From: "Dave McCarter" 
To: "Jerry B. Hillman" , "ATM"

Reply-To: "Dave McCarter" 


> BTW - Cutting thick glass isn't the same as cutting normal window plate
> glass.

Yes it is. You score the glass where you want the cut with a diamond scribe or a
rotary carbide wheel. Then you wipe some water along the cut. Water works its way
into the cracks in the glass creating stress in the glass.

You lay the glass on a metal or wooden rod of 1/4 inch diameter or so, scribe line
top side and exactly over the rod. A pencil works great on small pieces but I prefer
a steel rod. You press down on either side and wait. Waiting is important as while it
looks like nothing is happening, the crack is propagating through the glass, and
being filled with the water, which speeds the crack The glass should break exactly
between the scribe and the rod, and I have made vertical cuts in 3/4 plate with this
method. I do this on a thin piece of carpet so the glass does not break when it hits
the table. For small pieces, like one inch wide, vice grips can be used to apply
force.

Dave

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-4