Glass Cutting

D

Drewhop

AC Members
Jun 28, 2008
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I recently got a 180 gall tank and it does not have a lid. So last night I went to my favorite store (next to my lfs) Home Depot and bought two pieces of glass. They used to cut glass in there and I had all the dimensions so I figured no biggie. Well I guess they had to replace there glass cutter with a OSHA approved one and will not have it for a few weeks. So I went back over to glass and they had a kit that you could cut your own glass. I bought it and took home. I started reading the kit and I just dont get how it works.

It comes with a bottle of liquid a metal handle glass cutter (which does not seem sharp) And a pencil to write your cut lines with. Anyone used one of these wanna give me a crash course before I mess with it. Supposedly the liquid is going to make it easy to cut thru glass. Thanks in advance.
 
You don't actually "cut" the glass. Glass is scored, then snapped off. It's important to make a nice, deep score in the glass to get a clean break. A word of caution though, the edges of the glass are going to be sharp. I usually get my lids made (at the LFS) for anywahere from $8-20. It's well worth it in my opinion. The edges are beveled and everything. Good luck to you!

Best wishes!
 
Score a straight deep line with the glass cutter then put a long thin peice of wood under the side of glass you want to keep and push down on the raised side while holding the other side down, sand the edges down afterwards.
 
Not quite sure what you'd use the liquid for, never had to use it myself when cutting glass...just use the scorer and straight edge / ruler where you want to "snap" the glass, and...ummmm....snap it....
 
The liquid is for lubricant. It is FAR more important to get an EVEN score than to get a deep one. DO NOT go back and forth over the score. You'll have a bad break if you do that. That said; glass cutting is best left to professionals.
 
I just went through this with glass tops for my 55. Cost of the glass/cutting/edge beveling at the glass shop: $32.00 Add in the cost of a strip of the plastic "hinge" material to make it a hinged unit: $14.00 Total of $46.00

Just came back from the LFS. Total cost of (2) 24" versatop units to cover both sides of the 55 (with center brace): $29.00
Sometimes its just not worth it to DIY.
Andy
 
Bah! glass cutting is easy. Apply a drop of lubricant to the wheel of the cutter, line up a straightedge, make one solid pass with good pressure, it should make a little crunchy sound. Place the score right along the edge of a table, lift it about 1/4 inch and bring it down firmly to snap it. If you mess it up, you can use a pair of pliers to nibble away any extra.
 
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