How to cut a large mirror without breaking it
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2018
- DIY cutting of a large glass mirror. This approach uses a straight-edge under the glass to create the break, rather than holding the glass over an edge or using glass break pliers.
Products in this Video:
Toyo TC17 Glass Cutter: amzn.to/3CxnJPE
Irwin 12" Quick Clamp: amzn.to/3s64GqX - Навчання та стиль
Thanks for not editing out the first try that helps us figure out what could go wrong
Right
You can also just snap it with your hands like breaking a pencil.....20+ years with my C-17
@@misterhangman3586 you mean Toyo TC-17?
Thank you for not editing out your first attempt at getting the glass to break! It's nice being able to see what realistically is going to happen if we try this
Absolutely!
Awesome video, right to the point instead of having to watch for half an hour of nonsense if you want to get something done. Thanks👍
1st - the shiny part of a mirror isn't foil, its silver. 2nd - you should use a lubricant(like the wd-40 on your table) where you will be scoring. 3rd - dont pause after you start cutting. One smooth consistant stroke. 4th - if you scrape the backside of the mirror while sliding your metal straightedge underneath, it will most likely show through the mirror.
All good points! This cutter has a refillable canister in it that I filled with oil before starting. I did have a minor scratch on the back of one mirror from the plywood. If I had a smoother work surface or some rosin paper that would have prevented the scratch. I tried to one-cut the whole mirror but it's difficult with one this big.
Nate Lampton great staying calm with this person who has great advice with a horrible delivery
That hasn't been silver in a long time
@@ravenbudka7124 Yes, they use aluminum now. Thanks for the correction
@@tryinitdee8473 Yes, maybe not the best delivery, but neither is this "educatonal" video. Somebody is gonna get injured by performing an incorrect and unsafe method
two tips: While scoring, try not to hesitate, start-stop in middle of run. Too much chance of missing even a hair of it which can compromise a clean break. Also, any handy person doing any kind of carpentry or glass cutting should have a solid, steady table to work on. I know sawhorses in the driveway might be your only option but do your best to stabilize it 'cause vibration is always a problem for cutting, screwing, hammering etc.
Thanks, this video has given me the confidence to try cutting a mirror.
This whole time I've been throwing away broken mirrors and I could've been using them for smaller display cases or anything. Thanks for the video.
So funny, glass doesn't break! Great comeback with clamps. Great demo & video. Fantastic tip on the T square underneath, you made it look easy. Convinced me not to buy a cheap cutter, thanks a million!
Thank you so much for your tutorial! I've never cut a mirror before and I was kinda nervous so I found this video and it was just what I needed! 👍☺
Thank you for this well done video. I like your technique of using the square under the glass for these large cuts
Perfectly shown and clear explanation! Beautiful 🤩
Another tip: I laid a 1x4 on top where I wack to spread the force out more evenly to help with a complete break along the score.
Clamped?
when shit goes awry while filming....lol....you hung in there like a champ. good job....
Fantastic video, Nate. Thank you for sharing your lessons learned on that cutter, and keeping your troubleshooting steps on the break. This is exactly what I was looking for.
OK. I am going for it. Wish me luck.
Nice! So much more civilized break technique than edge of table. Thanks for that break technique.
Thanks very much. Excellent video. To-the-point and well explained. Much appreciated!
You are a hero sir!! Thank you for the advice!!
Worked the first with your help. Thank you.
Excellent, thanks for posting this video.
When you go to break it, go to the end of the score and press down on either side of it, not in the middle. Then, if your score is good with no gaps, the glass will break along the score.
@‘I
I am sorry x
Nice job, gonna try this in a couple of days, AFTER my new glass cutter arrives! Lol
Great idea waiting. Being hasty with glass gets you nowhere.
Awesome job. Thank you.
Nice job man! Thanks for sharing.
