Hi all! Any serious major renovation The house cannot do without working with glass.
That is why it is very important to choose a quality tool for working with this material. Next, we will look at how to choose a glass cutter for your home so as not to regret the purchase in the future.
There are several types of glass cutters on the modern market - the tools differ in design, working element and cutting method.
This allows you to make the optimal choice of glass cutter for home or professional use.
Diamond glass cutter. This is a tool for professionals.
As cutting element it uses a diamond crystal, which is firmly fixed to the working part using silver solder. A tool with natural diamond is suitable for working with glass up to 1 cm thick.
If synthetic diamond is used, the cutting thickness will be no more than 5 mm, such a tool is noticeably cheaper.
Depending on the type, a diamond tool has:
- Curved cutting edge. The cutters are installed in line with the axis of the glass cutter, which simplifies working with it.
This option is convenient for inexperienced carvers and is suitable for home use.
- A tetrahedral chisel in the form of a pyramid. The cutters are fixed at an angle of 20-22 degrees relative to the axis of the tool; working with it requires skill. This is a professional tool for experienced craftsmen.
With frequent use, the diamond crystal becomes dull, and the cutter requires sharpening on a cast iron disk or using a whetstone coated with mastic with diamond dust.
Sharpening is carried out until the glass cutter begins to draw a thin line on the glass.
Roller glass cutter.
A common option, actively used in everyday life and by professionals. The cutting part is carbide rollers, most often based on cobalt and tungsten.
Manufacturers offer glass cutters with different numbers of rollers – 1.3 or 6.
The more cutting elements in a tool, the better it works and the more expensive it costs. Each roller with a diameter of 6.6 mm is capable of cutting glass up to 4 mm thick, and is capable of making a total cut of 350 meters in length.
The dull cutting element is replaced with a new one by loosening the fastening clamp and turning the drum.
If you don't have a new roller at hand, you can sharpen the old one with a mechanical sharpener or using a fine-grained abrasive disc.
Oil glass cutter. A relatively new development, which is a classic roller tool equipped with a lubricant supply system to the working area.
How to choose a good glass cutter for your home
Lubricating fluid is poured into the handle of the tool and flows to the cutting edges through a special wick. Due to lubrication, the friction force is reduced and wear on the working part of the glass cutter is reduced.
An oil glass cutter usually has several interchangeable heads for working with glass of different thicknesses:
- for cutting glass up to 1 cm thick, rollers are used with a sharpening angle of 135 degrees;
- To work with glass with a thickness of 1 to 2 cm, roller elements with a sharpening angle of 150 degrees are used.
At the same time, the resource of each head reaches 5 - 6 thousand linear meters.
In addition to fixed heads, rotating ones are also used; they allow cutting according to a template. Heads that have reached the end of their service life must be replaced.
An oil glass cutter is a serious professional tool; it is irrational to buy it for simple one-time work around the house, but it makes sense to purchase it if there is a large amount of work to be done or cutting according to a complex pattern.
Circular glass cutter. A specialized glass cutter that allows you to cut circles and ovals.
The design includes an adjustable scale, thanks to which you can set the required cutting radius, a suction cup that fixes the tool on the glass surface, as well as a glass cutter itself (usually an oil type).
To obtain an oval, a special system of two rods is additionally used. Before cutting, you need to select the correct radius on the measuring scales.
How not to make a mistake with your choice?
When deciding which glass cutter to choose, you should first of all focus on the volume of work to be done and the characteristics of the material. If you have to cut glass with a thickness of 1 to 2 cm, the choice is made in favor of an oil tool.
For thinner glass, diamond and roller glass cutters are suitable. Roller models are the cheapest and they have a limited working life. This is an option for one-time work with thin glass. If there is a lot of work to be done, a diamond tool will be the best choice.
Having decided on the type of glass cutter, pay attention to the ergonomics of the tool handle.
Preference should be given to a wooden handle - it does not slip in the palm of your hand when working. The polymer handle should have a rough surface, the metal handle should have a notch. The special shape or grooves on the handle help to hold the tool tightly.
When buying a glass cutter, check its operation - the seller provides glass for test cutting.
When testing a roller model, pay attention to the line (it should be thin), sound (characteristic crackling without squeaking), movement (the roller should not wobble). When checking the diamond and oil models, pay attention to the thickness of the line - the thinner it is, the sharper the tool.
A properly selected glass cutter will help you independently carry out all the work associated with cutting this material.
Video on the topic “how to choose a glass cutter”:
What types of glass cutters are there and how they differ
Glass cutter in household- a tool that is not essential, but when you need to cut glass and have nothing to cut with, then this is already a problem. Therefore, it is advisable to have this tool in the house. How to choose a glass cutter, what you should pay attention to, what types there are - read this article.
Roller
The vast majority of home craftsmen use roller glass cutters.
They are inexpensive (if you take a household one, not a professional one), they cut glass perfectly, although some cannot take glass larger than 5 mm, and some even cut centimeter glass.
The cutting element here is a carbide roller, with which the glass is cut. Most often, the kit comes with 6 rollers, 1 working, 5 spare. Many people don’t even know that if the glass cutter roller becomes dull, it can be replaced with a new one; to do this, you just need to unscrew the bolt and move the new one in place of the old roller.
With wooden handle.
The most common, home-made one, with its help you can cut glass up to 5 mm thick without any problems, although the five is already cut very poorly. Regular 3-4 mm window glass can be cut without problems. The cost is 60-80 rubles.
2. Cheap Chinese models with plastic handle and six rollers.
They are completely similar, cost about 60-100 rubles, and they also take thin glass.
