Glass is a popular material for small-scale DIY projects to high-end commercial ventures. It is used everywhere around us. Glass needs to be cut in different sizes and shapes in order to be deemed fit for different applications. For a round coffee table, the glass sheet is cut in a circular shape. While the glass has to be custom cut for a creative project.
Most of the time, glass is precut to a specific shape and size for different projects. Constructors and designers mostly rely on professionals for cutting the glass. However, glass cutting is a fascinating technique that can be done with little practice and attention. We will learn how to cut a mirror or glass in this blog. Read through and master the art of cutting the glass by yourself.
What Tools Do You Need?
Doing it yourself is a productive trend. However, glass and mirror cutting is an area where even the most skilled of the DIYers hesitate. And that’s understandable!
It seems like a hard job but cutting the glass or mirror is not that difficult. All you need is a bunch of simple hand tools and a little practice to become a pro glass cutter.
Let’s take a look at the tools you’ll need before we get into the mechanics of glass cutting.
- Mirror or glass that you need to cut
- Glass cutter
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Glass cleaner
- Cutting oil
- Tape Measure
- Marking pencil
- Straightedge
- Pliers
- Dowel
- Sandpaper
How to Cut Glass or Mirror?
Cutting a glass or mirror is an intricate job. You should have your safety gear on before indulging in the task. Let’s dive into each step of glass cutting.
Step 1: Prepare the Workstation
The first step in any process is to prepare the work table. Set up a space where you intend to perform the task. For cutting the glass, make sure that the surface is clean, flat, and hard. A strong workbench or a thick piece of plywood would do. Ensure that the worktable is solid because if there are any bumps on the surface, the glass will fracture when you try to cut it.
Sweep the work surface clean. Lay down a thin, damp towel to make the surface non-slippery. Take all the tools you need for the process and set them within your reach on the workstation.
Step 2: Clean the Glass Sheet
Wear safety gloves and glasses. Clean both sides of the glass with cotton rags and glass cleaner. It is very important to clean the glass before cutting it because debris or grit can come under the cutting tool’s wheel and clog it. Place the clean sheet of glass on the clean work surface and get ready for cutting.
Step 3: Measure and Mark
Take the measuring tool and measure the glass sheet. Mark the cut line with a fine-tip pencil. Keep a ⅛ inch difference from the intended cut line to ensure proper cutting.
Step 4: Score and Snap
Now comes the main step.
Take a framing square, steel rule, or any other straightedge and use it as a guide for the glass cutter. Attach the straightedge on the spot using duct tape. This will prevent the straightedge from sliding out of place.
Now apply lightweight cutting oil or machine oil to the cutting wheel of the glass cutter. You can skip the oiling step if your cutting tool is self-lubricating. Hold the cutter firmly in your hand, press the cutting wheel firmly against the glass and move the cutter along the straightedge and off the edge of the glass in one continuous stroke.
The steel cutting wheel will produce a screeching sound when it comes in contact with the glass surface. In this way, you will score the glass sheet. Now remove the straightedge from the glass sheet. Slide the glass sheet off the work table until the scored line sets along the edge of the work surface. set the glass sheet with a scored line pointing up. Now firmly hold the glass in place with one hand, press down the part that is off the table with the other hand, and split the glass in half.
You can also use the glass cutter’s end to snap the glass sheet. Turn the glass over and tap the back of the glass along the scored line with the end of the cutter. Tap the glass along the line until it splits.
Step 5: Smooth the Edges
Use a flat sandpaper file to smooth the rough and sharp glass edges and you have the glass sheet ready to be used in your project. Clean the small and potentially harmful fragments from the workstation and you are done with cutting the glass.
What Kind of Glass Can You Cut at Home?
Cutting the glass or mirror at home is totally possible. But there are a few limitations to cutting wall mirrors or glass sheets at home.
- You can only cut annealed glass that is 1/4′′ thick or less.
- It is hard to cut a thicker glass. The level of complexity increases for glass sheets thicker than ¼”. It might be difficult to cut glass thicker than ¼” without special expert tools.
- It is also not possible to cut tempered glass. Tempered glass shatters into tiny fragments if you try to cut it. Therefore, glass is always cut into desired size and shape before tempering it.
- Similarly, laminated and insulated glass are also not cuttable. Only the single-paned glass sheets can be cut at home through the simple process of the score and snap.
Get the Best Custom Cut Services at Glass Genius
There is no doubt that cutting the glass or mirror is quite simple. But it’s best to leave the job for the professionals. This guide helps you understand how to cut glass sheets at home but you can only cut a glass sheet of a specific thickness range in a straight line. So for most custom projects, you would have to head to the experts for help.
Glass Genius will do the job for you. The professionals at Glass Genius are equipped with state-of-art tools and the right expertise to cut the glass and mirror for you. They offer custom-cut services for any project, be it a small-size DIY project or a huge-sale commercial one. Just get in touch with the Glass Genius team at any hour of the day. They are at your service 24/7. Make an appointment and get your mirror and glass cut to size for your projects.
