Cutting Glass on a Mat

There are all kinds of systems that you can purchase for cutting glass, but if you are new at this fun art form, you will probably need something very simple and inexpensive.  I am going to show you how I cut the glass for my night lights and suncatchers using just a cutting matt.   The cutting matt can be purchased at local craft stores, like JoAnns or Hobby Lobby.  It has 1″ squares and is ruled on all sides.  

The glass that I use to make my night lights and suncatchers is recycled picture frames or window glass and is referred to as ‘Float Glass’.  I am saving the landfills – one Fused Glass art piece at a time.  Again, if you are new at this fun art form, Float glass is a good way to get comfortable with scoring and breaking the glass.  

My night lights are all about 2.5″ X 2.5″ and my suncatchers are about 3.5″ X 4″.  I grab a piece of float glass and determine how many pieces I will be able to cut out of the glass, keeping in mind that the 2 pieces of glass that are being fused together have to be cut out of the same sheet of glass.  Using another piece of glass may cause incompatibility and the piece will crack either now or even some months after firing. 

I then measure and mark the cutting lines with my Identipen (or Sharpie).  Using a pistol grip glass cutter and a metal ruler, I make sure that the cutting wheel is on the line – usually about 1/8″ from the ruler.  Then I stand the cutter up straight and score the line with one continuous motion.  (DO NOT rescore the cut line.)  You should hear a Sizzle sound as the cutter scores the glass.

Now, take your Running Pliers and making sure the score line is in the center of the plier head, squeeze gently.  The plier head has a little arch, which should face upward.  The glass will break evenly on the score line.   I normally tape the squares together that have been cut out of the same sheet so as not to mix them up.

Remove the glass shards from your cutting board, but NOT with your hands!  You can vacuum them up, brush them with a small brush, or pick them up with packing tape.  

If you want to see me in action cutting glass on a matt, tune in to my Youtube video. 

 https://youtu.be/H3zJ0G7WFqI