3. Big tool series “Profi”, it is certainly not professional, but it cuts thicker glass.
The stated thickness of the glass to be cut is as much as 10 mm, but in practice it was difficult to cut 6 mm glass.
If you do not want to use cheap models (70-100 rubles) and you are not satisfied with the quality of glass cutting, then I advise you to pay attention to glass cutters from the company “kraftool” - German company, producing quality products.
All their products are high-quality tools, the most important thing is that their prices are very low (when compared with other professional companies).
4. Kraftulovsky is already more expensive.
For the home there are 2 options - with 1 roller and with six. The one with the green handle comes with one roller, it costs more. How is it that 1 video costs more than 6?
Everything is simple here - the resource of this one roller is 8 km (you can cut 8 km of glass).
The current cost is 250 rubles - a small price for a truly high-quality instrument. The thickness of the glass being cut is also small, up to 5 mm, but it cuts the five just perfectly, the cut is straight, without chips (unlike cheap household options).
The second option - with an orange handle, has 6 rollers, and also perfectly cuts glass up to 5 mm.
Price 200 rubles, resource of one video - 1 km.
For myself, I made a choice by buying myself a glass cutter for 250 rubles with 1 roller.
How to choose a glass cutter
In the household it is rarely necessary to cut glass thicker than 5 mm, but a couple of times I had to deal with 6 mm glass - the green “Kraftool” did it without problems, although I had to spend more time tapping the cut.
Of all inexpensive options it is Kraftul's that is optimal, because it has successfully shown itself in action.
5. Oil glass cutter
Oil cutters can also be classified as roller cutters, since the cutting is carried out by a roller made of carbide metal. The only difference is that when cutting, oil is added, which makes cutting glass much easier; moreover, the quality of the cut is noticeably higher.
If you take an inexpensive oil pump for home use, it will cost about 180 rubles (Stayer company).
When compared with the Kraftul one, we can say that it is very good.
Diamond models
Many craftsmen cut only with diamond glass cutters, because they consider them the best. By by and large they are right - diamond ones are designed to cut glass and no roller can compare with a professional diamond one.
What is a professional diamond glass cutter?
This is just a super tool, it cuts even centimeter glass with absolutely no effort. Back in my youth I worked for several days on a glass cutter and was shocked with how easily you can cut glass 1 cm thick. Of course, the price of such a tool is decent.
Glass is cut using diamond, which is, of course, harder than any hard alloy.
Diamond glass cutters for the home are not as simple as they seem. To cut off something for them the first time, they will have to work hard.
The whole difficulty arises because when cutting, you need to maintain a certain angle of inclination when the diamond edge begins to cut.
My first attempts were not successful, but I firmly decided to learn and after some time I already knew how to cut with such a tool. And I’ll tell you that it really cuts like clockwork. The only thing is that you need to cut using a metal ruler; the thinner the ruler, the better.
How to use it correctly
A few simple rules:
- Do not go over the cut several times; you need one pass with the required pressing force.
- Tap the glass cut carefully along the entire length of the cut.
- The pressing force must be chosen correctly, do not use all your power on 3 mm glass, otherwise you will simply crush it.
- Move the glass cutter slowly, do not rush.
Surely many home craftsmen will agree that one of the most complex technological operations remains for them high-quality cutting glass Indeed, without any fear, they take on rather difficult carpentry or plumbing work and quickly develop skills in operating power tools, making connections, plumbing installation, etc. But when it becomes necessary to cut glass exactly to size, the result is not always predictable. And this causes a certain lack of confidence in one’s own abilities, which prompts one to turn to specialists for any such issue.
But if you observe the actions of an experienced glass cutter, it seems that there is nothing tricky about it. The work goes quickly, and the cuts are smooth and neat. It is clear that acquired skills have an impact, but the quality of the tool used is also extremely important. And if you still want to master this operation, you will have to purchase a high-quality glass cutter.
It seems to be a simple tool, and there should not be any particular difficulties when choosing. But this is not entirely true - and here you need to know some nuances. Therefore, let's learn how to choose which glass cutter is better.
The principle underlying the technology of mechanical glass cutting
Let’s immediately make a reservation that in the future we will talk about cutting ordinary quartz window glass. The same one that you most often encounter during construction or repair work.
The remark is made for the reason that there are other types of materials whose names include the term “glass”. So, tempered glass, that is, those that have undergone special treatment to reduce fragility, it is impossible to cut at home, without special equipment. The same applies to multilayer materials – triplexes. For example, what we often call plexiglass, in fact, is not glass at all, and completely different cutting tools are used to cut it.
So, ordinary window glass is produced using technology known since ancient times.
It is obtained using the technology of melting quartz rocks (most often it is purified quartz sand). The content of silicon dioxide SiO₂ in the finished product reaches almost 70÷75%.
Chemical resistance and characteristic shine of glass are given by calcium oxide (CaO), which at different historical stages glass production was added to the melt in the form of crushed sea shells, chalk, and lime.
Finally, another essential component is the oxides of alkaline metals. For this purpose, soda or potash is added to the quartz melt, which decomposes to oxides under high temperature influence.
The melt is formed and then cooled using a special technology that prevents the crystallization process. And in in the end a glassy state of the substance is obtained, which has the properties of a solid, but at the same time partially retains the qualities of a superviscous liquid. This state is usually called amorphous.
Yes, it may seem strange, but solid glass still has a certain degree of fluidity. You should not be afraid of this circumstance - any noticeable changes in size occur over many decades and even centuries. But this property still leaves a certain imprint on glass cutting technology - this will be discussed below.
