Cutting and Breaking Glass for Beginners :: Stained Glass HOW TO!

[@laurasclafani6326]

I know this is an old video but you just taught me what I COULD NOT get, which was simply cutting the glass. I was sooo upset thinking I bought all the materials to start this beautiful hobby for nothing but with your amazing tutorial I was able to finally cut it! Thank you soooo much!

[@laurasclafani6326]

I also have chronic illness that causes pain so cutting the glass this way is so much better for me!

[@jokappel2430]

I have been cutting glass for 20 years and I have watched this a couple of times, you did great

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thank you so much, Jo! That means a lot. I'm glad you enjoy the video 😊

[@zsantis3831]

Your voice is so pleasant and you explain everything so well. I hope you’ll be back!

[@tylagraysinga]

I am just dipping my toes into the pool of creating stained glass and YOU give the most comprehensible direction and instruction to follow. THANK YOU! YOU ROCK!!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thank you so much, I'm so glad my videos are helpful for you! If you have any questions or video suggestions, please feel free to let me know :)

[@destineedenney257]

I finished my first project today and I'm self learning, so your videos have been so helpful. I also was able to find a local shop that supplies glass and tools! So, not only that, but I'm meeting a small community that does this art too! Thank you for being so helpful and giving tips and tricks 🧡

[@S.F.Whisper]

Can you do a video all about the scoring tool? ie: The different types, what to do if there’s glass dust in it, does it matter which side to use (I noticed each side has different angles), the different parts of it, different ways to hold it, how close to the edge can score? Etc.

[@MiauxCatterie]

wrist issues here too, and doing the research on stained glass. gonna dive in once i get my tax money. thanks for sharing your tips! glad to know that you can still do this type of work when you have wrist issues. my rug gun was too heavy for me :c but honestly thanks bc i haven't seen some of these tips and methods shown before.

[@kristycargile6917]

Thank you so much for your videos! I'm teaching myself how to do stained glass, and your videos have been super helpful.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I'm so happy to hear this! I will be releasing a video on soldering this week since that's what I get the most questions about :)

[@PresidentOfBepis]

Great video. I've never felt great about running pliers, so seeing someone else preferring their grozing pliers for longer breaks is nice and makes me feel a bit more confident about my choice.

[@Lizzie13sl]

Thank you! Very useful and easy to follow. I thought the sunbear title transitions were a nice touch too as if I want to rewatch a section, it will be easy to find the start of the segment. Ta!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@eharris1965]

Omg Thank you so much! I am just starting to learn stained glass your explanations are perfect and very easy to follow along with!

[@hollysmith2697]

Thank YOU!

[@alysonwillmore3449]

Thanks for the tips!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thanks for watching!

[@tinabell947]

Thank you for the education

[@charlotteboard2138]

Can you do a video on cutting and breaking curved lines? This is so helpful!! Trying to work out whether I want to buy all the tools. So knowing how you do it is helping me make the decision.

[@Brublondie1]

Very well done lovey!!!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thank you

[@jameslinehan5807]

Hi Rachel, I found this a really useful video, thanks.

[@kaylacape2919]

I know I’m super late to the video and you did great. You’ve have taught me everything I know. ButI was wondering if you could give me some pointers on cutting circles? If not, I completely understand, I know you have got to be busy. Thank you for the video and time ❤

[@obviously6734]

your tattoo is so cool

[@MrPetrichor7]

this was so thorough and helpful, thank you!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I'm so glad to be able to help!

[@Kythilian]

Hi, love your videos! I am building a fountain for my company and had a idea to do stained glass pieces hanging from it. So that brought me here. Thank you for passing on your knowledge, I really feel like I can make this picture in my head happen lol.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Thanks so much for watching - I'm glad I could help you figure out how to make the addition to the fountain :)

[@WicksArtDesign]

Thanks for the informative video. 👍

[@wtfacts3376]

Hey Rachel, love your content, great delivery and easy to follow. I have a question for you... being a full time artist... how do you charge yourself out? By the hour? By the piece? I am looking to sell some of my art eventually and not sure what would make the most sense. Thank you in advance!

[@Ismail-ku8ov]

Awesome i really want to learn

[@sallyjoligocki5011]

Thank you from a beginner. I just bought my glass and tools and an instruction book.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

So excited for you! Thanks for watching!

[@mitchmana201]

Woooooah.. did you record this in the 80's ?

