Tool Demo: Bohle Silberschnitt Studio Circle Cutter

Glass cutting is one of the most fundamental skills in kilnforming. Imprecise glass cutting affects not only the look and feel of your finished piece, but also leads to wasted glass and wasted time.
In this video, Bullseye's Ted Sawyer demonstrates the finer points of the Bohle Silberschnitt Studio Circle Cutter, a Bullseye-tested tool that makes it easier cut circles up to 24" (61 cm).
shop.bullseyeglass.com/tools-...

[@jackedrussell]

Thanks for this demo. That museum will never know what hit it.

[@julesbutcher4623]

Ted Sawyer ... 😍 just love the way you went through this circle cut, it's frustrated the heck out of me for so long. I literally went into my glass hut after watching this and cut a circle. So happy 😊 x

[@BullseyeGlass]

Hi Jules, so glad that video helped you! If you ever want a 90-second refresher we have one right here: videos.bullseyeglass.com/videos/quick-tip-quick-circles-with-the-studio-circle-cutter/

[@charlenehomedecor]

I have literally just cut a perfect circle watching your video. I have the same circle cutter from Bohle. Thank you for your help.

[@BullseyeGlass]

You're so welcome!

[@TeresaXA]

Thanks for the demo! I have this cutter more than a year ago and was afraid to use it, but you made this so easy that I will try it. I love the way you explain everything. Many, many Thanks!

[@BullseyeGlass]

You're quite welcome Teresa!

[@AbelieverofourLord]

Thanks, Ted!!!! I love these demos. I always hated trying to cut circles, I've got a new tool to order. Had no idea how well/easy these worked... BTW those gloves are a great idea too!

[@BullseyeGlass]

Thanks! The Studio Circle Cutter really is a well-built and versatile tool. It'll open up a lot of new design possibilities in your studio practice. A note on those gloves: they're just like "box grippers" but also made from a Kevlar weave fabric for extra safety. Perfect for glass cutting.

[@nobe1966]

Thank you very much, Ted! You helped me a lot!

[@BullseyeGlass]

You're welcome! That Studio Circle Cutter is an amazingly useful tool!

[@yaakoubmeziani6093]

Thank you 🤗❤️

[@BullseyeGlass]

You’re welcome 😊

[@bigredc222]

You make it look so easy. My circle came out very jagged. The only thing I can figure is I didn't press on the cutter hard enough? The circle I cut is for inside a clock, so the trim covers the jagged edge. Thank you.

[@BullseyeGlass]

Hmm, it's hard to say what might have happened without seeing the piece. Sight-unseen I'd guess the most common problem with circle-cutting is inconsistent pressure which happens with varying speed. It is really a challenge to get in the habit of committing to the cut in one smooth action. Practice makes perfect really is true here. Please jump on over to our Facebook Community if you'd like to chat with a great group of users. facebook.com/groups/BullseyeGlassCommunity/

[@bigredc222]

@@BullseyeGlass I had another person say not to use a new cutter, it needs to be dulled a little bit first. One of these days when I get brave, I have a 5' x 4' x 1/2" piece of glass I want to cut down to about 35" x 40" to use on a desk. I picked it up in a thrift store for $25. I'll check out the facebook group. Thanks

[@jasonthurston799]

Can you remove the center circle without breaking the outside edges?

[@BullseyeGlass]

Hi Jason, great question! We see it in the movies all the time: The jewel thief sneaks up to the vitrine, attaches what looks pretty much like a Studio Circle Cutter and with a crisp score and a suction cup attached, pulls away a clean circle and snatches the Pink Panther. Unfortunately that's all Hollywood poetic license. Even though a score can be fully run enclosed there is no practical way to pull the circle out without removing the surrounding material to some degree. Otherwise it's just perfectly locked-in since the walls of the run score are not perfectly straight. And even if they were, it would still be too perfect of a fit at literally the molecular level to allow the disc to release. Hence why we need to place relief cuts on the surrounding matrix to release the grip on the circle. If you're a subscriber to our video series there is a lot to be learned about how tricky it can be getting what appears to be a perfect fit of concentric rings in our lesson Opaline Ring Bowl. The tl;dr is that you need to cut them to slightly different sizes to allow for the re-assembly to go smoothly. videos.bullseyeglass.com/videos/opaline-ring-bowl/ Thanks, Chris

