Cutting Two Curves in One Place

by Freida Woods
(Windsor, KY)

I am having problems with cutting two curves in one piece of glass. One is really a very deep curve and the other is not as deep inside. But i can get the one and not the other. Could you tell me how to do this. Thank you very much.

Answer

Hi Freida,

It's going to depend on how wide the curves are. A very deep, very narrow curve is extremely difficult to cut without using a glass saw.

If the curves are more like the one's I have illustrated above, there are 2 ways you can do it.

The first way is the way I'd cut the deep curve out:
1. Score the curve
2. Place your running pliers on one of the points where I have put the arrows.
3. Squeeze, slowly and gently, until you hear a click.
4. Put the running pliers where the other arrow is and squeeze, slowly and gently, until you hear a click.
5. Look at the glass to see if the score has run all the way around.
6. If it hasn't run all the way, repeat steps 2 thru 4 again only squeeze harder and wiggle the running pliers as you squeeze.

The score should run all the way around the curve by now.

Grasp the piece of glass that you will remove and wiggle it as you are pulling. It should come right out in one piece. I can't remember this technique ever failing me.

It might be a good idea to practice on some scrap glass first until you get comfortable doing it.

The second method is:
1. Do a series of scores.
2. Remove each segment, one at a time.

You can use your running pliers or breaking pliers, to get the segments out. If you use running pliers, you might find that all of the pieces will come out at once...it all depends on the width and depth of the curve.