How to cut a glass tabletop - GIF

[Jon]

How to cut a glass tabletop. Not sure if I would fear more for my back, or my eyeballs.

[Toolmaker51]

How to cut a glass tabletop. Not sure if I would fear more for my back, or my eyeballs.

Not to mention cleaning up the scrap pile. Yikes!

[marksbug]

looks like a boring job with glass.....not for me.

[metal2]

safety glasses ?

[Jon]

[Toolmaker51]

Interesting production ballet, well planned execution. Those men might be paid piece rate, or are the company proprietors.

Or, it's baseball season in the neighborhood...

[ranald]

Interesting production ballet, well planned execution. Those men might be paid piece rate, or are the company proprietors.

Or, it's baseball season in the neighborhood...

SURFs UP! Duck season?

those guys are well experienced at it and the perps are done before video, as stated elsewhere. Maybe the speed has been enhansed as an accident at that rate, is a strong possibility.

My experience cutting framing glass ,mostly 2mm, use a minimum oil (like wetted carpet) to rub cutting wheel (or edge) over for lubrication to lengthen the life of the cutter & causing lubrication on the very hard surface. As for runs: they usually dont occur if the glass is scored from end to end. I used a technique where I started about 6mm (1/4") in from start end and go back to edge & then forward to other end & all this only takes a couple of seconds at most. Phone calls after score & before break, didn't affect the outcome. the ball of the cutter can be used to gently tap the slightly lifted panel though I preferred special glazing pliars to cradle the score, lift & clamp=snap=perfect break. ALL relies on original score. I've seen more experienced guys do it without a full score but sometimes the unfortunate happens.

[CharlesWaugh]

They have to go that fast because they have already done the vertical scores on the glass (note that the guy in black breaks it over the edge of the table then also cross-wise in his hands before putting the two pieces in the stack).

Speed is important, because the cracks that the scoring tool makes quickly begin to heal and then the break gets ragged or even runs off-score, making a terrible mess.

At least, that's what some 'old boy' window glass guy told me - it makes sense. I also seem to remember some Scientific American article about crack porpagation and self-healing of glass, but I can;t find it with a quick search.

[Frank S]

My grandpa always told me when cutting glass only make 1 score and don't dilly dally around or the glass will break uneven. He always used the ball end of the cutter underneath the score line to propagate the crack in the right direction.

[jasp93]

Glass does “creep” or flow but the process takes years, if not decades
The question of rapid “healing” is absolute rubbish - a minute or two, an hour or two etc etc etc makes no difference.
Cutting glass is all about a very fine scratch and confidence!
Jim P