[@BullseyeGlass]

ps - Here's our latest free Quick Tip video on using the Studio Circle Cutter. videos.bullseyeglass.com/videos/quick-tip-quick-circles-with-the-studio-circle-cutter/

[@jasonthurston799]

@@BullseyeGlass I was thinking if you traced around your suction cup with a magic marker, then scored the glass, turned the glass upside down and used the marker to align the suction cup on the other side and scored that side too, then gently flexed the glass around the edges then just maybe it would fracture all the way through and perhaps the circle could be worked out one way or the other (some percentage of the time)....maybe even lubricating the fracture would help too or making the score on one side half a millimeter wider diameter wider...it might make an interesting video testing it out....figuring out a good way to perfectly line up the suction cup on both sides would probably be the key to success (maybe a magnetic doughnut template on both sides attracted through the glass...

[@johnterrance3075]

Hello! I have a "standard basement window" in my furnace room. I was wondering if it's possible to cut a perfect 6" circle on that window. Obviously I can't remove the glass & work with it as easily as you have here, as the window is in the frame, which is in the wall. I just want to cut a perfect 6" diameter circle in that glass. Is this possible?

[@BullseyeGlass]

Hi John! So, to cut out an interior hole in a sheet of glass is super-tricky but doable. Doing it while still glazed in a frame I'd expect to be super-double-plus tricky! The issue is that it doesn't work like jewel thieves in the movies, you can't score and just pop out the circle. Something must be broken away to release the glass. In the video here, it's the exterior surrounding glass that is removed. To cut an interior hole, you must break away material from the interior. This is usually done by scoring several smaller concentric circles and then cross-scoring the smallest interior one, then gently as possible breaking the very interior out and then sectioning and scoring the successive larger rings until you're out to your desired hole. This guy shows the gist of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoWUimlsacydfNk So, you can imagine how it would be really hard to do on an installed window. Wish I had better news for you, good luck!

[@dbowden656]

I have had trouble with the suction cup staying attached. Any suggestions?

[@BullseyeGlass]

Hi Denise! If the suction cup gets dusty, that can prevent a good seal. Wipe down the suction cup with a towel that has been sprayed with glass cleaner, then dry it with a clean part of the towel. Another thing to look at is the texture of the glass. Sometimes, an uneven surface at the edge of the suction cup can break the seal while scoring. Keep the smoother side of the glass face-up and keep downward pressure on the lever/suction cup assembly while scoring - as shown. Hope that helps!

[@oyindo2347]

Hello, do you think the cutter can be used on acrylic sheets?

[@BullseyeGlass]

I doubt it. Generally speaking acrylic is cut be either a deep knife score (usually a matte knife) then snapped or being sawn. Even if the cutter head were sharp enough, I don't think it would work well to apply enough pressure consistently. Glass scoring and running while looking similar is mechanically a very different process.

[@oyindo2347]

@@BullseyeGlass thanks for the response, I'm looking for an easy and cost effective way to cut circles in the sheets. Can't afford the circular saw so hoped this would work.

[@BullseyeGlass]

@@oyindo2347 Hmm, there are lot of options depending on your specific needs. Depending on whether you just need a few vs. an ongoing production need it may be simplest to have a shop do it for you. On the US west coast there is a shop called TAP Plastics that specializes in custom cuts. www.tapplastics.com

[@lucasthemagician]

He must have an abnormally large collection of rare jewels

[@francesgillotti1378]

This is for a right handed person?

[@BullseyeGlass]

The Studio Circle Cutter tool is ambidextrous.

[@Kaiyats]

Ah this must be perfect to rob things

[@BullseyeGlass]

@Pixel That's the irony though. All of those movie/tv representations of a circle being cut in sheet glass and then plucked out whole are impossible. Without removing the surrounding material the Pink Panther remains secure!