[@dinolovesmakeup4678]

Super helpful thank you

[@me_92other42]

very useful.thanks

[@SamKilgannon24]

This is a great video, thank you so much ☺️

[@rossfranklin6117]

I may have missed it but I don't think you talked about how much pressure to use while scoring. Thanks for the vid. Awesome as usual.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I don't believe I mentioned it! For pressure, it's hard to describe but basically you want to hear a "zipping" sound when scoring, although not too hard otherwise that can actually make a score line worse. There should be a visible score in the glass without becoming a canyon. It's difficult to describe but I hope that helps!

[@rossfranklin6117]

@@sunbearglasscraft8065 It does. I already knew but I was thinking someone that was brand new might need a little guidance on it. Thanks.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

@@rossfranklin6117 Ahh I understand, sorry for the miscommunication :) Thanks for pointing this out, I'll definitely be making shorter videos going over little topics like scoring pressure

[@leopard36cat]

Thanks, do you use any cutting oil.

[@george1la]

I have been in the glass game for over 50 years doing first commercial glass and then stained glass from the simplest to the most complicated with the most expensive materials including doing my own Tiffany patina's as I have the original formulas and made acid etched parts for lamps and such. First, always buy a Toyo pistol grip cutter as this ends the problems with hands and control. Second, take off the cutting head, remove the spring, turn the head around so the screw does not hit the machined slot, you want the head to be all the way up and locked in place 180 degrees from stock. This locks the head in place and you can now do intricate cuts accurately, you cannot do this with the stock setup without stupid manipulations of your hands, not good. For oil for the cutting head take a cap from a bottle, put some paper towel in it and soak with WD40. Every few cuts just dip the cutter into the paper towel and proceed. Second, throw the pliars in the trash can. You cannot stop yourself from squeezing the pliars when they do not want to break the glass so you squeeze the pliars and explode the glass with total loss. Use different sizes of crescent wrenches from the smallest to the largest for breaking glass. For long runs use the large crescent wrenches and for outside cuts. For inside cuts, depending on how deep and close, use the small crescent wrenches. The reason for this is that you can precisely adjust the space between the blades of the crescent wrench to precisely the thickness of the glass. Also, once adjusted to the glass as you bend to break the glass you cannot squeeze the glass. As a result all of the pressure on the glass stays precisely at the score line without any squeezing. Loose some drapery glass or expensive Uroboros or Oceana that is now unobtainium and you will quickly understand stopping time and financial losses. For complicated cuts on expensive glass if you have a glass wire saw use it. If you have a diamond grinder use it and for small inside cuts buy the small grinding wheel. If you want speed for cleaning up edges of glass if you have it use a wet sander. Depending on the situation and potential losses I use all three. I do not use cheap glass and simple projects anymore. You thing about these things when you do complicated lamps out of the most expensive materials and windows with up to 1,500 pieces. Every movement of the hands and fingers is time. Time is money. If you are out to make money do not forget the cost of overhead as to do so means financial failure.

[@trystanjelle9096]

I just found you on tiktok and have watched both your videos taking notes😂 so when you draw the design on the glass, are you drawing it on the textured side or the smoother side? I imagine you would draw it on whichever side you plan to be the front, correct?

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I draw the design on the smoother side! If I want the textured side to face up, I draw the pattern on backwards, that way when I cut it out the proper shape will be on the more textured side. I really hope that made sense!

[@amandasymon4363]

What about wavy lines?

[@beltran588]

I would love to see how you cut curves and real rounded pieces.

[@justineh1103]

Would these tips help with cutting with curves too? Or do you have tips for cutting with curves? I tried making my first piece a little while ago and had a really hard time getting some pieces to follow my score line when it had a big curve to it, but I was using my running pliers for everything.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

They can apply to curves as well! Every glass is going to have a different tolerance for how tight of a curve you'll be able to break, so it'll take some experimenting to figure it out. There are some glasses that are just awful and don't ever break the way you need them to! I should have included curves in this video, so I'll definitely try to work on a curve cutting video soon :)

[@reneeeveryday7459]

Did the curve cutting video ever come out? I'm not finding it but I could be missing it

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hi Renee! Unfortunately since stained glass is my full time job, I cant get youtube videos out as quickly as I'd like. It's still on my (very long) list of videos I want to make!

[@bonnykruk4160]

Do you have a video on patterns and cutting glass from a pattern Thank you

[@edmondrussell3808]

How do you cut circles

[@Cosmic_Crisp]

Would you recommend taking a class or self learn? I’m moving out of country soon and i think I’m finally going to learn!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I think it depends on how confident you are that you'll enjoy the craft. I taught myself with no problems, but it can be a big investment and the classes can offer a way to try it without fully committing :)

[@dianefloming9359]

I took a class and the teacher was very good but I found I picked up more tips and confidence watch the videos on you tube.