I used to work at 2 different glass places and I cut a lot of glass whenever possible always make that cut non stop don't stop at all is that can cause it to break irregularly
EDIT: I just now saw another comment that mentions this I apologize for doubling up on the advice
@Super Dave yes you can if it is square 8 foot by 8 foot then just cut a 12 by 12 piece out of the corner but also take a razor an try to make a light score mark on the back of the mirror and cut into the paint a little bit so that doesn't cause the glass to break in a different direction or anything. When they make a mirror it gets coated with several different metals and then the final coat is a coat of paint I would just suggest making a cut mark into the paint on the exact 12 by 12 lines that your score mark makes on the other side also remember don't make a score mark on the glass until your really ready to score and break the glass right away. never score the glass and leave it scored without breaking it because it will kind of heal up and it won't break properly
@@o0o-jd-o0o95 , thanks. Just the info I was seeking.
@@o0o-jd-o0o95 absolutely unnecessary
@@o0o-jd-o0o95 you first cut an 12 inch strip off the 8x8....than take that 12 inch x 8 foot cutoff and cut a 12 inch off that
Thanks Nate, the video is the gift that keeps giving. When i bought my house there was a chuck missing from the corners both of the giant mirrors in both bathrooms! I couldn't find anyone willing to cut a couple inches off these mirrors to satisfy my OCD. LOL.
You could just add a thick frame and nail/ glue it to the wall rather than the mirror.
Excellent content. Thank you
..GOOD JOB LOVE YOUR TECHNIQUE..!
Enjoyed watching.
Thank you for this.
Thank you King.
Gracias amigo good video.
Excellent video. I like the use of clamps and plywood on sawhorses... simple stuff I have around. Ordered the tool and looking forward to cutting a couple 25x39 mirrors from a 78x42 piece from the bathroom. Will save about $200 framing myself for a bath remodel. THANKS!
Taught me a new way to make a break , pretty common sense , just not something I thought about around the shop 🤦🏼♂️
Can you make a cut that is not a straight line? Say a design with segments of lines at various acute angles. Or a smooth round curve?
Yes
yes look into stained glass cutting. same concept. this is a shit video anyways
Thank you.
thanks for this video, I cracked the edge of my bathroom mirror and it is expensive to replace. I will get the cutter tool and try this, much cheaper than the $80 mirror
Thank You
Thank you!
Wow amazing!!!!
Nice job!
I used your method. My first words upon success were "thank you, Jesus!" Next I thanked you. Phew. Now my butterflies can calm down...
Thanks
Thank you! Great video. Now i need to know how to beveled mirror
Many thnx!
Super cool
THANK You SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
well done
Thanks dude
Great video. Can you cut a mirror glued to a wall?
there is a possibility you will strike longer glass at slightly different times left and right hand. I have used a somewhat rigid wooden board to ensure that pressure is distributed evenly across the glass, cutting down greatly on uneven splits.
Do you have to do anything special if the mirror is beveled?
What are the odds of a Drupal dev looking for a "mirror glass cutting HOWTO" video finding a GREAT video by the "Webform" (a Drupal module) guy? One in... a LOT?
Great HOWTO video, Nate - as easy to use as the old D7 Webform module! :)
While rocking a DrupalCorn shirt 😅
Wish there was a link to the glass cutter he used.
Thanks for sharing this technique
Great video, thank you. Do you have any advice on the thickness of the mirror and the width of the cut that could be done using this method? I need to trim about 2" off the side of a 62" x 48" mirror that's about 1/4" thick. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I also need similar information - Thanks
Maybe use a long straight piece of wood to distribute the force along the part that you want to remove, because 2" is such a small surface area to bang on. In another video, I saw a guy do a lot of gentle taps on the discarding end, prob to spread the crack, before applying more pressure to completely sever the glass.
Good luck!
Nice video, but you don't need to slam down on the glass which is sort of dangerous, better to use the ball of the glass cutter underneath the mirror, then gently tap up on where the score line is... it should break nicely.
awesome video, but is it also possible to cut a circle?
How do you smooth the edge once its cut?
You should place your hands either side of your score line ! ..not both hands to one side .
