Stained Glass Cutting Technique – Tips for Accurate Cutting
Improve Your Stained Glass Cutting Technique
There are lots of factors that result in an accurate stained glass cutting technique. The angle of the cutter head, the pressure and consistency to name a few.
You know this but continue to struggle. Your panel grows bigger and bigger. There are uneven gaps resulting in untidy soldering seams. It’s disheartening.
Stained Glass Cutting Technique – Preventing Flares
Here are 3 quick ways to avoid those annoying flares that stop your glass pieces from fitting snugly together:
- Always break glass with thumbs when you can, it makes the cleanest break.
- For cuts going to a point try starting the run at both ends first before fully separating the glass. You’ll hear a little ‘click’ as it opens the fissure – that’s the glass telling you it’s ready to break apart.
- Whenever possible open the glass from where you ended, not began, the score.
You’ll get a little flare at the pressure points of the pliers that can’t be 100% avoided. These tricks will keep them to a minimum. Feel free to add any more tips of your own at the bottom of the page, thanks!
Stained Glass Cutting Technique – A Guiding Hand
Have you thought of using your non-cutting hand to help guide the cutter head? The weight from the cutting pressure holds the glass in place as you cut.
It really does make a difference.
I know, I know, you’re taught to hold the glass with your non-cutting hand. You’re told that the glass will move if you don’t hold it. It’s not that this is wrong, it’s just another way.
Try This
Have a look at the Tiny Video Tip – taken from the Stained Glass Made Perfect Course – and see how accurate the cutting is.
Then try the method for yourself. It might feel mighty weird to start with but promise me you’ll stick at it for a bit?
It will become easier the more you practise and it might be the accurate cutting answer you were looking for.
You just didn’t know it!
If you know anyone who would benefit from these quick tips, feel free to Pin on Pinterest or Share on Facebook with your friends. Thanks in advance.
For a whole host of Stained Glass Cutting Tutorials go here
Milly,
Keep the tips coming! Always can learn something new.
Cheers!
Frank
Thanks Frank 🙂
Hello Milly, once again, thanks for the tips. I do use both hands when cutting, the tip I would like to add is to have a what they call softboard , the board they use for notice boards to cut the glass on. The glass sits still when cutting with two hands.
Regards and happy creating.
Willem (South Africa )ñ
Thanks for the tip Willem, very useful for everyone 🙂
Thank you for all your article they have helped me out a lot. I have a very hard time cutting small pieces any help with that?
You can try cutting small pieces all in one go from a bigger piece of stained glass and then breaking off around it (rather than doing one score line at a time)
Also, when breaking the score, try using two pairs of pliers – one to hold the stained glass shape, and grozer/breakers to snap the excess off.
I hope that helps.
I do so enjoy hearing a person of your knowledge remind me of different tips that might make me better. Thank you so muc
You’re most welcome, I hope this one helped. It’s always worth trying new stained glass techniques out on a scrap piece of glass to see if it’s a method that suits you.
I love the instructions, just have to practice them now. My worst cuts are straight cuts even with a ruler. Just turned hubby on to your site and he loves looking through your products.
I’ll have to dig my ‘Cutting Straight Lines’ video out for you Patt. You’ll get the hang of it soon I’m sure.
I love reading everything this There is no one near me to exchange ideas with,so this is great thank you
That’s the great thing about the Internet Audrey – it makes sharing our skills much easier. Glad you’re finding my stained glass tutorials helpful.