Glass & sheet cutting

[sinbad72]

I collect my sheets cos its handy for me. I have them cut in half (3'x2'). Much easier to handle. Also I use a T square and oil cutter. I do keep full sheets in stock though just in case.

[framemaker]

Don't you use the excalibur for glass too? The idea is you cut all the frame contents on the same machine with the same stops - surely? Why would you cut glass by hand if you have a machine?

I just prefer to cut glass on a dedicated bench, and never liked the process of cutting it on the panel cutter.

[GeoSpectrum]

I use a sloping bench and 'drop' the glass directly onto it having placed the lower edge along the bottom stop (the bit that stops stuff sliding off onto the floor). The air caught under the glass as it falls towards the table cushions the falling glass and as long as there is no debris on the bench there are no breakages. Yet…

Cutting is done with a simple oil filled hand held cutter and a T-Square.

Artback is cut with a stanly knife on the same bench. Don't use mdf, just seems like hardwork to cut to me.

[mikeysaling]

i too have all my glass 3 x 2 - never have got on with my wall cutter 3000 only use it for board. mind you i will not make a frame over 3 x 2 anyway - if its full o medals its gonna be far too heavy anyway.

[arcon5]

How about a device like this?

[Otters Pool Studio]

Before I got my Excalibur, I used to drop 66"x48" sheets onto the glass bench. Just lean the glass on the front edge, tilt over, then let go. The air can't escape from under it quick enough, so acts as a cuchion to gently fall onto the bench.

[ChrisG]

How about a device like this?

Can't see how you'd use a powered cutter like this on a large sheet of glass, looks as though it cuts right through which would mean the glass would have to sit above the bench on blocks or something? I can't see any advantage over a straight forward wheel cutter for a tenth of the cost.

ChrisG

[arcon5]

Thanks for all the advise.

What about cutting mirrored glass?

Would you use the same method?

[prospero]

Yep. Score the non-silvered side.

[arcon5]

Maybe i'm getting my technique wrong then.

I'm trying to cut mirrored glass. A 36x 24 sheet, tried trimming a 24 x 16 piece. First attempt with oil filled diamond cutter, second attempt wheel thing -- each time it would end as a bit of an S style cut after tapping along the score.

Watched some youtube clips which make it look so easy. Thought maybe it was because I was using mirrored glass rather than standard glass?

[prospero]

It can be tricky once you get over 6mm.

[sinbad72]

Its all in the ear. Something will just click someday and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about. Its hard to describe the sound rather than to say that to me its like a ripping of sheets kinda sound but you will get to know it with practice. I would be interested to hear how my peers would describe the sound......... P.S. Whats the tapping all about?

[Roboframer]

I heard it sounds like tearing silk, but I'm not that impatient, I just undo the buttons!

[guzzijim]

Have a look at this.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _500wt_950

[Nearlygotitright]

I use an old Logan Simplex with their glass cutting attachment. It's ideal for slicing up 4' x 3' sheets - the squaring arm takes care of keeping it it square and it's just like straight cutting mount board.

[Custard]

actually wish i'd bought a fletcher now!! ah well !

Interesting comment, what makes you say that?

I'll be refurbishing and extending my workshop at the start of next year, and I'm trying to decide between the Excalibur 5000 and the Fletcher. Assuming the decision is purely based on glass cutting which is the better choice? I've seen them both demonstrated and the Fletcher worked like a dream on glass, precisely removing a 5mm sliver, where as the Keencut glass cutting demonstration was a shambles. Of course, it could just be the skills and experience of the two different salesmen, but it left me with the prejudice that the Fletcher was designed around glass cutting where as the Excalibur was designed around board cutting.

[Roboframer]

The Keencut is not good with slivers, and I've had two. It depends on leverage - i.e. you pushing on the waste - and the less waste, the less leverage. The FT has a 'trigger' that will do small slivers - how small I don't know.

The keencut will still score a sliver, but you'll probably have to remove the lite to your bench and set about it with glass-nipping pliers .... and my experience is that the sliver won't come off in one, or two, or three, or ....... etc attempts and you'll be left with little points to snap off and maybe just forget it and go and get a larger piece of glass.

So for anything leaving less than 25mm wastage (and 25mm can still be a pain to snap on the machine) I use my (Shaw) oil-filled hand glass cutter which gives a better score anyway and 95% of the time snaps off in one go. Only problem with that in a normal framing job though, is that the boards were all cut on the machine's stops, but only one side of the glass was and the side I cut manually can be different to the corresponding sides of the boards, because I'm not a machine.

[Tangent]

If I can resurrect this thread I am wondering if this would be any use instead of the ebonite T Square
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Dryw ... ds=tsquare

I use this to mark straight lines on fabrics that won't tear when I'm making curtains and blinds but as I don't yet have any glass - Going to Wessex to get some tomorrow I'm not sure how useful and safe it would be for using with my Silberschmitt (which I haven't used yet) to cut glass.

On my course at East Surrey College we just used a long metal bar which I think was about 3 or 4mm thick.

[prospero]

You can't really tell until you try it. But as it's made for cutting drywall panels and the ebonite ones are made for glass, I would plump for the latter.

Having said that, the other gizmo may be fine. Who knows?


Wessex do cut sizes btw.

[Tangent]

Thanks prospero

I am getting them to cut the smallest sheets into 2 so they end up about 2' x 3'
Only way I can fit them in my flat
I believe I should stand it up rather than lay them flat

Off to Wessex at Leatherhead now

I can't get them to cut my glass to size every time because the postage or the journey will mean that I may as well pay the Glaziers down the road to cut it
They charge £18 for a 2' x 3' sheet!!!!
Initially that was what I was going to do but due to the price difference I decided to cut my own
I did do it last week on the course and it was fine
So I can cut the first few pieces with help from the tutor and other more experienced pupils