A characteristic feature of glass is its increased fragility (almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of iron). It is almost impossible to deform glass at temperatures below its melting level - it is destroyed by mechanical stress.
At the same time, ordinary silicate glass has good hardness indicators, almost as good as the original material - quartz.
It’s worth saying a little more about the hardness of materials, since it is this parameter that determines the possibility of cutting glass.
There is a so-called Mohs scale, which compares the hardness of substances with ten natural reference minerals. The bottom step is occupied by natural talc, which is not at all durable, and is easy to scratch even with the effort of a fingernail. At the top of the scale is the diamond, the strongest known natural formation.
Prices for glass cutters
glass cutter
It is clear that in order to be able to cut this or that material, it is necessary to use a tool that would was higher on this scale. A optimal solution, diamond becomes universal for processing any materials.
By the way, the scale does not give the perception of hardness correctly enough. One should not think that digital designations are somehow related to absolute hardness indicators. So, for example, between the seventh place (quartz, glass) and the tenth (diamond) the difference is 15÷16 times. And even corundum, which ranks ninth, is almost 4 times less hard than diamond.
But let's return to the glass. The process of its mechanical cutting is as follows. According to the markings applied on the glass sheet, a mark is applied. Essentially this is deep scratch(groove) applied with a material that is significantly superior to glass in hardness.
With this scratching, a tiny network of intersecting cracks is created on the surface. At the same time, there is a sharp increase in internal stresses, leading to the growth of these cracks. Naturally, these stresses reach their peak values precisely along the cut line, which is facilitated by the wedging effect of a correctly sharpened cutter.
If the mark was applied efficiently, with the necessary force and uniformity, then when a force perpendicular to the cutting line is applied, a fracture should occur. It is very important that there should not be a long pause between applying the mark and breaking the glass. It was already mentioned above about the amorphous nature of glass, and a thin scratch tends, so to speak, to “linger.” Of course, not noticeable at all to the eye, but there is a process of some normalization of the created stresses, the grooves are melting, and it becomes much more difficult to produce a high-quality fracture.
And one more very important nuance regarding cutting technology. In order for the internal stresses created in the sheet glass to contribute to the appearance and propagation of a crack deeper and strictly along the line, that is, even spalling of the material, the groove must be applied in one precise movement, with well-established uniform speed and pressure. Two or more passes will not improve the situation at all. On the contrary, with a high degree of probability one can expect the appearance and propagation of lateral cracks, which in best case scenario will lead to uneven edge, and in the worst case – to the final damage of the material.
So, it is quite obvious that to complete the first step you need a special tool capable of making a high-quality groove of the required depth along the cut line. This tool is just a glass cutter.
Types of modern glass cutters
There are not so many options in this matter, since the very principle of mechanical glass cutting has not changed for a long time. But it is necessary to deal with each of them.
Diamond glass cutters
Many of us were and remain fans of adventure novels, for example, by Alexandre Dumas. In many of them, in one way or another, a ring with a diamond appears, with which either heroes leave clearly legible inscriptions on glass for friends, or attackers cut out a window to carry out their insidious intentions. Here it is, without any exaggeration, a prototype of a glass cutter.
Prices for a universal glass cutter
universal glass cutter
Of course, literature is literature, and it is unlikely that even medieval craftsmen used exactly jewelry. But the fact that diamond was used for these purposes is beyond any doubt. And judging by the surviving antique tools, the structure of the diamond glass cutter has not fundamentally changed at all to this day.
Take a look at the illustration. Bronze head hammer-shaped shape, on top of which a diamond crystal is soldered in the center. This “hammer” helps stimulate the crack to propagate along the intended fault line by lightly tapping it. There are slots on both sides - you can use them to break off pieces if suddenly the cut is not even enough, or if you need to separate a thin strip of glass. For ease of operation, a handle with a wooden overlay is provided. Interestingly, despite their very respectable age, many of these glass cutters have not lost their functionality to this day.
Now let's compare this antique sample with a modern diamond glass cutter.
As you can see, it is very difficult to find any fundamental changes in the design of a glass cutter. The only thing that has changed is the handle - plastic is often used instead of wood. (Which, by the way, is not welcomed by many craftsmen, and they are looking for models with wooden handles).
However, there is also a difference. For example, in many modern glass cutters, the diamond crystal is not rigidly soldered into the head holder, but is placed on a special metal part, which, in turn, is locked with a screw in the groove of the head. This allows you to change its position as the edge of the crystal becomes dull, thereby restoring cutting qualities.
In the last century, man learned to synthesize diamond crystals, and most instruments nowadays are equipped with artificial stones. Synthetic diamonds in an affordable price range are similar in their physical qualities to natural ones, but still cannot fully compare with them. So, if we talk about cutting glass, then natural diamond can handle thicknesses of 10 mm or even more. While the capabilities of a glass cutter with artificial stone usually limited to five or six. Naturally, this factor directly affects the cost of the instrument.
By the way, finding a glass cutter with natural diamond on sale these days is not an easy task. When writing this publication, the author scoured many online trading resources, but was unable to find a tool that would say that it was, yes, a natural diamond, and the price was also appropriate. You can find “synthetic diamond”, “technical diamond” in the description, or simply modest silence about a specific type of cutting element. But with natural stone, the available options are only from private individuals offering instruments produced back in Soviet times.
Prices for oil glass cutter
oil glass cutter
Diamond glass cutters also differ in the type of crystal sharpening. In “amateur” class models most often cutting edge It has a curved shape and is located coaxially with the handle.
