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Proper Care and
Maintenance of Glass Cutters
Glass cutters, an essential in stained glass equipment, consist of a handle and a beveled cutting wheel. The wheel can be steel or tungsten carbide and rotates freely on a axis.
Types of Wheels Steel Wheels tend to be less expensive but, usually don't last very long. The steel wheel becomes dull after repetitive use and must be replaced. Steel wheels are good for general purpose or softer glass. The size of the wheel and angle of the bevel on the wheel will determine how hard of a glass it can score. Tungsten Carbide Wheels are more expensive than the steel wheels. There durability tends to out weigh the cost difference. Many are self-lubricating which can save time.
General Maintenance for Cutter
When not being used, store in a jar partially filled with lubricant that covers the bottom of the jar and the wheel. It's a good idea to pad the bottom of the jar with a piece of cloth or paper towel.Glass lubricant is an oil that is usually a mixture of kerosene and light oil. The lubricant cleans off little slivers of glass that tend to cling to the wheel. These slivers of glass can interfere with the rotation of the wheel. Another advantage of the lubricant is how it helps prevent score lines from sealing. Proper Use When you score stained glass, don't go over score lines. This will dull the wheel. Always dip the wheel in lubricant before each score if it is not self-lubricating. Running your wheel off the edge of the glass will shorten its life, too. Stop your score 1/8" from the glass edge.
Signs of Trouble If you have to use excessive pressure (over 15 lbs of force) the cutting wheel may be dull and needs replacing. If your score lines look more like a dotted line, the cutting wheel may be dented and again should be replaced.
With proper care and maintenance
this tool will serve you well for a long time.
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