Any recommendations for irregular shape cuts please? I have a large piece that I’d like to cut into an oval type shape. Can we trace out the oval on the mirror first and then cut? I know you said one straight cut is preferable, how would that work here? Thank you! ☺️
You need a jig to cut circles or ovals. Something like this: ua-cam.com/video/3fUzzsvwx5Y/v-deo.html
It's not possible for normal people to cut a circle out of glass freehand. A jig is absolutely crucial. The right tool can make it easy.
I've been reading the comments. And I don't see anybody make reference to the thickness of the mirror. I'm pretty sure that makes a difference. What was the thickness of the mirror in this demonstration. thank you
Thanks for the video. I'm going to try and cut about 4 or 6 inches off a mirror for my bathroom. You said you used a Toyo glass cutter. I've never cut glass before, do you have a model number or name of the Toyo cutter? Thank you.
Can you please share exactly which glass cutter you use? I looked up Toyo, but there are too many to choose from. Thank you! Excellent video teaching.
Sure! Here it is: CRL TOYO Original Supercutter Metal Handle Straight Head Oil Cutter amzn.to/3s64GqX
For straight cuts get the broadhead the larger straight head. The smaller narrow head is for pattern cuts and is for turns. Do not use a metal stick to run you cut line. "under the glass" Use the neoprene (plastic) or wood. Every time he smacked the glass he probably caused scratches into the silvering on the back. You can use it to run the score by adding some tape to the side you are to lay on the glass. It all sounds good till the score you do on the glass runs out to one side or the other. So, therefore, make sure the "table" under the glass is supported and the glass flat and as even as you can make it. Laying a nice "movers" quilt blanket " you can get cheap at Harbour Freight" on the table can help with that unevenness Sometimes as you run the cutter if the glass is uneven it will run out as you try to score the glass .. before you can even finish scoring it will be ruined.
The glass cutters can come with a reservoir in the handle that releases oil. After a few months, these stop releasing oil. You can dip the tip in motor oil, transmision fluid .. even baby oil. Just a lil bit. with no pressure run the cutter backwards up the cut line to dribble some oil onto the mirror exactly where you are to pull the cutter down. Just a lil bit you don't want a huge mess. Once you break the glass line you don't want a bunch of oil to drip down the edge and get onto the silvering and the clean up is a pain. You can use Isophphy alcohol to clean most of the oil off the edges then clean with glass cleaner.
After you cut the glass lightly use sandpaper at a 45% angle to knock the sharp off and to help "seam" the edge especially the silver side. Can help with the peeling .. molting effect years down the road as well as keep the edge from premature damage from accidental bumps. Also keeps you from cuts while handling. The is a product o "seal the edge which is basically like a polyurethane. I don't know the chemical make up. It dries clear and helps a lil more than just sanding. We buy it its called "Mirror Sealer" . We use to use it on all mirrors now only on some.
Be careful, please.
@@balonsolos Thks a lot of good informations. Jesus bless You
Dude first he needs to learn the right way
I wouldn't bother unless you cut a lot of glass. I cut glass for close to 30 years and only used a fancy cutter for heavy glass and laminated. If you only need to cut a few pieces now and then just go to a local glass shop. They will do it for a couple bucks. For stained glass I would definitely get a good cutter.
So what if you are trying to cut a triangle? I'm concerned that the pointed ends will break off. Any advice?
I took your advice and bought it from Amazon. Haven’t used it yet. The head has a slight wiggle in it. Is this normal?
hello, this is so helpful. Thank you. But I need to ask you: do all glass cutters work with any different glass thickness?
I mean: I have a glass dining table with 1/4" thickness, so can I just use any glass cutters or is there a glass cutter made specifically for that thickness?
sorry for my bad english. I hope u understand. Thank you again
Glass cutters just score (scratch) the glass where you want. Then you use that line to break it there. So yes. As long as it's not tempered.
Well I would not try anything thicker than 1/4. The cutter can be the same but 3/8 and thicker requires exp you won't have by home cutting. Some guys have special homemade tools to help run the 3/8 like taping with a chisel (at a specific angle) to get the glass to start the run. I have heard my Table glass cutter (hes been cutting glass 45 years) say he likes to use and old cheap cutter for thick glass.