But in professional tools, pyramidal multifaceted sharpening is practiced, with the cutting edge located at an angle of about 20 degrees to the axis. That is, working with such a glass cutter requires good skill, but its capabilities and built-in resource are much higher.
Another important point– this is the sharpening angle of the cutting element. It may seem paradoxical, but the thicker the glass, the “dumber” the sharpening should be, that is, the angle of mutual arrangement of the edges is greater. This is explained by the fact that the thicker the glass is cut, the more make an effort, and the greater the angle between the cutting edges, the greater becomes the resulting downward shear stress on the opposite side of the glass sheet. And too sharp a cutter, when pressed hard, is quite capable of causing the appearance of surface cracks, leading to unauthorized breaking of glass.
So, depending on the thickness of the glass, optimal angles sharpenings are considered:
Below will be given short review models of glass cutters of this group. When choosing such a tool, attention is usually paid to following criteria:
— type of cutting element;
- angle of sharpening;
— maximum thickness of glass for cutting;
— resource, which is usually expressed in meters of cuts made;
- type of handle.
Prices for diamond glass cutters
Diamond glass cutter
However, it should be recognized that not all manufacturers indicate these parameters, being modestly silent about the main operational characteristics. And you often have to buy a “pig in a poke.” There are also difficulties with consumer reviews - only some models deserve them, and even those are mostly negative, associated with a low resource and low cut quality. A fairly common opinion is that current diamond glass cutters are no match for the “old-fashioned” ones. However, opinions are always a subjective “product”, and often negativity is caused simply by a lack of proper work skills.
Brief overview of diamond glass cutter models
| Glass cutter model | Illustration | Brief description of the model | approximate price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond glass cutter type I or II, Soviet-made (70÷80) | Natural diamond 0.03÷0.05 carats. Pyramid sharpening. Plastic handle. | New, unused, in original packaging, according to private advertisements - 800÷1000 rubles. and higher. | |
| Diamond glass cutter GLASSTON DIAMOND | Production - Russia. Technical diamond. Metal handle. Weight – 115 g. No reviews found | 390 rub. | |
| Diamond glass cutter GLASSTON DIAMOND+ | Production - Russia. Technical diamond. Metal handle. Weight – 178 g. Manufacturer's warranty – 3 years. The manufacturer does not provide other operational data. No reviews found | 410 rub. | |
| Diamond glass cutter BISON EXPERT 3362 | Synthetic diamond. Plastic handle. The mantle period from the manufacturer is 5 years. Weight – 30 g. No other characteristics are given. According to the five-point rating from users, it deserved a “4” rating. | 360 rub. | |
| Diamond glass cutter Russia 87227 | The brand and production are Russian. Artificial diamond with a curved cutting edge. The maximum glass thickness is 3.5 mm. Plastic handle. No other characteristics specified, no reviews found. | 195 rub. | |
| Diamond glass cutter FIT 16930 | Canadian brand, made in China. Artificial diamond. Wooden handle. Glass thickness – up to 5 mm. No other characteristics specified. Despite the durability, reliability, and wear resistance declared by the manufacturer, it has earned a lot of negative reviews. The main complaint is that after 3÷4 meters the cut becomes dull and loses its cutting ability. The wooden handle breaks. | 295 rub. |
Roller glass cutters
This category of instrument can easily be classified as the most common among non-professionals. Such glass cutters, as a rule, are inexpensive, and although they do not have the most outstanding performance, they are fully suitable for home work. And many professionals, by the way, give them preference when performing ordinary, not particularly critical work with glass of small and medium (up to 5 mm) thickness.
As is clear from the name, the cutting element that makes a groove on the glass is a roller. It is made from alloys with high hardness values - it can be tungsten carbide, carborundum or other metals.
Each roller is mounted on its own axis. And its rotation when making a groove on the glass naturally increases the working life of the cutting edge. Sharpening can also have a different “angle of attack” - by analogy with the previously discussed dependence.
The number of rollers may vary. So, there are glass cutters that have only one roller. But this number can reach up to six. That is, as the cutting edge becomes dull, it is possible to loosen the screw securing the working unit and move the new roller to the “combat position”.
Prices for diamond glass cutter
diamond glass cutter
The number of rollers does not directly indicate the quality of the tool. Each of the rollers has its own resource, depending on the material of manufacture and quality. It is quite possible that a professional glass cutter with one roller will have capabilities superior to an “amateur” model with six interchangeable elements of not outstanding quality.
In articles about glass cutters they often write that dull rollers can be sharpened using a special abrasive. Maybe it is so, but it’s probably easier to replace it with new ones - this possibility is technologically provided, and the cost of new rollers is quite affordable.
Learning to work with a roller glass cutter is the easiest way; the cost of such a tool is low. And this allows us to say that it can be primarily recommended to a home craftsman taking his first steps in mastering glass cutting technology.
There is a wide selection of roller-type glass cutters on sale. Of course, in this abundance there is a lot of outright “junk”. It's better to give a little more money and purchase a quality tool, for example, produced by a well-known company “ Kraftool".
The table below shows several models of roller glass cutters.
