Frit-Happens !

any tips on cutting glass for a total beginer to fusing

Have a box of plasters handy. ;)

I've just nicked this brief description off the fusing tut on my site - don't know if it helps without pics, but here goes:

As a general guide, hold the cutter like a pen, and apply firm even pressure as you cut. Cut towards you if cutting a straight line, and push away from you if cutting curves. To snap a straight cut use the breaking pliers if you have some, or carefully hold the glass either side of the cut and snap it if you haven't.  And for curved cuts tap the back of the glass with the handle end of your glass cutter, along the score line, til it breaks.

I'm sure everyone does it differently, and I'd practice on a few offcuts first, but hope it helps.  Good luck.

HP x

check me out! i made a video :P low res and muffled sound but this might help a total novice....

VIDEO ONE: Scoring and breaking glass freehand
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/th_DSCF0054.jpg) (http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/?action=view&current=DSCF0054.flv)

that's just for bigger pieces tho. i'll do a 'small pieces' one later if you think it's worthwhile?

Oh that's much better than my crappy attempts to describe it. ;D

What about doing a curved one too - they're trickier. ;)  LOL!

HP x

do i sound like a dork?! lol!!

mate, u know i don't do curves!! i'm a geometric kinda gal. you do one :P

No you don't sound like a dork - it's a great little video. ;D

The last time I tried to do one, I nearly had my eye out with a mandrel and got bead release everywhere!!  LOL!

HP x

oooo,

very cool, i was worried it would hate my mac, but it didn't, that always makes me happy :)

hmmmm, i always imagined steph talking much louder though ?;)

hahaha! do you still have it? ;)

just uploading the one using breaking pliers.... tried it on a better resolution this time

Quote from: annasjewellerybox on January 09, 2007, 09:18:44 PM
oooo,

very cool, i was worried it would hate my mac, but it didn't, that always makes me happy :)

hmmmm, i always imagined steph talking much louder though  ;)

cheeky mare! i'm all shy. not made a video tute b4. i'll shout next time ;D

No I binned it - it was rubbish!  I was attempting to show the dip and flick. ;)

HP x

here's "how to cut and break glass with breaking pliers" (better quality). of course it doesnt always work for teeny bits of glass. that's when you've got to whip out your grozers!!

VIDEO TWO: Cutting and breaking smaller pieces of glass with breaking pliers
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/th_DSCF0055.jpg) (http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/?action=view&current=DSCF0055.flv)

That video's good too - we've got the same pliers. ;)

HP x

sometimes they give me gip (jip?) so i've ordered a plastic pair like the ones i used on my course which worked every time

I find them tricky on very fine slivers, as the soft ends cushion the glass too much.  Let me know how you get on with the plastic ones - may have to try a pair, as I only do fiddly cutting.

HP x

exactly. sometimes i'm trying to break teeny pieces like a less-than-1cm piece into smaller pieces and find it hard to do without having the glass at an angle with those pliers. i tried it with the grozers by holding one end of the glass like a twonk once.... blood everywhere & never to be repeated! i think someone had removed my brain at that precise moment in time. learn by your mistakes eh!

will do, should have them in a day or two cos WG are so quick!

Ha Ha, excellent, you make it look so easy, so why does mine not break like that?
I have got some decent cutters now at least, however I rarely cut glass so hence I am rubbish at it.
I noticed in the last one that you automatically use your little finger of your right hand to hold the glass, don't know if I can do that.

Please now tell me how to make one of these videos?

that little finger thing is habit. it steadies the glass. it only works well cos it's clear glass. i wasn't about to try a demo with french vanilla or white. white is the bane of my life!! there's a lot of wonky white in my 'bits' box! i think the thing with cutting glass is not to be scared of it. easier said than done but when you're calm and less shakey it works better. it's just practice les. i still muck it up, waste glass and cut myself too!!

i'll bring my camera to your garage ;) i used my digital camera & photobucket. i'm in love with photobucket now! i used to have to edit vids to compress them before but that site must do it for you

oh, and a tip - when your scoring glass, cut on the smoothest side. textured sides can make you miss bits and it won't break. if it's not breaking, turn it over and rescore on the other side of the glass. don't go over the same cut twice.

Why would you need your camera in my garage?   No No No, filming will not be allowed.
Unless................

Changed my mind Steph, I will make a film of you making your first bead and then we can post it on here.
Great idea, I love it. ;D

fantastic vid Steph, love it ;D

Quote from: LesleyMac on January 09, 2007, 10:18:04 PM
Why would you need your camera in my garage?   No No No, filming will not be allowed.
Unless................

Changed my mind Steph, I will make a film of you making your first bead and then we can post it on here.
Great idea, I love it. ;D

i'm going off you les.....

I know Steph, I can tell from your tone.

It would make a great movie though, don't you think? ;D

i think the camera would get bored of me taking an age to make a black lump & turn off!

It will be great, trust me :)

Next thing you'll be on Youtube Steph - the whole world will be watching!

Caroline reckons I sound posh! Alas, I think I probably do. Like I said to her, we all do in my family but I don't know why. We're not!! I sound "posh northern" I reckon.

i voted 'goof'! lol!!

thanks steph that was really usefull  i must get some of those breaking plyers where do you get them

any fused glass supplier

glad it was useful ;D

added these tute vids to the 'turorials' > 'glass fusing' section too