Handheld glass cutter

[DaveJ]

Hi guys, hope you had a good Christmas, Happy New Year to you.

I need a new glass cutter, I read in an old thread that the Toyo TC17 was recommended, is this still considered the best or any other recommendations?
Cheers guys, DJ.

[Framie]

Happy new year DJ, Toyo TC17 works perfect for me.

Keep it filled with oil.
Cutting head replacements available when needed

Enjoy

[DaveJ]

Great Thankyou.

[Gillthepainter]

Thank you both.
It's the main thing I struggle with - I use a cheap and cheerful cutter. I seem to be able to make the first cut.
But the second either leaves a shard, or really does not make a clean cut of it.

I have plenty of pieces to practice on. And really want to master glass cutting.

[DaveJ]

My cutter is the one recommended above, I didn't realise so probably just need a new head, Cheers.

[theframer]

I have had my original toyo 25 years now its had 3 new handles and 8 new heads

[DaveJ]

[DaveJ]

Us framers have a saying...look after your glass cutter...

[Framie]

[IFGL]

I seen that episode before.

http://theframersforum.com/viewtopic.ph ... ds#p109524

[Gillthepainter]

OK dumb questions coming up.
I've got the new cutter - without the box so it was cheaper on Ebay.

What oil do I use please, is it specialist - I have WD40. And I also have sewing machine oil in a little plastic vessel with dispenser nozzle.

Also, do I hold the cutter vertically? Or at an angle of sorts?

And finally, I do put the oil into the metal chamber, don't I? I unscrew the top of the shaft, and dribble it in?

[Glimpse]

Sewing machine oil will be fine... WD40's primary function is water dispersion rather than lubrication. I use gun oil in mine - the smell reminds me of going in gun shops with my dad when I was little!!

Yep, just unscrew and put a few drops in there... As far as angle is concerned, just make sure the cutting wheel is perpendicular to the glass - other than that, the angle of the handle fore/aft shouldn't matter, as long as it's held comfortably and you can apply even pressure. Forefinger on top, similar to if you were using a scalpel works best for me.

And just have a practice on scraps until you get the hang of the perfect pressure. To much pressure and you'll get tiny scallop-shaped chips along the cut; too little and all you'll do is scratch the glass. You'll know you've mastered it when you get a nice consistent noise like tearing paper.

[prospero]

For years I cut all my glass with a basic 6-wheel cutter. But these tools vary a lot in quality.
The first one I had produced similar results to what you have found - one cut and it's knackered.

Then I happened upon a German make, "Silberschnitt". Much better.

I mostly used it dry, but dipping it in white spirit now and then before use extends the life.

If you do use a 6-wheeler, don't bother buying new wheels and fitting them. Much easier to get a new cutter.


Glass cutting is largely a matter of practice and confidence. If you expect it to go wrong it will.

[Gillthepainter]

Many thanks Glimpse and Prospero.

You are absolutely right about expecting it to go wrong. That's pretty much what happens to moi.
Let's see if this new cutter can boost my confidence and stop me holding back. Which is probably forcing errors.

Another thing I've noticed with glass cutting.
I was snapping the glass a la tile cutting .... over a matchstick/ or on the edge of a cutting board, that gave a 2mm drop in surface.
But it has just occurred to me, that people snap glass by lifting it at a 45deg angle to the table, and breaking it like a kit-kat finger (if that makes sense).

Lots to practice.

[Glimpse]

I tend to make my cut, then slide the piece to the edge of the table and lower it rather than bend it upwards. If you bend it upwards, the break can run off in any direction.

Admittedly, I use a wall-mounted cutter for most of my glass cutting (I only use the handheld for cutting down scraps nowadays) but the principal is similar - you put the cut on the front of the glass and then push the edges away from you if that makes sense!

[Gillthepainter]

Very clear, Glimpse. Thank you.

I also saw a video of someone turning the glass over, cut side down.
And pressing 2 thumbs on top of the score line. Never seen that before.

[Glimpse]

Just be really careful - once it's scored, it's VERY unstable and no matter how you pick it up, it's likely to break. So unless it's really well supported, I would advise against moving it around.

Glass is funny stuff - it can be surprisingly robust and behave quite predictably but as soon as its compromised on its surface or any edges, it becomes a completely different animal!

[vintage frames]

Glass cutting - always a stressful experience. Or perhaps the tension is good therapy for the heart muscles.
I've always done it "old school" with a big sheet of glass flopped onto the bench and a Toyo cutter that's been soaking in a puddle of white spirit. Doing the little pieces is easy - how can you go wrong? It's the big 3ft stretches that bring on the adrenaline. 'Most important is to first clean the glass where you're going to cut. Any grease or dirt is going to cause the cutter to skid.
After I've scored the glass I pull the sheet a few inches over the edge of the bench, lift the glass up a bit, hold my breath and snap the cut open.
Little beats the satisfaction of watching the cut shoot up the length of glass and quietly muttering how clever you are to yourself.

[IFGL]

You could always have it cut to size by Wessex or Centrado if cutting glass is stressful, I try to live a stress free life.

[vintage frames]

There's good stress and bad stress - just like cholesterol. Doing something challenging, like picture framing and all the other bits, I would say is good stress and good for you. Keeps you young.