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How do you cut mirrors.....?

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 12, 2004 6:10 AM
Stop by a stained-glass shop and ask. They'll point you to the appropriate cutter. You might need a file also to smooth the edges (so that you do not slice your fingers to pieces)
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:56 PM
Dave:
Mirror glass cut to size at a retail Glazier/Mirror shop is very inexpensive. Just be sure to take accurate measurements.
Bill
www.modeltrainjournal.com
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:14 PM
I use the old fashion glass cutter. It works well. Alan
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Posted by BigJim on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 3:44 PM
From one who does stained glass;
Just use a glass cutter dipped in a light oil such as 3in1 oil. Make only one score. Never go back over a score you have already made or you may as well toss the cutter. If you have a piece that you can get a good hold of, place your index fingers below the score, your thumbs on top to each side of the score and gently apply pressure downward. If it is a straight cut it should snap apart smartly. Good luck.

PS; Mirror silver is some finicky stuff. You may encounter a bit of flakeing at the edge of the cut.

.

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Posted by waltrapp on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:59 AM
It would seem on the surface that the kerosene/oil would make the glass cutter roller 'not roll' but rather just glide along. Interesting.
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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:04 AM
The idea is that when you roll the wheel over the glass, you create a weak spot, then a quick snap, and it should break cleanly along the line you created. That's the theory , anyway. In practice, it's not always that clean a break. Good luck.
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Posted by spankybird on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:57 AM
Hi Dave,

check this out

http://www.fletcher-terry.com/hardware/tips/cutglass.shtml

tom

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:50 AM
Tradesmens use kerosene with a small amount of oil for lubrication when scoring with a glass cutter. For best results, only make one score. The bevel on the wheel creates a fissure down into the glass. The kerosene helps to keep a nice fissure by preventing flacking of glass chips from the score. Snapping the glass just requires confidence usually developed with some experience.
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Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:17 AM
Thanks, guys. Lubricated glass cutter? Hmmm. Learn something new every day!

Incidentally, I've seen some amazing tricks used with mirrors on layouts in places you'd least expect.
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Posted by wallyworld on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:14 AM
I use a lubricated glass cutter you can buy in a craft store used for stained glass-it is more expensive but virtually foll proof as I am the fool who must have 100 years of bad luck before my wife suggested this as she is into glass. Make sure you use a steel rule or something pretty rigid as a guide and preferably clamp it in place. If you are as fumble fingered as I can be - you might end up with several score lines instead of one as I have managed to do in the past, if you don't use a guide.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by spankybird on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:09 AM
Hi Dave,
you may want to try using the old fashion and proven glass cuter. Just be sure that the glass in not tempered.

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

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How do you cut mirrors.....?
Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 7:52 AM
.....without breaking them and having bad luck for the next 7 years?

I have chunks of mirror that I'd like to experiment with by positioning strategically on the layout to make my big layout appear even bigger.

Obviously wear gloves and goggles when handling/cutting glass. I was thinking of trying my wetsaw, which I used to cut tile for the bathroom. I believe it has diamonds impregnated in the cutting wheel. Any suggestions appreciated.


Dave Vergun

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