areas between the fully cut sides.
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5
Grind the sharp cut edges to a semi-dull finish. Clamp each of the bottle's two pieces to your work surface. Using a sandstone grinding attachment on your rotary tool, grind the sharp edge down to a safe, dull surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you have actually cut the bottle, you can spray water on the portion to be ground down, thus cutting back on the spread of fine glass powder over your work space.
When clamping down the cloth-wrapped bottle, be careful not to tighten the clamp or vise too much---excessive force may bust the bottle.
Wear safety glasses when working with a rotary tool and any type of cutoff wheel. Pressure can cause the cutoff wheel to disintegrate, which will result in several sharp pieces of flying debris throughout the workspace.
Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose when cutting glass. Cutting glass can produce microscopic airborne bits that can cause serious respiratory damage.
