Cutting Glass Shapes

[J&M]

I am looking to buy a wet glass cutter saw I have seen very expensive ones that I know I cannot afford. Anyone have any ideas to alternatives. Can I use a ceramic portable wet tile saw that Lowes sells http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=206291-1255-60084A

Oh also anyone know where I can buy templates for small odd shapes to use in making jewelry pieces cirles, stars, etc. I saw some plastic ones in a video I bought but they did not say where they could be purchased.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.:-P

Mary

[Ro]

i have the taurus 3 ring saw I LLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV VEEEEEEEEEEE
it!
ro

[Three Muses Glass]

I'm with Ro. You won't be able to cut anything other than a straight line with the tile saw in the link, you'd pretty much need a ring saw. When did they get SO expensive??? That used to be the cheapest model! I have one I think was $30 a few years ago. I guess not so expensive compared to a Taurus 3 which is over $300. But the blade is round and goes any which way. There are other model ring saws, haven't tried them.
As far as templates go...the craft store surely has all kinds of things! You can even use stickers (lots of shapes there!) but they don't last too long in the water. I make a line/shape/whatever in Sharpie and cover it with chapstick so the mark stays.

[Dennis Brady]

I am looking to buy a wet glass cutter saw I have seen very expensive ones that I know I cannot afford. Anyone have any ideas to alternatives. Can I use a ceramic portable wet tile saw that Lowes sells http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=206291-1255-60084A

Oh also anyone know where I can buy templates for small odd shapes to use in making jewelry pieces cirles, stars, etc. I saw some plastic ones in a video I bought but they did not say where they could be purchased.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.:-P

Mary

Small circles are best cut with a "lens cutter". Stars and any complex shape would require a saw. Geometric shapes like squares, rectangles and triangles are best cut by hand. Once you've mastered cutting glass by hand, templates are unnecessary.

If you decide that you really do want a saw, I suggest you shop around for a used one. Hundreds (probably thousands) of stained glass hobbyists bought glass saws expecting them to improve their cutting. Those hobbyists soon learned that saws are noisy, messy, and slow and are useful ONLY for cutting shapes that are impossible to cut by hand. The great majority of glass saws purchased are now employed as door stops.

[J&M]

Sorry it took so long to answer. Got back home late yesterday evening. Had a birthday party to go to for 3 special girls in my life. Not my daughters but wished they were. And top it off it was at a skating rink. Can you just see this 47 year old Woman on roller skates, well she did, and did she fall, yep right on the old you know what.

Didn't think about not being able to cut anything other than straight lines. I want the one Ro said but it is to expensive.

I am assuming the ring saw is something different?

I bought some rub on stencils for etching into the glass the other day from the craft store. But I didn't really see anything else I could use. I guess I was not really using my imagination. Great idea about the sharpie and chap stick.


I'm with Ro. You won't be able to cut anything other than a straight line with the tile saw in the link, you'd pretty much need a ring saw. When did they get SO expensive??? That used to be the cheapest model! I have one I think was $30 a few years ago. I guess not so expensive compared to a Taurus 3 which is over $300. But the blade is round and goes any which way. There are other model ring saws, haven't tried them.
As far as templates go...the craft store surely has all kinds of things! You can even use stickers (lots of shapes there!) but they don't last too long in the water. I make a line/shape/whatever in Sharpie and cover it with chapstick so the mark stays.

[J&M]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look around as you said to see if anyone is selling one.


Small circles are best cut with a "lens cutter". Stars and any complex shape would require a saw. Geometric shapes like squares, rectangles and triangles are best cut by hand. Once you've mastered cutting glass by hand, templates are unnecessary.

If you decide that you really do want a saw, I suggest you shop around for a used one. Hundreds (probably thousands) of stained glass hobbyists bought glass saws expecting them to improve their cutting. Those hobbyists soon learned that saws are noisy, messy, and slow and are useful ONLY for cutting shapes that are impossible to cut by hand. The great majority of glass saws purchased are now employed as door stops.

[J&M]

I think the Taurus is the one I looked at but it is so expensive

i have the taurus 3 ring saw I LLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV VEEEEEEEEEEE
it!
ro

[Ro]

you can cut in any direction, the blade is round, hence ring saw, so unlike a jig saw or band saw which cut straight or with turns not so tight (i have an inland band saw sitting in the box if anyone wants it, needs a motor its one of the interchangable ones, pm me to make an offer) the width of the blade is your only limitation so turns can be tighter than with band saw whose blade only cuts in the front not all the way around. i used the band saw for a while, 6 mos maybe, it was fine, just not as tight cuts.
ro

[hightide]

if you are still looking for templates.... an office supply store would have plastic templates. There would be many different shapes on one. Or you could get a piece of mylar ar similar piece of plastic, trace your own shape, and cut it out with an exacto knife and voila! you have your own long lasting template. The possibilties are endless when you do it that way... pictures oput of books, your own vintage jewelry shapes, leaves from nature, stickers,doodles.... etc etc. have fun, lynn

[CO_Phantom]

X-ray film is a good thing for templates, too. It's nice and stiff, you can cut it with an exacto knife or scissors, and it lasts a long time, too. Sometimes hospitals will have "goof" films or perhaps expired films that you can use--they might just give them to you!

[Shadow Darner]

Mary,

I bought a Taurus about 2 1/2 years ago and like Ro I LOVE IT!! And yes I only use it when I'm cutting something that is imposible to cut with out a saw. Because I'm no longer limited by what I can cut I have more freedom with my creativity than before. I now no longer have to adapt the designs I come up with.

I know it is expensive but it is well worth it! There may be some used saws available but since the Taurus is so well made and lasts forever it may be difficult to find a used one.

Good luck with your search!!

[J&M]

Thanks all for the suggestions, I think I will post a Want in the garage sales and see if anyone no longer wants their Taurus 3 :biggrin:

[Ro]

check out the scrapbook section in your local craft store, any stencil will work. i bought a pack of purple plastic ones years ago for under 5$, i still use them all the time. i draw my lines with grease pencil, holds ok, sometimes i still add markstay over it.
ro