[@MountainLiving-oi1ov]

Completely new! I am obsessed but is this all safe to do like in your room?? I didn’t have a shed.. so I just want to make sure I’m doing this safe as possible but I also have so much excitement!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I would say it would be best to segment off a little area and make sure you do it where there's proper ventilation! Youll have to take precautions to make sure glass isn't getting everywhere (vacuuming regularly, cutting and breaking glass in a large plastic bin to prevent glass from flying around the room into your bed, clothing, etc) and clean with de-leading products regularly to stay as safe as possible (I do this even though I have a dedicated studio space!). Hope that helps in your decision making!

[@MountainLiving-oi1ov]

@@sunbearglasscraft8065 super helpful!! Thank you!! You are a blessing!!!!!!!! I’ll make sure I get everything I need to be safe! 🥰

[@jessicabenson2770]

I know you said you get a lot of glass splinters and it cuts your hands up. Have you ever tried using gardening gloves? I'm wondering if they would work to cut down on hand damage.

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I actually did end up getting some thin work gloves that have a rubber coating on the palms. They work very well, although due to lack of dexterity I tend to only wear them about 30% of the time. If I'm working with a glass that I know is prone to splintering/shattering more easily I wear them without hesitation :) garden gloves might work as well!

[@averymundane7842]

Hi! Where do you get your glass from and what type of glass is best?

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

I mostly get my glass in person! There are so many kinds of glass that there really isnt a "best" kind. Spectrum glass is generally easy to work with but is hard to find now that they've changed factory locations and slowed production

[@staceykruse8932]

I just bought a few sheets of iridescent glass from Armstrong and I am scared to cut them! 😅 They are almost too pretty! It seems like more of a shell coating almost (thicker than the bullseye coating I've used before). Is it better to score the top or bottom of this stuff?

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hi Stacey! I don't believe I've worked with Armstrong iridized before. Generally, I just cut the glass on the least textured side. I will warn that if you're using sharpie to trace the outline on the glass, use caution when using black sharpie if the iridescence is muted/more opalized. I find that all of my glass that has the muted kind absorbs the black sharpie. I use metallic sharpie and it works just fine though! (Just ignore this if you're not using that method for pattern application, hah)

[@erinmorearty566]

Where do you buy your glass??

[@kathydesjourdy4607]

Hi there, just found your channel and am enjoying it. Question do you have oxidation on your zinc came? Can it be removed? Thanks

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hello! I've actually never used zinc came before. The came is use is lead. Next time I stop by the stained glass store I'd be more than happy to ask the employees about it :)!

[@kathydesjourdy4607]

@@sunbearglasscraft8065 thanks so much.

[@PMSkrazedMOOSE]

Hi, I was wondering when cutting oil comes into play or if it’s even necessary? I’ve watched a few cutting videos and no one ever mentions cutting oil but in everything that I’ve read they always mention it. I’m about to try out my first project but am massively confused on when it’s used or if it’s unnecessary. I was hoping you might have an answer, please and thank you!

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hi there! Cutting oil is very important, and the method used for delivery is a bit of a debate in the stained glass world. I put my oil in the cutting tool reservoir while some people like to dip it. To me, dipping the tool in oil for every cut seems very inefficient and messy. Oil is important for helping to lubricate and preserve the health of your cutting tool! Without oil, you'll be lucky to have your cutter last you a few months. I only buy Toyo cutters and only had to replace mine after a year because the handle broke. I hope that helps!

[@PMSkrazedMOOSE]

Thank you so much, that definitely makes sense!

[@mentalmumma7128]

You havent mentioned using oil?

[@sunbearglasscraft8065]

Hi! I do use oil in my cutting tool. Some people prefer dipping, but I prefer filling the reservoir. Oil is essential for the health of the cutting tool.

[@mentalmumma7128]

@@sunbearglasscraft8065 Ok thank you :) I love your work by the way

[@irl441]

:)

[@neilhorsley343]

Take a pencil piece of paper and ruler, measure 40 mm at top of paper and check it same thus straight also at bottom. With the pencil draw a line moving towards yourself. Check on glass cutter methods and see how they do it not away but towards yourself. Do this with a t square on scrap glass and remember to allow about 3 mm for the gap between cutter wheel and rule edge