After doing a bucket load of research to get myself to the point where I can comfortably craft well I am seeing more and more inventive ways people are coming up with to cut glass.
Some use traditional glass cutters, while others use flammable liquids and fire. So this really got me thinking and as such, I began another search to find the best tools for the job.
So what is the best tool for glass cutting? The best glass cutting tool is a glass cutter with an oil reservoir. The oil flows onto the cutting head and wheel when in use.
This creates cleaner cuts and has the added benefit of extending the life of the wheel and oil cutter. Oil on the glass allows for more precise operation and produces better results.
A glass cutter tool like this comes in 2 types. The most common is a pencil design with the cutting head at one end, held like a pencil it allows for light to medium pressure to be applied (check here).
The other type is a newer pistol-style design, with a larger grip hollow handle that can be filled with a lubricant (check here).
How do I choose a glass cutter tool?
The best way to choose a glass cutter is to focus on your strength and the type of glass you want to cut. If you have weakness in your hands or wrists then a pistol grip glass cutter will be more suitable.
If you want a lighter touch for curved glasswork then a stylus or pen-type glass cutter will be better.
For cleaner cuts, a glass cutter with an oil reservoir will be suitable, as it will lubricate the glass cutting disk, but may be messier while cutting.
How do you cut glass cleanly?
Following the below process will ensure the best results when you are cutting glass.
- Clean the surface of the glass you intend to cut thoroughly.
- Make sure the glass is on a clean flat surface.
- Measure the glass carefully
- Fill the oil reservoir before cutting if the tool has one with glass cutting oil.
- Score glass with the glass cutter, using a straight edge or ruler to ensure your scoring is accurate.
- Snap the glass along the scoreline.
- Sand the edges carefully using a fine grain sandpaper
Best glass cutter for curves – And How To Do It
Cutting glass on a curve is a little trickier but not impossible with some finesse and patience. Follow the process below to get your glass ready to snap
- The best glass cutter is either a pistol type glass cutter or a stylus/pen type as you need greater flexibility and control in your wrists as you cut the glass.
- Make sure the glass is thoroughly clean before beginning.
- Fill the oil reservoir before cutting if the tool has one
- Rest the glass on a flat slightly padded surface.
- Score gently using a single even stroke
After you have made your score line, apply the gentlest pressure just on the crack with a finger, just a few ounces of pressure is enough, ensure you have adequate protection for your hands when you do this step.
After applying slight pressure, tap the glass very gently to get the cracking process started, once you see the glass crack then you can follow the crack with a finger, gently pressing to get the crack to follow the scoreline.
Remember, less is more with regards to the pressure, don’t be in a rush to press harder, gentle easing along the crack will result in a nice curved cut. Too much pressure will just shatter the piece forcing you to start again.
Best mirror cutter
Again this tool is either one of the pencil grip glass cutters or a Thomas grip glass cutter which is a custom grip glass cutter. There are many glass cutters with a variety of designs and most will do the job you need but which one is most suitable can be found with a little trial and error.
The best mirror cutting tool will be a traditional cutting tool depending on the glass thicknesses. If you are cutting glass that is considered to be thicker (many older mirrors were made from thick glass).
You may need a more robust mirror cutting tool like one with a pistol grip handle that fits comfortably in your hand to give you more control and pressure and with a little practice will result in less fatigue.
Always aim to use the best glass cutter for the task in hand.
Cutting stained glass
Stained glass is very similar to mirror glass but it often is weaker due to how it is made and also due to the fact it contains lead that joins the segments of glass together.
If you are looking to cut stained glass then a pencil grip glass cutter may be the most suitable as you have a lighter touch and the familiarity of using it like a pen making it one of the best glass cutters for this purpose.
What other tools can I use to cut glass?
Surprisingly you can use many things without glass cutter tools, such as regular tools, and household items too.
The trick is to find a cutting tool that has a hard enough cutting blade to scratch the glass and can be held comfortably to get a neat clean line. As glass comes in different thicknesses you may need to vary your approach.
Even though we have many options the best tool to use the best is a traditional glass cutter. Today there are many different attachments and jigs to make it easier for you to not only cut safely but will let you cut well and evenly every time. This can save you time, and money and will reduce your breakages.
Some of the more popular tools that can be used are typical glass cutting tools like:
Glass cutter:
A tool with a hardened steel cutting wheel to score an even line into the glass. This glass scribing tool is best for this purpose.