@@@@@@ BEWARE@@@@ a lot of dining room tables are tempered. ( some have a small etching in the corner near the edge. some are made without so to not distract from the beauty) It's hard to tell the difference. You can tap on it with at coin and hear the difference some say... and some will laugh at you. You can score it with a cutter but it with not run or break in a straight line. It will break into 1 million pieces. (more like explode) it will pop and sometimes shoots glass. The tempering makes the glass break into small cubes for safety. It will still cut you. First day on the job 30 years ago a piece of tempered poped and dropped (8 foot) onto my hand I got a nasty cut and I still have a scar. My partner had to get 14 stitches.
@@jaredmontague8142 What if it is tempered?? Will it shatter??
@@brandywine68 likely. Are you referring to when you are trying to cut (score) the glass?
@@jaredmontague8142 Yes.. And how can you tell if it is tempered glass?? The mirror that I want to cut is about 1/4 inch thick..
Wow. Good tips and thank you so much 😊
I broke 2 mirrors trying to cut it. I dono if it's cuz I'm not experienced w the big mirrors, little ones are easy.. Thank you for your video, I think I Kno what I'm doing wrong. I hope my third mirror cuts where I want ..😦
How do you cut it when it is in the wall, and you want to cut it?
Broke 3 pieces trying your way even with the Toyo tc-17vv. On to the next vid
What type of knife did you. use?
What’s the name of the tool that you used please?
I bought the same cutter from amazon and I am unsuccessful cutting a 1/4" thick mirror. Only manged to literally scratch the surface of the mirror. Is there a more effective simple tool or specialized affordable glass cutter that can do the deepcut job? thank you!
Scratching the surface is exactly how glass cutters work. Listen for the "ripping" sound as you pull the glass cutter. The scratch is barely enough to catch your fingernail. After scoring, you snap the remaining 99% thickness of the glass. It will break along the score.
Where do i buy big mirrors?
Wow going to try this soon!
Where did you get your clamps at? They are pretty handy!
I like them too! They look super helpful
Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware. Walmart may have them as well.
Irwin Quick Clamps are the original defacto clamps with a trigger like this: amzn.to/3s64GqX
Great video. Thanks!
Where do u even buy large pieces of glass broke my closest doors can’t find anywhere to get the glass
I've tried this method and another and just ended up with a bunch of broken glass. Pretty sure I'm just gonna order a piece before I throw away another perfectly good mirror.
Great video. Great tip. Can i ask how you would suggest cutting a piece - lets say on the size mirror you have - that is way smaller - apx 10cm?
Thanks for the help 👍🏻
Hey what kind of glass cutter are you using?
Yes, need the same info. Couldn't really tell in the video
Is it possible to have the link on the straight edge you used?
It's a drywall T square. You should be able to find them at any hardware store. www.homedepot.com/p/Wal-Board-Tools-22-in-x-48-in-Original-Drywall-T-Square-088-012-HD/100095247
@@quicksketch7thanks
Hello, where did you buy the mirrors, please.
36x30 inch mirrors are available in store at most Home Depots.
Nice work I am going to attempt this soon with a 80" x 60" mirror.
How did it work?
Trick question, I need to cut a half circle at the top of a 30" wide mirror, about a 6" arch. Same method? Only something round instead of straight edge??
I think you'd need/want a circle cutting jig like this: www.amazon.com/Heavy-duty-Circular-Glass-Cutter-Suction/dp/B00D4LDFAO/ref=asc_df_B00D4LDFAO/
And the breaking method is different based on my understanding. So no, probably quite different!
Any advice for cutting glass that's already on the wall?
I don't mean to be sarcastic, but you'll need to take it off the wall. And if you're cutting it, you'd need to repair the wall underneath anyway. A lot of the time the walls are painted after the mirror is hung. And you'll have holes from where the mirror is current attached. Use a utility knife to cut any caulking or paint around the mirror, then remove clasps that hold the mirror in place. Get a friend to help if it's a large mirror.
@@quicksketch7 Thank-you sir, really polite response. I was hoping there was like some sort of jig tool that would be advertised. I only need like 3 inches off the mirror.
