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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Greenhouse repair
Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of
horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? TIA C. |
#2
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Greenhouse repair
"Chade" wrote in message ... Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? TIA Only that if it's old glass (10's of years) expect it to break anywhere. |
#3
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Greenhouse repair
On 27/01/2011 23:18, Chade wrote:
Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? Yes. Don't. Especially when its old. Horticultural glass is cheap as chips in standard 60cm x 60cm sheets which almost all greenhouse designs are based around. Any local glazing company will be able to supply standard sheets, cut them smaller or supply bigger sizes. It really isn't worth the aggro of DIY IME. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#4
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Greenhouse repair
In message
, Chade writes Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? How old is the glass ? -- geoff |
#5
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Greenhouse repair
On Jan 27, 11:57 pm, geoff wrote:
In message , Chade writesHello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? How old is the glass ? Apparently it's at least thirty years old. I say apparently as that makes it older than me. |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Greenhouse repair
In message
, Chade writes Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, what's the problem? so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? I think the cheap glass cutters are probably all much of a much ness. The one I bought recently when I couldn't find my other one was a few quid from a local hardware store, metal handle, wheel, cuts fine. Tips for cutting? The most important, is to press firmly and steadily on the cutter, and try to score in one smooth line. Stopping or gaps is where the glass will fail to break cleanly. Tap gently along the score line, put over an edge such a length of timber, bench etc, press gently and should break cleanly. But you may well have problems with old glass, as it tends to be more problematical to cut. If I had problems cutting it and seeing as horti glass is so cheap I'd probably just go and get some from a glass merchants. Take measurements and they will cut it to size for you (if not a standard size) -- Chris French |
#7
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Greenhouse repair
On Jan 28, 12:05 am, chris French
wrote: In message , Chade writes Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, what's the problem? Breaking with a spur rather than a clean break. so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? I think the cheap glass cutters are probably all much of a much ness. The one I bought recently when I couldn't find my other one was a few quid from a local hardware store, metal handle, wheel, cuts fine. As well as the wheel pencil type cutters I've seen cheap diamond glass cutters on ebay they seem to have a wedged shaped head rather than a wheel. Tips for cutting? The most important, is to press firmly and steadily on the cutter, and try to score in one smooth line. Stopping or gaps is where the glass will fail to break cleanly. Tap gently along the score line, put over an edge such a length of timber, bench etc, press gently and should break cleanly. But you may well have problems with old glass, as it tends to be more problematical to cut. If I had problems cutting it and seeing as horti glass is so cheap I'd probably just go and get some from a glass merchants. Take measurements and they will cut it to size for you (if not a standard size) As well as oblong shapes I need a large irregular trapizoid shape more than a meter across. I was going to make a pattern from selotaped sheets of newspaper and then draw around it on the sheet with a glass marker pencil and try to cut to the lines. Do you think a glass shop would work from such a pattern? I suppose I could try to measure the lengths of the sides and the angles at the corners instead if a glass shop would work to that? |
#8
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Greenhouse repair
HI Chade
First off - 'old' glass can be an absolute pain to cut - and horticultural glass is very cheap to buy.... so that's probably the easiest way to go.... On 28/01/2011 02:05, Chade wrote: On Jan 28, 12:05 am, chris wrote: In message , writes Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, what's the problem? Breaking with a spur rather than a clean break. Likely caused by an imperfect 'score' (the line that you've scratched in the surface with the glass cutter). Maybe from not keeping the pressure constant along the whole line, maybe from hitting some dust or dirt and actually skipping a section of score. Maybe a flaw in the glass.... (less likely - but possible). Clean along the score line before you use the glass cutter. Soap&water is fine, or a light oil / meths / whatever so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? I think the cheap glass cutters are probably all much of a much ness. The one I bought recently when I couldn't find my other one was a few quid from a local hardware store, metal handle, wheel, cuts fine. It's probably less to do with the cutter and more to do with technique / experience. Cutting glass is one of those things that gets easier the more often you do it. The cutters I use in stained glass are all in the UKP 20 - 30 price-range - but they'll happily produce rotten results in inexperienced hands g As well as the wheel pencil type cutters I've seen cheap diamond glass cutters on ebay they seem to have a wedged shaped head rather than a wheel. Not seen those - except