How to Cut Textured Glass
Textured glass ranges from the drapery glass used by Tiffany in stained glass lampshades and windows for added depth, to a variety of other textures such as hammered, rippled, ridged and granite. These textures differ greatly in the skill and tools required to cut them successfully, but a number of techniques are useful for all textures. Always remember to cut on the smoothest side of the glass for the best results, even if that means flipping the glass over to score the other side for some cuts on drapery glass.
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Things You'll Need
- Glass cleaner
- Clean rags or paper towels
- Marker
- Pattern
- Eye protection
- Glass cutter
- Glass cutter oil
- Glass pliers (grozing pliers)
- Styrofoam or towel (optional)
Instructions
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1
Clean both sides of the glass carefully and allow it to dry.
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2
Lay the glass on a flat work surface with Styrofoam or a folded towel for extra support, if needed. This layer is helpful for glass with lots of texture such as drapery or rippled glass.
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3
Trace the pattern on the smoothest side of the glass with the marker.
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4
Dip the wheel of the glass cutter in the oil. If the glass continues to break in the wrong place, apply a bit of cutting oil to the glass as well, before scoring it.
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5
Cut the first line, starting at one edge of the glass and scoring all the way to another edge of the glass in one motion. Do not run the wheel back and forth over the line. Use enough pressure to make the score as smoothly as possible along the glass. If you press too hard, the wheel tends to get stuck in any gaps.
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6
Tap lightly on the opposite side of the glass directly under the score line to help coax the glass to break along the score. You need to tap the glass only if it is not breaking along the score line properly.
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7
Grasp the smaller piece with the grozing pliers to break the glass apart at the score line.
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8
Repeat steps 4 to 7 as necessary to cut each line of the pattern out of the glass.
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Tips & Warnings
A diamond-bladed ring saw or band saw for cutting glass makes cutting textured glass easier and reduces the amount of glass wasted, but the price may be prohibitive for some stained glass hobbyists. Slow and steady is the best technique to use with either of these saws because the blade can snap if you try to rush the process and push too hard.
For patterns that are difficult to cut, such as those with sharp inside curves, cut the piece of the glass with the pattern on it from the rest of the glass sheet before cutting the lines of the piece to avoid wasteful breakage of the entire glass sheet.
Always use eye protection when cutting glass with either a glass cutter or glass saw.
Allow glass to warm to room temperature when it is cold out because it is easier to score and break when it is warmer.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