Brief overview of roller glass cutter models
| Glass cutter model | Illustration | Brief description of the model | approximate price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roller glass cutter MATRIX 87211 | The brand is German, production is Russian. One of the most inexpensive but reliable models. Two rollers, with a cutting life of 350 meters each. The maximum glass thickness is 4 mm. Plastic handle. Two grooves for breaking glass, 3 and 4 mm wide. | 60 rub. | |
| Roller glass cutter Vira 810033 | Brand – Russia, production – China. Six rollers on a swivel head. The lifespan of the rollers is not stated by the manufacturer. Maximum glass thickness is 4 mm. Two grooves for breaking off fragments - 4 and 5 mm. Plastic handle | 120 rub. | |
| Roller glass cutter SPARTA 872235 | Chinese brand. Six rollers made of VK-8 hard alloy. The manufacturer does not indicate the service life of the rollers. The stated glass thickness is 5 mm, although in practice glass can only be cut reliably up to 3.5÷4 mm. Ergonomic wooden handle. Among the noted disadvantages is play on the roller axis, which complicates the application of a high-quality furrow. | 130 rub. | |
| Roller glass cutter Russia PROFI 87219 | Russian brand and production. Three rollers made of VK-8 alloy. The resource is not specified by the manufacturer. The stated cutting thickness is up to 5 mm, and the assured cut thickness is up to 4 mm. Users noted the advantages of being massive, a head with an anti-corrosion coating, an “indestructible” metal handle with an anti-slip notch, and a wide range of grooves for breaking off glass fragments. Disadvantage - sometimes there is play on the roller axes. | 290 rub. | |
| Roller glass cutter KRAFTOOL 3367-z01 | German brand, Russian production. High-quality roller glass cutter with a long service life. Six carbide rollers with a cutting life of 1000 m each. Comfortable wooden handle. Excellent build quality. The disadvantage is the rather high price, but with such a resource it seems quite justified. | 540 rub. | |
| Roller glass cutter Bohle Silberschnitt 2000 | Original German professional model. One roller with an increased service life - 5000 meters of cutting. TopLife cutting wheel with a sharpening angle of 135°. Cut thickness – up to 6 mm. Advantages: the highest quality, long service life, ease of use, comfortable handle. Disadvantages - high price. It is not advisable to change the roller after its service life has expired, since the head and axle wear out. | 1300 rub. |
Prices for roller glass cutters
Roller glass cutter
Oil glass cutters
The operating instructions for many roller glass cutters indicate that it is advisable to use a special liquid in which the glass cutter is either dipped or smeared along the cut line. This operation can significantly reduce the likelihood of cracking, promotes precise deep cutting followed by smooth edges, and due to the cooling effect of the cutting edge and constant lubrication of the axle, it extends the service life of the rollers.
The liquid is based on a special oil that has a certain viscosity, good adhesion to glass and normal evaporation. After evaporation, virtually no traces remain on the surface of the glass.
But constantly dipping a working tool into lubricant, you see, is not very convenient. Therefore, roller glass cutters were developed in which the handle is a closed reservoir for lubricating fluid.
Inside the cylindrical metal adapter between the head and the handle there is a wick through which capillary lubricating fluid flows to the cutting element as it rotates. The supply is usually carried out through a special valve that prevents unauthorized leakage in the non-working position or during pauses in operation.
As a rule, such glass cutters are collapsible, that is, they have a removable head. It can be fixed motionless, but for precision work related to curved cuts, it is better to have a model with a rotating head - it will itself adapt to the direction of the cut, and the master will not have to bend his hand much. Many models provide both rigid and movable head mounting.
By the way, many professionals “arm themselves” with glass cutters, which provide for selective change of heads, with rollers having different sharpening angles of the cutting edges. This makes the tool truly universal, allowing you to cut glass in a wide range of thicknesses.
By the way, the design feature of such glass cutters, especially with a movable head, imposes Additional requirements to the criteria for selecting a quality model. On the Internet you can find many complaints about insufficiently reliable seals, which lead to lubricant leakage. This in itself is untidy - in the area where the fingers are located, the handle will be constantly oily. In addition, the cost of this special liquid is quite impressive, and there is no point in wasting it. However, many users successfully use kerosene or spindle oil for these purposes, but leakage is annoying in any case.
Prices for oil glass cutters
Oil glass cutter
Oil glass cutters became widely available not so long ago. But currently there is a wide range of them, from inexpensive models for home craftsmen to professional, expensive ones designed for long-term intensive use.
