How to Score and Break Stained Glass

Learning to score and break glass is possible, but you will need some practice sessions. If you are patient you can learn to score and break stained glass like an expert. Before starting to cut stained glass you need to relax. I will make things work a lot better.

 

 

Having a glass cutter is extremely important. The glass cutter manufacturers offer a variety of products. They also produce cutting wheels made of steel. Their size depends on the project for which it is being used. To acquire a proper stained glass cutter you need to visit a glass provider. If you buy it from somewhere else you risk buying a clear glass cutter which won’t work for stained glass.

 

Carbide cutters are a lot more durable than the steel ones. However when the wheel stops cutting as it should you don’t need to by a new cutter, instead you can simply replace the wheel. For a glass cutter to work smoothly it needs to be lubricated. Most the glass cutter have oil reservoir. The oil contained in that reservoir permanently lubricates the cutting wheel.

 

Every cutter has some characteristics that can help you choose the one you need. Once you’ve settled on a cutter, make sure you’re the only one who uses it. If someone else uses your cutter that person will change your cutter’s balance and it will not work as usual when you will use it again.

Pencil cutters include a ball at the tip which is used to tap the glass beneath the score line. Usually you can break apart a scored glass with your hands but if the glass piece is too small you must use pliers.

 

Running pliers are used to break apart straight glass strips. Pliers can have a smooth gripping surface or they can have teeth to scrape off glass remains and irregular edges. If you have a long score you have to shake the pliers at an edge and begin a running break apart. Repeat this procedure for the other edge of the glass and then pull it apart.

To obtain a good score you must perform it in one motion. If you start and end your score line won’t be to good and you will have difficulties when you will try to broke the glass. Scoring the same score line twice not only will damage your cutter but will also cause a bad break.

 

To cut a straight glass strip it is recommended to use a metal ruler. Make sure to hold the cutter straight up, else you will get a bad score line and the glass pieces won’t fit.