How to Cut Laminated Safety Glass
Laminated safety glass is made using two pieces of annealed glass with a layer of plastic or resin sealed in the middle. When it breaks, the pieces are stuck together by this layer, making it useful in car windshields and bullet-resistant glass. Cutting laminated safety glass is similar to cutting regular, also known as annealed, glass with a glass cutter and sharp utility knife. An alternate method using flammable liquids to melt the plastic layer is dangerous and, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, not recommended.
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Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- Gloves (optional)
- Glass cleaner
- Clean cloth or paper towels
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Glass marking pen
- Straight edge (optional)
- Glass cutter
- Glass cutting oil
- Utility knife
- Small wedge as long as the glass (1/4" dowel rod or similar material)
- Carborundum stone or glass grinder (optional)
Instructions
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1
Lay the laminated safety glass on the flat surface.
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2
Put on the safety glasses and gloves.
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3
Clean both sides of the laminated safety glass with glass cleaner and clean cloth or paper towels.
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4
Measure and mark the glass on both sides. Measure carefully and mark where the cut will be made using the measuring tape or ruler on both sides of the glass. The location of the line should match up on both sides of the glass.
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5
Dip the cutting wheel in glass cutting oil or fill the oil reservoir in the glass cutter partway with oil.
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6
Score the glass by firmly rolling the glass cutter from one edge of the glass to the other, following the mark on one side of the glass, and let it roll off the far edge. Use the straight edge to help keep the score as even as possible. Press firmly and evenly on the glass cutter and make only one mark on the glass, do not roll back over the line or lift the glass cutter up and start over.
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7
Slide the small wedge under the glass where the score was made.
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8
Apply pressure evenly to the glass on either side of the score line to "bend" it over the wedge until it breaks at the score.
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9
Turn the glass over and repeat steps 6 through 8.
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10
Slide the small wedge under the glass just along one edge of the break and press gently on the other side to slide the utility knife between the two pieces of glass and cut the plastic layer. You may need to weigh down, or have someone hold down, the far end of the larger piece of glass.
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11
Smooth the edges of the glass with the carborundum stone or glass grinder.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Practice using the glass cutter on a scrap of regular glass if you have not used one before. It is important when cutting the laminated safety glass that the mark is made correctly the first time.
Handle the glass with care, or use gloves, to avoid cutting yourself on the sharp edges.
This method only applies to laminated safety glass, not safety glass that is tempered.
References
- Photo Credit a sharp utility knife image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com marker image by Eldin Muratovic from Fotolia.com