Carbide scribe:
A tool shaped like a pencil with a sharpened tungsten tip, scribes were used before glass cutters became more readily available to score glass.
Drill bit:
A titanium coated steel drill bit can also be used as it has a very sharp tip. Not as easy to hold but if you already own one then you don’t need to make another purchase.
Diamond blade:
This is usually for heavy duty work and can be more expensive than regular tools. Cutting tempered glass with diamond blade tools is often the only way to go due to the toughness of the glass
Other homemade tools that you can also use to cut glass are:
Scissors:
Holding a glass bottle underwater you can use scissors to score around the edges. You need to be extra careful to ensure you have a neat score line
String:
Tying acetone soaked string around a bottle and setting it on fire will also give you a line around the bottle. The fire creates a stress crack slightly differently from scoring it but it can work just as well even on thicker glass
Wire:
Works in a similar way to the fire method and makes an admirable substitute glass cutter. Get a length of wire as straight as possible and make a loop in each end. Heat the middle of the wire and place it against the edge of the bottle. This can be a bit tricky as you need to make sure the wire is long enough that you don’t burn yourself when touching the loops but not too long that you cannot get a clean even heat line.
Can you cut wine bottles with a tile saw?
Yes, you can. If you have a tile saw then you can cut bottles with it. The tile saw needs to have a backstop, which nearly all models do. This will keep your bottle stable.
It needs to have a water feed as well as the cutting wheel can get too hot when cutting the glass and breaking it. If you don’t have a water feed you can easily make one with a hose and trickle feed the water onto the cutting wheel.
When you have these items, as well as appropriate safety gear, then you can begin cutting. Begin by using the blade to make a very fine score line on the bottle, introduce the bottle to the wheel, and when it makes contact begin slowly rotating the bottle until the bottle has a line all the way around.
Then repeat the process but increase the pressure very slightly to make a slightly deeper score line around the whole bottle.
The third pass should see you cut into the bottle. As you cut into the bottle, move it back from the cutting wheel, rotate the bottle a little, and reintroduce, repeating this process until you have cut all the way through.
When the bottle is in 2 halves run the half you wish to keep along the backstop to the cutting wheel and tidy up the cut edge by grinding it slightly, removing and rotating until you have gone around the entire lip.
Then sand the edge until smooth and even.
Can you cut glass bottles with an angle grinder?
Yes, you can. Similar to a tile saw but the angle grinding blade is much rougher and usually, handheld so you may need a second pair of hands to help you keep the bottle secure as well as a glass cutting disc for angle grinder use
It’s recommended you use some masking or electrical tape to help with this process as the angle grinder is quite a rough tool to use for this purpose.
If you are cutting laminated glass with grinder tools then extra care needs to be applied to avoid the risk of broken glass.
Place the tape around the area you wish to cut and with as much delicacy as you can muster cut slowly through the bottle, be very careful as the angle grinder rotates fast and will cause the glass to heat up. The slower you go the more likely you are to have a successful cut.
When you have cut through your bottle you can use the wide flat face of the angle grinder to even up the cut. Be very careful here too as too much pressure could crack the bottle.
Lastly do NOT try to cut a single line all the way around the bottle, especially for larger wine bottles. The glass will just break.
What you need to do is cut about 20% of the way around and then leave 20% then cut another 20% until you have about 3 holes and 3 uncut sections. then go and repeat cutting the uncut sections. When you are cutting the last sections keep the bottle flat and still. This will give you a better chance of success.
Sand the edge until smooth and even.
Can you cut a glass bottle with a hacksaw?
You can follow the angle grinder method to cut a bottle with a hacksaw. Use 2 bands of very straight tape taped all the way around the bottle leaving about 1-2 mm between them. This will be your cutting guide area.
As above with the angle grinder method, cut the bottle in 3 or four places along the cut mark between the 2 taped lines. Cut slowly and wet the cut often with water to keep it cool and lubricated.
When you have cut these initial holes/lines go back and repeat with the uncut sections. Be sure to keep the bottle still and do not cut too fast.
Sand until smooth.
If you are looking to try making something yourself like a bottle lamp for example and need advice about drilling into glass and need a little advice then try this article.
How To Drill A Hole In Glass Bottles / Use A Glass Drill Bit
