Seven Things to Consider While Choosing the Best Glass Cutter
Looking for a professional glass cutting tool? One may be a little overwhelmed by the number of machines and their prices in the market that are available today. However, it makes most sense to purchase a branded product for cutting glass, as it will ensure that one can easily adhere to the required specifications.
The best glass cutting tools are able to make perfect cuts into glass sheets. To make perfect cuts, one needs a tool which can make a sharp score in the available glass, so that it is able to break evenly and cleanly. As is natural, cutting glass does require a tremendous amount of skill, but for a business to be profitable, one has to take into account the glass cutting tools cost also.
Things to look at while choosing a glass cutter
- Type of glass – The choice of a glass cutter tool largely depends on the type of glass being cut. As an example, glass sheets with less than 6mm of thickness can be cut using light tools.
- Size – Most glass cutters range from 5 to 7 inches in length. The person cutting the glass has to pick a suitable tool which can easily fit into his or her hand, and such that it can be handled comfortably. A person with small hands will naturally not be able to handle a large tool, and is likely to end up with wasted material and cuts.
- Type of grip – One can choose from a range of glass cutter grips, which are as follows:
- Pistol grip – These are highly suitable for professionals who look to make quick cuts from glass. The cutters have large handles meant to fit the hand, and allow users to utilize arm strength instead of just strength from the wrist.
- Custom grip – This is able to fit into the sand like a pencil, but it comes with an extra saddle to place between fingers or in the palm for extra control. It allows users to prepare detailed scores.
- Thomas grip – Although similar to custom grip cutters, they are shorter in length. They come with contoured rests that can be held between the thumb and index finger. However, someone with large hands might find them difficult to use.
- Pencil grip – They are the most common cutters and have long, thin handles which rest in the hand, much like a pencil. These are highly suitable for general use, and are preferred by many professionals.
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4. Cutting range – This is the term for the thickness of material that a tool can cut. It is important to pick the right tool cutter for the task at hand. Cutting ranges are different for tools that precisely cut thin glass, medium glass, and thick glass. One may even come across multi-head tools, which allow the professionals to cut glasses across a wide range of thicknesses.
5. Cutting wheel – Top glass cutters have sharp and durable cutting wheels which are able to make accurate scores. Steel alloy wheels or tungsten carbide wheels are used since they are more durable and produce outstanding results. However, they are more expensive than cutters made with steel alloy cutting wheels. In case the cutting wheels are dull, score lines could be improper, due to which the glass may break inaccurately.
6. Ergonomics – A person new to glass cutting needs to understand the importance of ergonomics. If pressure is applied over a long score line, it may wear the professional out. The right grip and size goes a long way in helping the professional cut glass properly.
7. Self-oiler – Glass cutting can be made simpler with the help of lubrication. At the same time, oil is necessary to keep the wheel sharp for as long as possible. High quality glass cutters have self-oiling capabilities. An oil reservoir is presence in the handle, along with a wick to connect the reservoir with the wheel, as well as a compressible head. In certain cases the cutters are unable to self-oil, in which case one would have to oil the wheel during cutting.
Of course, one has to be well trained on the method to cut glass in order to be able to use the glass cutter tool. It may seem to be very difficult at first, but then it can be mastered with the right practice, much like other jobs. While getting trained, one is bound to hear about the best tips to cut glass, remember to note these down and practice them over time.
Advantages of using glass cutting tools
With some amount of practice, individuals will be able to cut glass in the best ways possible, for which they may require tips. Here are the benefits of glass cutting tools:
- Wastage of material is avoided here
- Highly reliable and durable
- Able to make clean cuts
- One can reuse empty glass bottles