Brief overview of oil glass cutter models
| Glass cutter model | Illustration | Brief description of the model | approximate price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil glass cutter Sturm 1077-OL-01 | German brand, Chinese production. One of the most inexpensive models of this type. The handle is made of transparent plastic. The head with the roller is stationary. The resource of the video is not indicated. The cutting thickness is also not listed in the passport data, but judging by user reviews, it reaches 8÷9 mm. Advantages – affordable price, very good video quality. Disadvantages - poor quality of seals, imperfection of the fluid supply system to the working head - oil flows out of the housing on its own very quickly. It's easier to dip it in grease than to pour it inside. | 90 rub. | |
| Oil glass cutter FIT IT 16921 | Canadian brand and Chinese assembly. Polyamide body of the handle-reservoir, convenient configuration. Replaceable head with a roller sharpened at an angle of 135 degrees. The head is motionless. Glass cutting thickness – up to 8 mm. Based on user reviews, one can judge that this is a case where the Chinese assembly is of high quality. There are no complaints about the quality of workmanship and the efficiency of work. No roller play, perfectly smooth cut, no oil leaks observed. | 295 rub. | |
| Oil glass cutter Bison 33686 | Russian brand and Chinese assembly. Positioned as a professional tool with a long service life - up to 20,000 meters. Automatic oil supply and limiter. The head is spring-loaded, not swivel. Cut thickness is up to 8 mm (although some users question this). The main drawback is the poor build quality. Oil flows out of the reservoir in a stream. It’s easier to simply wet the head in a container with kerosene. | 330 rub. | |
| Oil glass cutter STAYER PROFI 33692 | German brand, Chinese assembly. The glass cutter is presented as a professional-grade tool, although many users regard this as an exaggeration. The service life of the cutting head when working with lubricant is up to 20,000 m. Copes with glass thicknesses up to 10 mm. The head is fixed and spring-loaded. Durable metal reservoir handle. Advantages: good quality of assembly, seals and valve system. Among the noted disadvantages is the inconvenience of the head configuration when cutting on the edge of glass. For full-fledged “professionalism”, in addition, a rotating head is clearly missing. | 520 rub. | |
| Oil glass cutter KRAFTOOL SILBERSCHNITT 33677 | Original products from a famous German brand. High build quality. Very long service life of the cutting head - up to 50,000 meters. The 138 degree tungsten carbide roller cuts glass up to 12mm thick. High strength brass handle with fine knurling. High-quality valve mechanism for lubricant supply. These advantages include excellent cutting quality and ease of use. Disadvantages noted: fixed head. The manufacturer warns about the need to use a strictly specific type of lubricant, which is not always commercially available. However, judging by the reviews, many make do with kerosene or a spindle, at their own peril and risk. For a home “arsenal,” the model still looks a little expensive. For intensive use it is a very worthy solution. | 2140 rub. |
So, the main types of glass cutters that can be used in domestic conditions. Objections may be heard that there are other, circular models. This is true, but there is no point in dwelling on them in this publication.
- Firstly, in principle, in terms of the method of cutting glass, they do not differ in any way from those considered - they are either diamond or oil roller with a rotating head.
- Secondly, very often this is not individual models glass cutters, but a set of devices that allows cutting to a complex configuration. Moreover, it can be not only a circle, but also an ellipse or another pattern.
If we talk about additional accessories, then their range is very wide. This, in addition to what has already been mentioned, special devices for thicknesser (parallel) cutting of glass with precise dimensions, for cutting along complex straight or curved patterns, at the desired angle - and much more.
But this, you see, is still the lot of professionals. Or, at least, those hobbyists who have already mastered the usual glass cutting techniques, but the constant “itch of creativity” pushes them to achieve new heights.
For novice craftsmen, to whom this publication was addressed, immediately taking on such complex operations and paying quite a lot of money for complex equipment can hardly be considered reasonable.
Start small for now. If everything starts to work out, and new ideas for decorating your home with figuratively cut glass arise in your head, it will never be too late to come to this. And what you will need for this - your experience will probably already tell you.
At the end of the publication there is a short video in which a comparison is made various types glass cutters and expresses the subjective opinion of the master with recommendations.
Video: Which is better, a diamond or roller glass cutter - not an indisputable, but motivated opinion of the user
Skillfully cutting and breaking glass seems like a difficult skill to comprehend only at first glance. Having a good, and most importantly, suitable glass cutter in your hands along with basic theoretical skills, you can easily cope with the task, although very likely not on the first try.
Types of glass cutters
There are two varieties manual glass cutters. Roller ones are the most popular because of their low cost and ease of working with them. A sharpened roller made of carborundum, tungsten carbide or a special steel alloy, fixed in a mandrel with a small handle, presses a fairly deep and wide groove in the glass, along which the glass sheet is very easy to break with the formation of a direct chip.
Roller glass cutters have a short service life and are often unpredictable: a fragile roller can crumble under excessive force, but it should be quite high. On the other hand, such a glass cutter is very easy to use: even a beginner will master this tool after several training sessions.
In diamond glass cutters, the cutting organ is represented by a crystal of artificial or real, but illiquid diamond. The crystal is firmly soldered to a massive block, on the reverse side of which a handle is screwed. A diamond glass cutter leaves behind a very thin (sometimes almost indistinguishable), but perfectly smooth groove with virtually no chips on the edges.
The break after a diamond glass cutter is much cleaner, but the tool requires a certain skill. This instrument is exclusively of a professional class, it is very durable (natural diamond can be used for decades) and each piece is unique in its own way. To put it into perspective, a diamond tool is a straight razor, while a roller tool is a disposable machine.
Cutting methods
To cut glass accurately, you do not need to saw through its entire thickness. This material is quite brittle, and its hardness is high as long as the structure is homogeneous. But it is enough to make a small incision, and the glass will burst exactly along it. the slightest effort. Making such a cut is called marking.
The roller glass cutter mandrel has a beveled edge. If you attach one of the inclined edges to the glass, then the conditional line of its surface will pass exactly a few micrometers above the edge of the cutting roller. In other words, a roller glass cutter simply needs to be pressed against the glass with a mandrel to get a cut of sufficient depth without having to eye contact with the working body itself.
This is more difficult to do with diamond glass cutters. The cutting crystal in them is hidden behind even more massive head, and although the direction of the cut is quite easy to control, the actual position of the diamond is hidden from view. In addition, any diamond has only one or two cutting edges; they need to be found, as they say, by touch. In this case, the markings are applied without any effort at all, the glass characteristically “sings” loudly under the diamond.
Marking
The marking line should be a shallow but even scratch. Roller glass cutters do not cut a groove, but push it through, which is why shallow chips form along the edges. Because of this, the break line may later “wiggle” or a rough chip with many sharp edges may form. Marking is done in just one motion - this partly reflects the difficulty of cutting glass.
