Cutting of glass can be done with a few various tools that work very differently from each other. The vast majority of glass will be broke down with the Score and Break method which doesn't use traditional cutting where a sharp tool removes small amounts of the material to separate it.
Types of Cutters
Cutters
| Cutting Type
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
| Score and Break
|
- Extremely cheap to do.
- Doesn't require electricity.
- Very Fast.
|
- Difficulty compounds with the difficulty of the required shape.
- Has limited shapes that can be achieved.
- Can take a very long time to master.
|
| Sawing
|
- Requires very little hand/arm strength.
- Can cut any shape with the correct tools.
- Reduces glass waste as only the kerf is lost and parts can be set close.
|
- Medium cost per part.
- Loud.
- Slow.
- Thin/Complex parts can snap while being sawn from manipulating the glass in the blade.
- Some saws are directional and can't cut any shape.
|
| Laser
|
- Low per part cost.
- Can cut many shapes.
- Lower powers can mark designs into the glass.
- Great for repetitive cutting.
|
- Requires very specific high power lasers for actual cutting.
- High initial investment cost.
|
| Waterjet
|
- Can cut any shape.
- Great for repetitive cutting.
|
- High per part cost.
- Slow
- Very high initial investment cost.
|