3 Ways to Cut Glass Without a Glass Cutter

We tend to think that we can only use a glass cutter in order to cut glass. Although this is the simplest method, it’s not the only one. There are three other ways you can cut glass and you can do it with items you have around the home. None of these methods of cutting glass is difficult but you should always remember to wear safety glass and gloves for your own protection.

String

It is entirely possible to cut glass with string. Before you use this method, however, make sure you have a large bucket full of water handy. It needs to be big enough for you to dunk the glass all the way to your elbow. Make sure the glass is clean and dry. Take a good length of string and soak it in rubbing alcohol, then wring it dry.

Tie the string around the glass where you can to cut it. It’s vital that the string it tight around the glass; loose string won’t work in this instance. Set fire to the string. As soon as it’s all on fire, hold the glass and plunge it into the bucket of water.

With the glass submerged, take a firm stick and hit the glass below the point where you want to cut the glass. Doing it in the water achieves two things. The blow will be softer and the water will lessen the vibrations. The glass should break along the line of the string when you hit it.

Wire

Using wire to cut glass is also easy. You’ll still need water, however. In this case, you need to have a tray where the glass can lie flat and be submerged to a depth of about 3 inches. Start with a clean, dry piece of glass and use a sharp tool to lightly score the line you want to cut.

Make sure your wire is longer than the cut with ends shaped into loops. Put wood through the loops and tighten to use as handles. Now, heat the wire until it’s red hot. When it’s ready, place the wire along the line of the cut.

As soon as you’ve done that, take the glass and fully submerge it in the water. The heat of the cut against the cold water should make the glass part along the cut of its own accord.

Scissors

It’s surprisingly easy to cut glass with scissors. You will also need a large tray of water in order to do it this. It will need to be big enough for the glass to be fully submerged and also for your hands and the scissors to work underwater.

To make it work, start by marking the line you want to cut on the glass. Next, submerge the glass fully and simply cut along the line with a pair of scissors. You’ll find that the glass will cut just as if it was thick paper. The line you end up with won’t be perfectly sharp, but you will be able to clean it up with a blowtorch or a whetstone by rubbing down gently on the edges until you have it exactly as you want it.