for tiles & acrylic. The one with the wheel is the way to go.. Tips for cutting? The most important, is to press firmly and steadily on the cutter, and try to score in one smooth line. Stopping or gaps is where the glass will fail to break cleanly. Right. Make sure you have the glass well-supported on a table / bench that's at least as large as the glass. Use a couple of layers of newspaper of even a carpet offcut under the glass. Sacrifice one piece of glass to practice on - listen for the 'scritch' sound as you score - that indicates that you have the pressure corret. Too light a score and the glass will be very hard to break, too hard (glass chips on top of the score) and the break will be uncontrollable. If you make a mess of a score don't try and go back over it - it won;t help and it will wreck the glass cutter. Instead, turn the sheet of glass over and score the other side... Tap gently along the score line, put over an edge such a length of timber, bench etc, press gently and should break cleanly. Best to avoid tapping on straight cuts, can be more trouble than it's worth. After you've scored the glass, either break the sheet by hand (hold the sheet as if you were breaking a bar of chocolate, index fingers together under the score and gently apply pressure with the thumbs to 'pull' the sheet apart. Alternatively, find a thin lath (timber ruler thickness) and position it under the score line. Apply pressure with both palms to the glass either side of the ruler, and the sheet should break along the score. Wear eye protection! Another way is to rest the sheet so that the score line is along the (sharp) edge of a bench / piece of ply, and simply lean on the 'free' side. Think what's going to happen when the glass breaks - how are you going to catch it ? The freshly cut edge will be very sharp! But you may well have problems with old glass, as it tends to be more problematical to cut. Yes - any common glass more than about 10 - 15 years old is probably going to be more trouble than it's worth. If I had problems cutting it and seeing as horti glass is so cheap I'd probably just go and get some from a glass merchants. Take measurements and they will cut it to size for you (if not a standard size) Amen ! As well as oblong shapes I need a large irregular trapizoid shape more than a meter across. I was going to make a pattern from selotaped sheets of newspaper and then draw around it on the sheet with a glass marker pencil and try to cut to the lines. Do you think a glass shop would work from such a pattern? I suppose I could try to measure the lengths of the sides and the angles at the corners instead if a glass shop would work to that? Template / pattern's the best bet. Scrounge some large cardboard boxes and open then out flat. You may be able to get a friend to hold the card in position (maybe outside the greenhouse) while you mark it with a fat felt-tip. Then work out how much larger the glass has to be to fit into the recess in the frame. Watch out for any obstructions like bolt-heads, rivets etc that protrude from the frame. Cut the cardboard to size (stanley knife), allowing a few mm all round - and then make sure by 'fitting' the cardboard template into the frame. Then take the cardboard pattern to your friendly local glass supplier and say 'make me one like that!' If there's a choice of suppliers in your area, ring round and find the best combination of co-operation and price! Make sure that you tell them it's horticultural glass - it's cheaper than standard 'glazing' glass.. Be aware that some folks get very 'health & safety' about the use of glass in greenhouses - falling into / through greenhouse glass can be fatal.... Hope this helps Adrian |
#9
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Greenhouse repair
On Jan 28, 2:05*am, Chade wrote:
On Jan 28, 12:05 am, chris French wrote: In message , Chade writes Hello, I've got a greenhouse to repair. I've got some old sheets of horticultural glass but I'll need to cut it to shape. I've never had much success on the few occasions I've tried cutting glass, what's the problem? Breaking with a spur rather than a clean break. so I'd thought I'd splash out on a new glass cutter. Any suggestions on which is the best design for a cheapish cutter? Or good tips and tricks for cutting glass? I think the cheap glass cutters are probably all much of *a much ness.. The one I bought recently when I couldn't find my other one was a few quid from a local hardware store, metal handle, wheel, cuts fine. As well as the wheel pencil type cutters I've seen cheap diamond glass cutters on ebay they seem to have a wedged shaped head rather than a wheel. Tips for cutting? The most important, is to press firmly and steadily on the cutter, and try to score in one smooth line. Stopping or gaps is where the glass will fail to break cleanly. Tap gently along the score line, put over an edge such a length of timber, bench etc, press gently and should break cleanly. But you may well have problems with old glass, as it tends to be more problematical to cut. If I had problems cutting it and seeing as horti glass is so cheap I'd probably just go and get some from a glass merchants. Take measurements and they will cut it to size for you (if not a standard size) As well as oblong shapes I need a large irregular trapizoid shape more than a meter across. I was going to make a pattern from selotaped sheets of newspaper and then draw around it on the sheet with a glass marker pencil and try to cut to the lines. Do you think a glass shop would work from such a pattern? I suppose I could try to measure the lengths of the sides and the angles at the corners instead if a glass shop would work to that? To measure a trapezoid, measure each side and one diagonal. This fixes the shape as you have in effect two triangles. |
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