In practice, any cutting accuracy may be required. For example, glass for wooden windows may have a deviation of 1-2 mm, and the quality of the ends is not particularly important. In this case, the glass cutter can be guided by hand along the line drawn by the glassgrapher. To avoid drawing the line every time, you can display it on the cutting table or place paper tape under the glass.
To cut double-glazed windows, you must guide the glass cutter along the attached bar. The result will be a straight line, which, when broken, will form a smooth edge without chips or sharp areas.
There are also special cases when glass cutting must be perfectly accurate and the cut must be flawlessly processed. In this case, a cutting rail is used, on which a carriage-support with a glass cutter is mounted. Only in this case the quality of the cut will be guaranteed to be high. Processing of the ends can be carried out with special grinding machines that remove a thin chamfer, as on the glass of aquariums and mirrors.
There is also artistic cutting of glass, usually performed with a diamond glass cutter. Cutting a curved shape from glass is quite difficult; to do this, you need, firstly, to apply precise markings without double scratches, and secondly, very carefully tap along the entire cutting line with a mandrel or a glass cutter head until a through crack forms. If the part is cut in the center of the sheet, the edges will have to be divided into several thin fragments. For figured cutting, such exotic methods as spot overheating with a soldering iron or cutting with a pendulum saw are also used; in any case, the cut is almost never perfect and requires subsequent processing.
Breaking off glass
The tapping of the cut mentioned above is relevant not only for figured cutting. This is a fairly common technique that allows you to increase the likelihood of successfully breaking off and getting quality edge. The blows should be short and precise, but not necessarily strong.
As for directly breaking the glass, this can be done completely different ways. The first and simplest is to place the glass on the edge of the table and press on the protruding part. If the crack on the glass is fairly even, the glass will break safely exactly along the markings, but this method is not suitable for long cuts.
Interestingly, glass is not only hard and fragile, but also quite elastic in its structure. It can also bend, so if you sharply lift it by one of the edges parallel to the cut line, and then sharply raise and lower the blade, as if creating a wave, the overload will evenly fall on the damaged area and the glass will crack in a straight line.
There is another way: a low triangular bead is placed exactly under the groove on the glass. If you put cut glass on it, it will crack even under its own weight. Even if such a load is applied only in one place, the crack will expand evenly along its entire length.
Why do we get uneven faults?
When working with glass, it is very important to have a steady hand, but at the same time, when cutting, rough handling of the material is unforgivable. The best way master the art of cutting - understand how the mechanics of a glass cutter work, after practicing on old or unnecessary glass.
Remember that not all glass can be manual cutting and break it. Tempered glass, for example, at the slightest structural damage crumbles into many small fragments. There are also intermediate options: glass of poor quality or with a damaged structure will produce its own pattern of cracks, regardless of the markings applied.
If the break line goes to the side, pay attention to the cutting technique and the condition of the glass cutter. Perhaps you are not applying enough pressure, or perhaps the chipped edge of the cutting roller, which leaves small bridges, is to blame.
In our houses and apartments, our eyes were literally “opened” to the world when a person came up with the idea of making clean and transparent glass from colorless, nondescript sand. Its mica predecessors did their job poorly. The world outside the window was blurry and poorly visible. Glass has removed the obstruction to vision, keeping our homes warm and cozy.
But glass is made in large sheets, and pieces of a completely different, smaller size are inserted into the windows. Transparent, but very brittle material You can’t just saw it off with a saw or cut it with scissors. There is a special one for this cutting tool- glass cutter Various designs cutters determine the quality of cutting and the cost of the tool. But they have one thing in common - they help glaze the windows of our apartments and houses.
We have compiled a list of the best glass cutters based on expert assessments from specialists and reviews from real customers. Our recommendations will help you make a choice that suits your needs and desires. There are many competitors in the global technology market, but we have selected the best manufacturers and we recommend paying special attention to them:
- MATRIX
- STAYER
- BRIGADIER
*Prices are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.
Glass cutters: Oil cutters
Oil-based / Handle: metal / Handle: plastic
Main advantages
- Oil glass cutter for working with glass of various thicknesses, cutting in any direction and at the desired angles
- The hollow handle is filled with kerosene or spindle oil, which is dosed onto the cutting edge of the roller during cutting, increasing work efficiency and extending the service life of the tool.
- The glass cutter roller is made of a special alloy VK-8 of increased hardness. This ensures tool reliability and high cutting quality
- The special shape of the tool head makes it easier to work with glass and allows you to freely cut at different angles
- A comfortable plastic handle allows you to securely hold the glass cutter and facilitates manipulation of the tool during shaped cutting of glass.
Oil / Handle: plastic
Main advantages
- Roller oil glass cutter for high-quality cutting of glass or mirrors of various sizes and thicknesses
- The ergonomic transparent plastic handle of the tool is made in the form of a flask. Kerosene or spindle oil is poured inside to lubricate the roller during operation. This reduces friction and improves tool efficiency
- To increase ease of maintenance, the glass cutter is equipped with a special pipette, which facilitates refilling of lubricant.
- The cutting roller is made of tungsten carbide, which ensures high strength and reliability of the product
- The glass cutter is designed for a long period of use, cutting service life is 8 km
Show all products in the "Oil" category
Glass cutters: Diamond
Diamond / Handle: wood
Main advantages
- Diamond glass cutter for home or professional use for cutting glass
- Thanks to the diamond cutter, the tool has a long service life of up to 4.5 km, which guarantees long operating time
- The cutting (diamond) part, if necessary, can be sharpened to improve the quality and accuracy of glass cutting
- A holder made of high-quality tool steel increases ease of use and makes working with glass easier
- The wooden handle allows you to securely hold the tool while working and cut required size with high precision
Diamond / Handle: wood
Main advantages
- Professional grade diamond glass cutter (tile cutter) for fast and accurate cutting of glass or tiles
- The main part of the cutting element is a dense artificial diamond in a non-ferrous metal frame. An unusually sharp cutting edge allows you to cleanly and the first time cut glass or tiles of small thickness in a given direction
- Side grooves of different sizes for different glass thicknesses make it easier to align edges and break off strips of glass
- A holder made of high-quality tool steel ensures reliable fastening of the handle and long service life of the tool.