What's the name of the tool, which you used to cut the mirror?
Joe Avi Would you believe it’s called a Glass Cutter. 😉
Toyo glass.
So if every broken mirror is 7 years bad luck I gotta ask... how many generations do ya reckon will be indebted?
Also thank you so much for this! I'm in the process of making a new boa constrictor aquarium/vivarium and this is basically a game changer. If you're curious it's gonna be a 6×2×4' bioactive tank a little flowing stream along the front, a ground floor, and series of rock shelves up the back. Aaaand of corse I'm a tech geek so the whole thing is gonna be automated. God bless arduinos 🤣
i bought 3 mm mirror 1x1 M, only for 10$+ cut into 8 part yours 50$ what's different?
Where can you buy?
where can you get that glass cutter?
Toyo Glass Cutter: amzn.to/3s64GqX
Do you sand the cut edge ❓
I sanded with a sanding sponge on the edge, careful not to scratch the foil backing. Be sure to wear a mask or a respirator, glass dust isn't something you want to breathe. This doesn't get the same finished edge as the factory sides, but it takes the edge off.
Hello. I am trying to remove a six foot by four foot mirror out of my bathroom. My thought is to cut it with a class cutter and take it out in chunks. Maybe hit it with a circular saw. Does anyone have any suggestions
Get some wood shims and push them in behind the mirror. Slide a piece of stainless steel wire (fishing line) behind it and use it like a saw to cut through the glue. Move the shims as you go to keep the mirror away from the wall. The wire will create heat and melt the glue so try to keep moving. If it's large have 2 people on the wire and someone to hold the mirror. The person holding the mirror can put light pressure pulling the mirror from the wall. Did one yesterday.
broken glass sucks, the tiny slivers can get everywhere.
I'd tape the edge of the glass with duct tape and large cardboard in front of it.
Can’t I just use a regular box cutter or like and xacto knife or a knife? I don’t wanna pay $25 for a glass cutter. I mean it could be be pretty helpful with my other work? But does it matter what kind of sharpness I use.
I haven't attempted using a razor blade but I doubt it would work well. Glass cutters are a special tool in that they roll, usually additionally facilitated by oil, on the surface instead of pull on it. The carbide wheel is going to be a lot harder than the metal of a razor, which would dull quickly on something as hard as glass. Similar to my own story, if you cheap on the tools you'll probably ruin $50+ of glass like the piece I was using in the video. I wasted over $100 using bad tools, use the right one and you'll save money, even if it's only for a single use.
No, you can't use a knife or blade. A glass cutter is not sharp. It is actually a tiny roller ground to a certain angle that actually makes a score line (basically a scratch). The score line is used to make a controlled break. And yes, like Nate said, use the correct tool.
It’s more easy to use a pencil or sharpie on the acore and push down
What else could I use besides that because I don't have a straight edge
Do you have a long level that will do.
trebuie o masa dreapta un echer si un cuter de calitate( toyo)
I was in the glass busses for over 40 years and that was a terrible demonstration. Don’t know how much experience you have but leave it to the pro’s. Would hate to see someone getting seriously cut with that type of method.
David Canole I’ve been in for two and this was just bad. This guy needs to be stopped.
Alex Mazzie it’s just not safe. Plate glass can do some real damage in a short amount of time
David Canole oh, I know. Haven’t seen it first hand, but have heard some stories.
What's wrong with the demonstration? I'm not disagreeing; I'm asking because I truly don't know anything about this. Thanks.
@@elihappinesspie All glass is razor sharp !!!...unless the edges have been processed in some way.
glass is not forgiving at all ! as soon as you cut a piece of glass you have more razor edges to deal with. Glass and mirror are one of the most dangerous materials to work with if you do not know EXACTLY what you are doing....If you take your glass/mirror to a Glaziers / Glass merchant's they will cut it for you!....for a small charge . We do it for free !.............
anybody else passionate about making a homemade disco ball?
That sounds painstaking. But I guess you'll be an expert glass cutter after the hundredth small piece, lol And partying under it, would be that much personal. I wanna see the process.