The Framers Forum

Title says it all really, how long to glass cutters tend to last, just the standard ones you get off Amazon.

I'm assuming the cutting disk goes blunt after cutting a certain amount of glass?

I used to work for a glass company cutting glass, we used Silberschnitt glass cutters with 6 wheels, I used to cut about 300 pieces of glass a day and a wheel would usually last a couple of weeks. The main thing people ignore is that when cutting glass it should be lubricated with white spirit - a small pot with sponge and white spirit, dip it in before each cut. This creates a better cut and prolongs the cutter wheel. The down side in picture framing is more cleaning. Generally people also press too hard which shortens life and in the case of Silberschnitt hold them incorrectly

As everything NTG999 says.
Hold the cutter as you would a fountain pen, dip it in white spirit to lubricate it and give the glass a prep clean before cutting.
The white spirit will evaporate and clean easily without leaving an oily film.

Whilst they may be available in Amazon, I'd consider it essential to buy a professional grade cutter such as Toyo.
You can actually get replacement wheels and you'll know when they are wearing out.

I've used my Toyo cutter for over 10 years and it was second hand when I got it.
It has an integrated oil reservoir and I think I've topped that up maybe twice in the time I've had it.

I used Silberschnitt cutters for years before I got a wall cutter.

I concur with all the previous tips.

Glass cutters are not something you can cheap out on.

Great tip about the lubricant, I don’t have that at the moment but I will add it to my toolkit! I honestly don’t mind the glass cleaning to be honest, for me it’s the almost that final piece of the puzzle and much like the old cooling towers next to the M1 at Sheffield, it means I’m nearly home and done!

Is there a tool for taking the edge off the glass? A bit like putting a tiny chamfer on the edge of wood.

You can buy a diamond coated hand glass polisher off Amazon or just use a well folded piece of 180grit wet n'dry.

The downside is having to clean away the nasty glass powder which might further scratch the surface. Use a separate cloth.

Maybe only use it only on really jagged edges.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aobuviou-Polis ... GY&psc=1

'cept you don't get the handy grippey groove in the sides

Wow that's good value!

vintage frames wrote: Sat 05 Oct, 2024 9:09 am You can buy a diamond coated hand glass polisher off Amazon or just use a well folded piece of 180grit wet n'dry.

The downside is having to clean away the nasty glass powder which might further scratch the surface. Use a separate cloth.

Maybe only use it only on really jagged edges.

I don’t use the glass polisher often but when I do I use a battery handheld vacuum cleaner. It’s stored on a shelf just below where I cut the glass. Easy to clean the glass cutting table.

I bought the cheapest I could find. I wished I had bought a better one. It’s useful!

vintage frames wrote: Thu 03 Oct, 2024 3:07 pm As everything NTG999 says.
Hold the cutter as you would a fountain pen, dip it in white spirit to lubricate it and give the glass a prep clean before cutting.
The white spirit will evaporate and clean easily without leaving an oily film.

Why a prep clean? I haven’t read about that before.

If you give the glass a 'prep' or preparatory clean, then that will remove any greasy areas where the glass cutter could easily skid instead of scoring.