Cutting glass

[Ford12508]

Short version is at the end...

So at work we have a fletcher 3000, and I used it today to cut some glass. I scored the glass about 10 times, and then snapped the glass and made a perfectly clean cut, no curved ends and a decent edge to it. It would have been much better, but we do not use oil with it.

Well one of my coworkers came over and we had a discussion about scoring it multiple times versus a single score. This is not a new machine, and was never used with oil, so you can imagine how dull the wheel is. Well I said I have always scored multiple times and that it works fine. He says you can't do that blah blah blah.

So after he says I can't do that and walks away, the customer says "You are doing it wrong, he is right" and I said politely "There is more than 1 way to do most jobs." Well I am 18, and my coworker is 70, and this guy was around 50 or so. He then says "Well we old guys must be full of **** since you know everything," to which I said "I never said that, I said you can do a job multiple ways."

Well He started giving me ****, and I am not going to yell at a customer, I would get in trouble, so I simply put the clamp on his glass and snapped it purposely and told him that I was too dumb to cut it while my coworker was busy, so he left without his product. I don't know how many people here have cut glass, but with a machine that keeps the glass aligned, so the score is the same every time, wouldn't multiple scores be better? Also, me and my coworker had a "contest" later for who cuts better, and all of his single scores had crooked corners, while mine were perfect albeit had rough edges from lack of oil.


Short version : When cutting glass with a machine, score once or multiple times?

 

[southpier]

once........



hand or machine

 

[Ford12508]

Are there any problems with doing it multiple times? or it is just simpler to do it once?

 

[gorilla]

I worked at a place that fabricated millions of acre feet of glass all sorts of shapes with CNC glass cutters and by hand. Thickness's from micro sheet to 1/2" thick. Never saw anything scribed more than once. This was all optical quality coated glass so no lubrication was used but the wheels were always sharp.

 

[Kevin54]

Cut once, use kerosene.

Oh BTW....there ARE multiple ways to do things but some are tried and true ways of doing it. Maybe you out to put a new wheel on and try a different method just to prove to yourself which is best. You may be surprised.

 

[DHS]

Yep score once and then snap, you will get a nice break.

 

[Ford12508]

It is probably the fact that this wheel is so old and dull that is why once does not work for it, but I am not putting out for a new wheel when I only make 7.25 an hour. Thanks for the input GJ!

 

[Abodyracer]

I used to work in a local Hardware store and one of my job duties was repairing windows. My boss trained me to only score once as multiple scores would dull the wheel. Basically the score line had small pieces of glass that would grind away at the cutting edge of the wheel. I'd pressure your employer to spring for a new wheel, they don't cost much.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Well I'm an old codger and I learn't many many years ago that once is enough.
I was probably about 18 at the time...

 

[JamieK]

Cut once, use kerosene.

Oh BTW....there ARE multiple ways to do things but some are tried and true ways of doing it. Maybe you out to put a new wheel on and try a different method just to prove to yourself which is best. You may be surprised.

I've always heard about using kerosene. What does it do, though? Lubricate the cutter blade?

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I've always heard about using kerosene. What does it do, though? Lubricate the cutter blade?

You light the kerosene, the heat makes the glass break easier.

I just wait for it to get really cold out, that sharpens my blade every time.

 

[londonsteve]

once as very few cutting wheels are on on bearings so they don't run true on every score.
As for snapping the glass in front of the customer, jobs over time to go.

 

[londonsteve]

I worked in in your area in NJ for a while great place and used to get our small bits of glass from Siperstiens in Middletown or Atlantic glass in Redbank

 

[coldfusion21]

Ya, the customer is always right. I would have just agreed with him and moved on. As long as his glass cuts are done nicely the method to get there is your call.

 

[Kurt4440]

My father owned a small glazing business until I was about 16. I was taught to score the glass once.

 

[e-tek]

Really, once? or twice? How many say Once? Anyone say twice?

 

[Kevin54]

Really, once? or twice? How many say Once? Anyone say twice?

Once!!!

Reason being that if you do it multiple times, you stand a chance of overlapping your original score (running off the road per se) and then the break is not a clean break. Watch anyone that does stained glass with all of the curves. Dip the cutter for lubrication, or have a small bottle that you can apply some lube, one clean score, one clean break.

If you have a guide you stand a better chance of following your original score the second time, but if your hand tips slightly, or the wheel in the cutter has a slight wobble, you may not follow the original score line. Besides that, if a wheel is sharp, all you need to do is create a slight score for the break to follow. You are not trying to cut thru the glass multiple times.

Check youtube for glass cutting. Most if not all do it one time

 

[Imwalkin]

when I worked in a frame shop I only srcibed once. I did try doing it twice but it seen to make little glass pieces fly from the glass.. once always worked.

What kind off glass are you cutting? I imagine just house window glass. auto(safety glass) is a whole other animal. but I imagine same rules apply.

 

[madjack]

Wife's hobby is stained glass. She has a pen type glass cutter that auto feeds a lemon scented cutting oil. Don't think it was very expensive, under $20 if I remember right. Has a replaceable needle bearing cutting wheel. Score once

 

[waggie]

maybe you need to get the boss to get new blade or wheel...

I've been cutting glass sheets since i was very young. I always cut once, no lube.

 

[gabeancounter]

I work for the largest glass fabricator in the US. Been in the glass biz 13 years. We cut 50,000 sqft a day out of the plant I am with.

First, a replacement wheel from CR laurance is about $29 for a 10 pack. Tell somebody to order some wheels. One peice of damaged glass cost more than a wheel.
Second, One time- you will never follow the same line twice.
Third - different thickness glass is scored by using different pressures on the cutting head. The thicker the glass the higher the air pressure placed on the cutting head. Yes, the cutter head uses cutting oil. Makes the cutting wheel last longer and scores are smoother. Bearing roll smoother etc etc.
Last- kerosene is used on laminated glass. Laminated glass is two peices of glass with a vinyl layer melted in between. You score both sides of the glass then snap the glass. The vinyl layer still has to be cut. This vinyl is very tuff and if you pour a little kersone and light it for 5 seconds, then the vinyl is easy to cut. Heating glass does not make it snap better etc.

I just looked up a fletcher 3000.. mmmm...this is a manual cutter. The old tee squares used to cut by hand would place a drop of oil on the wheel before scoring the glass. Not sure how that system works.

Long story short. Those old farts are telling you straight. Quit being a jerk and let them show you a few things. Replace that wheel.

 

[Bigpigdave]

It is probably the fact that this wheel is so old and dull that is why once does not work for it, but I am not putting out for a new wheel when I only make 7.25 an hour. Thanks for the input GJ!

Maybe instead of justifying and arguing with all the advice you are offered, you should put forth the extra effort and replace the wheel. You might find that shutting your mouth and opening your ears will allow you to learn something. Do a little extra every day and you may find you make more than $7.25/ hr. Just my $0.02.

Thanks, Dave