- The ergonomic handle made of polished smooth wood fits comfortably in the hand and allows you to freely manipulate the glass cutter while working.
When we are faced with the need to cut glass of a certain size, we either turn to a specialist or do this work ourselves. For experienced glaziers, the question of calling a master is brushed aside without consideration, but beginners are usually skeptical about this process, fearing to spoil the fragile material. If you have not encountered cutting glass before, but are determined to master this business, you will need a special tool. We will talk in detail about which glass cutter to choose for home use in this article.
How often do you need to cut glass? In private households, this task arises from time to time, so it is better to have a more reliable device in your arsenal. If you plan to use glass in design or stained glass, you will need a high quality tool that can also make a very smooth cut. If you have the need to cut glass for the first time in your life and you don’t know when else is expected, you can completely get by with the most budget option.
To more accurately understand which glass cutter to choose, you need to know what kind of glass you will be working with? The average thickness of window glass is 3-4 mm and even the cheapest glass cutter can handle similar material. If you are dealing with a thicker canvas, it is better to choose a tool based on its size. Oil can cut glass up to 9 mm, and diamond up to 20.
Roller glass cutter
Roller devices are considered one of the most inexpensive and common types of glass cutters. This tool cuts glass using a special roller made of steel or tungsten carbide. The metal head can hold from 1 to 6 cutting rollers, which can be changed by simply turning the drum. When considering such a device, many people have a question: “What do the numbers on the glass cutter mean?” The answer is extremely simple. When the cutting disc becomes unusable, the drum is rotated and another one is installed in its place. Numbering helps you remember which video has already done its job and which one can be used.
To use a roller glass cutter confidently, you don't need great experience. This tool is perfect for beginners when it is necessary to cut glass from 4 to 6 mm. The sharpness of the cutter is enough to cut up to 300 meters of clean glass, if you do not draw along the same line several times (this wears out much faster). Quite best option for household use.
If you need a good glass cutter that will serve you faithfully for many years, the oil-type device will be good choice. At correct operation(not dry), the cutting roller is enough for up to 30,000 meters of cutting. The thickness of the cut glass reaches 9 mm. The cost of such a tool is not too high, and on average is 30% more than that of a conventional roller tool. Kerosene, white spirit, turpentine or special oil can be used as the liquid to be filled.
Diamond glass cutter
It is a rather difficult tool to use and requires sufficient experience from the user. It has a very high-quality, even cut, which makes it widely used in the professional field. As the name implies, a diamond (artificial or real) is used as a cutting element. In the metal tip of the tool, there is a screw for a Phillips screwdriver, by turning which you can change the position of the cutter if one of its sides becomes dull.
A very durable tool with a fairly wide price range. Some models of diamond glass cutters may cost even less than roller ones, but in general, the price of high-quality devices will be much higher. A professional diamond glass cutter can cut up to 50 kilometers of glass before it becomes unusable. The thickness of the glass can reach 20 mm. It is advisable to purchase such a device for everyday tasks if you need a durable tool for high-quality cutting. Beginners without experience will have to practice to get good results.
Radius glass cutter (circular)
A very expensive glass cutter for round holes, used mainly in production. Its design resembles a compass with a suction cup instead of a needle and a metal ruler with a cutter instead of a drawing leg. The cutting element is a carbide roller with an oil supply function on some models. Quite difficult to operate and requires some experience in cutting glass.
The service life of a radius glass cutter depends on the material of the cutter, and the thickness of the glass being cut varies from 4 to 25 mm. For domestic use it is better to consider budget models, from SANTOOL or Kedalong. You can make a glass cutter for round holes with a suction cup yourself using available materials, as the author of the following video demonstrates.
You can also cut a circle with a regular glass cutter, making several precise cuts and trimming the edges sandpaper.
Professional glass cutter
Impressive glass cutting devices used in the works industrial scale. Professional glass cutters with a ruler look like a mop or glass scraper. In fact, this is a very convenient tool, consisting of a guide rod, a ruler, a cutting element and a container with oil. Of course, in household use, for cutting a couple of glasses, such devices are inappropriate, but for a large volume of work, they are very useful.
Typically, a professional glass cutter with a ruler (quick cutter) is equipped with a cutting roller of the buyer’s choice. The durability of the cutters, as with a conventional oil-based tool, allows you to cut about 30 kilometers of glass. It is unlikely that such devices will be useful to you at home, but keep them in mind if you want to open your own glass workshop.
Glass cutter for tubes
Perhaps the most unusual and rarely seen device of all of the above. As the name implies, this glass cutter is used for glass tubes of various diameters. This material is used in chemical and Food Industry where maximum sterility is required. In everyday life, glass pipes can be used as fireproof ducts for electrical cables or chimneys for fireplaces.
The glass cutter model presented above, from the Bohle company, can cut pipes with a diameter from 4 to 30 mm. A roller with an acute sharpening angle is used as a cutter. This type of glass cutter is purchased for specific tasks and most owners will never need it.
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