Any tips for cutting old glass?

[drummer_boy]

Hi everyone, it's drummer_boy again!

Things are coming along nicely here in Havant thanks to all the advice from you lovely people!

(and look, no more capitals & !!!!!! or ?????, i've since read through all the rules & realised this wasn't the proper way to do things, so i'm a changed man!!!!!................well almost??????) .............that's a joke by the way ; )

anyway, i've managed to get my hands on some lovely old 'wavy' glass from a house around the corner & whats more i got it for free! yeh.

i'm about to start cutting it in order to glaze my new & very lovely sashes, but i'm a bit nervous as i've never done it before & i was wondering what's the BEST type of cutting tool to use? someone mention to me about an oil filled cutter?

do i need to rest the glass on a hard or soft surface?

do i need to make any special allowances as this glass is wobbly & only about 2mm thick!?

This might be a dumb question (but then again, i am a drummer!) do i just mark the glass before cutting with a marker pen? or is there a special way of doing it?

Many thanks to all who answer this post, i am very greatful for your help.

Chris, aka drummer_boy

 

[Lime]

I'm pleased that you've found some glass.

There are many opinions how to cut glass but the most important in my view is confidence so I suggest you practice on some horticultural/greenhouse glass first.

You need a completely flat firm table covered in a flat blanket or cloth for cutting on.
The glass needs to be clean.
A sharp cutter. The wheel type blunt easily if you over-run a previous score or glass dust gets stuck in it. I use white spirit for lubricant, the wheel being dipped in the spirit prior to use.
I much prefer a diamond cutter because it scores so easily.

A straight edge which is used both for cutting along and breaking the glass over.
I mark the glass top and bottom where I want to cut it.
The score should be a single pass from top to bottom on one side only.
The score is then placed over the straight edge, the edge being in exact alignment with the score.
The glass is held firmly on the straight edge and direct downward pressure placed on the piece to be broken off.
It is easier to break off large pieces of glass rather than small edges.

However you need to practice on some ordinary thin glass to get the feel of it.

 

[Lime]

I forgot to mention that I use two tiny scores top and bottom to mark where I want to cut it.
I then place the cutter in a score and align the straight edge up to it.
When the cutter fits into each score top and bottom I then know the straight edge is in the correct position to score along.

Hard wood is the best straight edge material.

 

[drummer_boy]

Thanks lime!

i should be attempting this tomorrow or sunday, but i've got to prime the windows 1st before i glaze and putty them.

i keep worrying about whether to use traditional paints & primers, i.e. lime based or linseed oil based etc etc....trying to 'google' it but it's not very easy to find companies who make it obvious how much these paints cost?

i dunno, i just don't like the idea of doing something if it's not done right!?.........even though i don't intend living there for the rest of my life. Perhaps i shouldn't be so pedandtic?

 

[NT]

White lime paint is apx £6 per quarter ton. This asusmes you mix it with water yourself, and go get the bag of lime yourself.

NT

 

[middi]

Cutting old 2 mm glass. Words of advice.

1) Place thin cloth on a level hard surface (table)

2) Make sure the glass is very very clean

3) Use any good quality diamond wheel glass cutter and very lightly oil
the tip

4) Run your cutter in one clean sweep by applying reasonable pressure
along your straight edge

5) Do not try to repeat this process on the same cut

6) Just turn the glass over hold one end of the glass about one inch
above the hard surface between your forefinger and thumb and
execute a light sharp tap in the centre of the cut with the back of
the glass cutter.

7) It must be remembered that old thin glass does not break as
cleanly as new glass, due to imperfections and years of micro
sandblasting of the weather and also uneven thickness which has
taken place due to sagging over the decades.

Good luck and hope you dont end up with more panes of glass than required.

Middi
off the surface

 

[biffvernon]

Don't use the cheap glasscutter that has six wheels that you can change. Either use a diamond tip or use a single wheel with oil reservoir. Costs a tenner or more but they are much more reliable and last ages.

Always use a lubricant - it doesn't matter what sort of oil - I usually use linseed oil because there's always some nearby!

 

[gsport george]

(as with any tool) the difference between a really good glass cutter and the ordinary ones is like night and day.

The one I use is a Kumsung diamond (or K star), which is filled with oil (parafin oil in this case). Which was recommended by a stain-glass-window maker.

https://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=45_596&products_id=482