Buying guide for Best glass cutters
People have been cutting glass for centuries to commemorate special occasions: weddings, coronations, religious events, and other ceremonies. Glass cutters are decorative craftsman tools that are used to enhance events and beautify objects large and small.
Whether you’re a recreational hobbyist or a professional glass cutter, you need the best tools for the job. You want a glass cutter that will make a sharp score in the glass so it breaks cleanly and evenly. A cheaply made glass cutter will waste material by creating faulty scores, but a good glass cutter will save material. Glass, particularly stained glass, can get expensive in a hurry.
Finding the right glass cutter is essential to efficient glass cutting. Part of cutting glass also involves using oil to keep the cutter properly lubricated and the glass clean along the score so it breaks the way it should.
Key considerations
Size
The size of the glass cutter will determine how easy it is for you to hold it in your hand. If you’ve got large hands, a small glass cutter may be harder for you to hold and control. If it’s too awkward, you could wind up with bad cuts. Cutters vary from five to seven inches long, so be sure to choose one that fits your hands.
Expert Tip
If no official cutting pad is on hand, place a towel on a flat table and cover it with newspaper before laying the glass down. You can easily dispose of glass shards in the rolled-up paper.
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Self oiler
A self-oiling glass cutter is exactly what it sounds like. There is a small tank in the handle of the cutter. Unscrew the cap, fill it with oil, and you’re ready to go. When you’re using the cutter, it oils itself. There are two main types of self-oiling glass cutters: gravity-fed and pressure-fed.
Gravity-fed cutters can leak when you’re not using them since they operate on gravity. Storing them with the sharp end up is a good way to cut yourself next time you reach for them, but it’s the only way to keep the oil from running out and making a mess. To stay safe, top your glass cutter with a pen cap when not in use.
Pressure-fed cutters solve the storage mess problems of gravity-fed cutters. However, there’s a bit of a learning curve with pressure-fed glass cutters. If you’ve never used this type of glass cutter, you may need to do a few practice cuts to get a feel for applying the proper amount of pressure.
Grip types
There are two main types of glass cutter grips. A traditional pencil grip glass cutter is held like a pen or pencil between the thumb and forefinger. A pistol grip cutter has a molded handle in the style of a revolver, which shifts control of the glass cutter from the fingers to the hand. There are also other less-common grip types, such as Toyo’s custom grip and the Thomas grip. Each of these grip styles works well; the one you choose depends on personal preference.
Expert TIp
If you find that oil is not flowing well for models with a reservoir, you can apply a small line of oil along the intended cut line.
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Features
Multi-blade cutting wheel
Some glass cutters have a six-sided wheel on the tip. Each side of the hexagon blade is actually a cutting surface. When you rotate the hexagon, a different cutting blade is presented. This is a great feature if you’re constantly changing from one type of glass to another or from one thickness to another. Multi-blade glass cutters don’t have self-oiling mechanisms, so you’ll have to manually oil as you work.
Snapping notches
Some glass cutters include snapping notches of various thicknesses to help break off the glass after you’ve used your cutter to score the glass.
Knocking head
This is basically a round metal ball on the back end of some cutters. Glass workers tap the knocking head gently along a scored piece of glass to facilitate a clean break.
Adjustable head
No two people hold their glass cutters the same way or at the same angle. Some glass cutters have heads that can be rotated 360 degrees, allowing you to set the cutting head to the angle that is best for you.
Expert Tip
Wrap fine-grit sandpaper around a wood block and have that ready to smooth the cut edges and minimize shards.
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Materials
Most self-oiling glass cutters have hollow brass handles for the oil tank, but some are plastic. Cutters that aren’t self-oiling normally have aluminum or steel handles covered with rubber for a better grip. Some glass cutters have wooden handles as well. The cutting heads are usually tungsten carbide or hardened steel. Tungsten carbide blades are more durable, but steel blades are cheaper.
Color
Glass cutters are available in a variety of colors, from black to green to gold to gray. But each manufacturer often only offers one color, so the cutter you prefer may only be available in one color.
Accessories
Oil: CRL Professional Glass Cutter Oil - Be slick, and stock up on oil. The more glass you cut, the more oil you’ll use and, consequently, the more oil you’ll need to replace. We like CRL Professional Glass Cutter Oil. Save yourself some time and effort by getting extra oil when you get your glass cutter.
Extra cutting wheel: Fletcher Terry Glass Cutting Wheel - Have extra cutting wheels on hand so there’s never a dull moment. In case your wheel breaks or grows dull, it never hurts to have a couple of spare cutting wheels handy, like the Fletcher Terry Glass Cutting Wheel. Also, you may need different wheels depending on what type of cut you’re making and how thick the glass is. One size does not fit all.
Expert Tip
When selecting a straight edge to guide your cut, check that it is actually straight. Some pieces of wood may be slightly bowed, which will effect your cut.
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Glass pad: Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat - Protect your project with a glass pad. You need a firm, flat surface under any piece of glass on your work area when you cut. Otherwise, your score lines can wander all over the place and cause the glass to crack unevenly. A thin, soft cutting mat like the Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat is ideal to protect your glass against scratches from your work bench and hold it firm so you can make an accurate cut.
Protective gloves: NoCry Cut-Resistant Gloves - Protective gloves are a must. Anything that can cut glass can cut you, so get a pair of cut-resistant gloves to protect your hands. We like NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves, which are durable, machine washable, and available in four sizes.
Eye protection: JORESTECH Eyewear Protective Safety Glasses - Eye protection is paramount. Tiny shards of glass are an inevitable byproduct of cutting glass. They’ll fly through the air when you break the glass and are sometimes too small to be visible. But you’ll feel them if one of them lands in your eye. Be smart and always wear protective eyewear, like these JORESTECH Eyewear Protective Safety Glasses.
Class cutters prices
Inexpensive
Under $6 is where you’ll find most low-end glass cutters. These will be the old-fashioned single-piece cutters with notches in them for breaking the glass after you’ve scored it.
Mid-range
From $6 to $20 is the medium price range for glass cutters. Most of the cutters at this price point will either be self-oiling or will have multiple cutting blades on a hexagonal wheel.
Expert TIp
If your cutter doesn’t come with a blade cap, store it upright in a tall plastic cup with another cup on top to cover the exposed blade before storing. Laying it down may cause oil to leak.
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Expensive
Over $20 is where you’ll find professional-grade glass cutters with high-quality materials and construction.
Tips
Glass is very unforgiving. Always measure carefully before cutting glass. Mind the old saying: “Measure twice, cut once.”
Use a marker pen with a fine point to draw on the glass when you’re measuring and outlining where to cut.
After you mark your intended cut line, use a hard-edged cutting guide. A soft piece of wood often works best for this purpose, as it will guide the blade but won’t scratch the glass. Note: your cutting guide needs to be longer than the longest cut you’ll make.
Always wear safety gloves and protective eyewear when cutting glass.
Glass needs to be clean and free of grit and grime before you cut it so the cutting blade can glide smoothly. Even the best cut in the world will produce fine shards of glass, so clean the glass between cuts as well as before.
If you’re new to using glass cutters, find a cheap piece of window glass and make a bunch of practice cuts before you start your first real project.
FAQ
Q. If my glass has scratches on it, will it affect the cut?
A. Yes. If your cut crosses an existing scratch, or comes too close to one, it could result in the glass shattering or breaking unevenly.
Q. Should I make the shortest cuts first to be safe?
A. No. You’re actually better off making the longest cut first.
Q. If my first score isn’t quite right, can I redo it?
A. No. Glass is unforgiving. If you try to redo or “repair” a cut, you’ll only make it worse.
