Breaking by hand
Glass is always broken by applying pressure from
underneath the scoreline. To break a typical score,
hold the glass as in fig 4.6 - thumbs on top and either
side of the line, fists underneath. Do not merely snap
the glass but instead put a slight outward pressure
on it from beneath and then a quick downward roll of
the wrists will break the glass. Hold the glass above
the bench so that if it slips, it will not fall far. Throw
your glass scraps into a bin as you break them and keep the cutting surface swept clean.
Cutting forward
If you score forwards when cutting to a pattern you
can see where you are going and better judge the
wheel's relationship to the line. The only problem is
controlling the cutter so it does not skid away
forwards faster than you want it to.
A two-handed operation can regain the necessary
control (fig 4.7). Your cutting hand should hold the
cutter and provide both the weight and direction for
the score. The fingers of the other hand should hold
the glass down and the thumb should fit behind the
cutting head to provide forward movement. As you
move along the cut, the fingers holding the glass can
"crab" along in front of the cut.
If you score forwards when cutting to a pattern you
can see where you are going and better judge the
wheel's relationship to the line. The only problem is
controlling the cutter so it does not skid away
forwards faster than you want it to.
A two-handed operation can regain the necessary
control (fig 4.7). Your cutting hand should hold the
cutter and provide both the weight and direction for
the score. The fingers of the other hand should hold
the glass down and the thumb should fit behind the
cutting head to provide forward movement. As you
move along the cut, the fingers holding the glass can
"crab" along in front of the cut.
Fig 4.6
Fig 4.7
