Then, take a cutting wheel and oil it with light machine oil. Reply Notably, when you use wet tile saw to cut glass or ceramic tiles, it brings out a perfectly smooth edge. Once in a great while I will get a teeny tiny glass splinter, but as long as you work slowly and carefully, glass splinters should not be that big of a problem, more of a nuisance. In choosing a bottle to cut on your tile saw, keep in mind that lumpy, bumpy or odd shaped bottles are a little more difficult to cut straight. 4.2 out of 5 stars 32. If you can switch the blade to a glass-cutting blade, which is encrusted with tiny diamonds that cut through the glass without cracking or chipping it, you can use a tile cutter to cut glass. It was a little intimidating but I am here to tell you, there is nothing to be intimidated about. Then you simply place the tile on the wire hanger with the line directly over the hanger and press down. At present, I am a paper pusher. The diamond blade can cut the hardest varieties of tile. Let me reassure you that use of the word 'blade' is not what it sounds like. The tile saw will also be useful if you need to cut round holes, details or anything special you can’t cut with a hand cutter. Keep a big tub nearby to put all the scraps into, then be sure to take them to the recycling center. Lots of glass dust and a few chips. All you have is the saw cord and some water. Don't look away while working. Yes, one definitely needs the right kind of blade no matter what you are cutting. Nice to meet you. The best instrument to cut glass tiles is a wet tile saw. When you have completed one ring, turn off the saw and examine it. The grease pencil mark should be visible. Once you have all the tools and supplies, it’s fairly easy to install. Cut upside down. Instead, stop what you are doing, turn off the saw, then tend to your business. Can Tile Cutters Be Used to Cut Glass? If you prefer evenly sized rings, be sure to set and note the width of your cut. Yes, you sure can. I hope that makes sense. I hope to update it soon with much better images. We want to thank you for sharing your skills with all of us. Who knows, you may come up with a great thought for using them. I will give the wet sanding paper a try. 5 years ago The bottle on the right is almost a perfect choice, allowing you to cut rings all the way to the top of the bottle, or to provide an even taller cylinder. To do this, you need to place a dowel under the scored area and break it in one motion. Share it with us! For cutting most glass mosaics we suggest the use of a professional manual tile cutter instead of the specific diamond blade. After you score the glass, break it the glass where you have it scored. Drill And Drill Bit: If you need to start a cut in the interior, you will need a drill with a glass tile or ceramic bit to make a starter hole inside the tile. They can cut fancy shapes and are faster than wire saws. How do i smooth the rims? Holding the bottle firmly, but not in a death-grip manner, slowly move the bottle toward the blade. Nippers are the ideal tools for cutting small pieces out of tile if you … Reply I did not see anyone suggest filing the edges to smooth them. If not, give me a poke, and I'll try to do a better job. For those who haven't any common sense, allow me to remind you of the need to be of sound mind with all your senses in check before proceeding. It was very easy. No wires, no candles or flame, no torches or shattered glass after all that work. Can't say what kind … Feel free to check out my FaceBook page, or my Instagram page. Tips for cutting glass bottles with a tile saw. My personal manner of holding the bottle is with both hands. Like you said. Hopefully, they will be knowledgeable, and can help you select a good blade. The bottle in the middle is often bears Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux  blends and such. See how easy that was? Once you begin cutting into the angled neck of the bottle, it is more difficult to keep the bottle flat and straight, thus you must rely on your hands to hold the bottle straight for cutting. If you arent dead centered, you run the risk of cutting one side of the neck too short, generally causing it to be very weak (& in my case, break easily!). She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Let the tool do the work. Stay tuned, I'll soon be adding instructions for melting them in a kiln. hi there, has anyone used this method to slice the bottoms off cut glass decanters? $26.48 $ 26. It’s a piece of portable equipment paired with a circular blade, a mounted table, a water pump, and a hose that consistently drenches the cutting zone with the flow of water. When you use the term 'glass dust', I am concerned. Speaking of hands, I feel much more comfortable using bare hands. 3 years ago. Don’t force the wine bottle into the blade too fast. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. Tile that is made of stone or a stone-like substance can be fairly difficult to cut through because regular saws will either overheat or kick up a truly impressive amount of dust -- which can, in turn, gum up the saw and damage your lungs if inhaled. Can you use this method to cut a bottle lengthwise - from neck to base? This tutorial is based on use of a 7" QEP wet tile saw. In the remainder of my life, I am a mother of two handsome grown men, a wife to a very patient man, a nana of two precious grandchildren, c…, How to Make Charcuterie Boards Using Clear Acrylic Templates. The shape allows for more straight cutting and a taller cylinder. 2. Redecorating your home may make a mirror too large for your new space. :-), Reply For those planning to make many rings, record the placement of the rip guide with a permanent marker. Keep in mind, you don't have to work with the tiny section at the top of the bottle. 4 years ago, Hi there! When you hear that crackling sound, you know the glass cutter is scoring the ceramic surface of the tile. They are inexpensive, easy to operate and in my opinion, fun to use. These are better options for cutting glass tiles because they use rotating wheels to cut the glass instead of two blades, which may crush a glass tile. If you are in need of a straight cut on a glass bottle, especially a wine bottle, this is right up your alley! I have filed the edges of cut glass for years and it makes the edges nice and smooth, though no longer shiny. But if you are looking to cut off the top section, depending on the size of the bottle, you may not be able to reach it with the blade. We saw a youtube video where the woman just pushed the bottle through, we did this, but the cut ended up being all jagged. This will give you the most control of your blade. It's more difficult, and takes quite a bit of precision. Chips in the glass, well, that doesn't sound good, either. Score the tile. Wire saw. However, you have to remember that some mosaics may crack or you may have some glass popping off the top surface no matter how carefully you cut. I have cut all of my bottles but now the challenge is smoothing out the rough glass at the rims. eg. Tile cutters are available in both electric and manual types, and are used to cut ceramic wall and floor tile. Most saws come with both inch and centimeter marks. Cutting it at a tilted angle is not my favorite thing to do, with regard to safety. Prepare the tile that you want to cut or measure the area that is to be cut if you’re looking to remove it from the surface. First, I want to make absolutely certain that you are using a wet tile saw. Ensure the water reservoir is full, make sure it stays that way every chance you get. Reply I am so happy to see this, I have been collecting the bottles and dragging my feet on trying to cut manually. If you can switch the blade to a glass-cutting blade, which is encrusted with tiny diamonds that cut through the glass without cracking or chipping it, you can use a tile cutter … You are correct -glass tile and wet saws don’t get along. Wow, I can't believe there are still comments coming in on this old Instructable. As my intention for the cut glass is for a later project, if you seek only to cut the top from a wine bottle to use as a glass, you'll find step #3 to be what you need. When you begin to cut the glass, always start away from you and cut toward you. You can cut tile faster, easier, and with more precision than manual tile cutters. Babies, pets and other critters under feet are not a good idea while using the saw. Keep in mind that thicker bottles will require more cutting time. Thanks WUVIE! It is not wasteful to use another bottle as long as you return the scraps to the nearest recycling center. After you work, be sure to clean your hands and arms and put on lotion, as they will feel as though you have been handling chalk all day. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. on Introduction, Hi Chrissy, you may need to use a bit of wet sanding paper to smooth the edges, or it may be a blade issue. on Introduction. | Home Guides | SF Gate Its exactly what i needed after lots of frustration with glass cutting techniques that didnt work. 1. Cutting remarks (cutting glass with a tile saw) It’s all in the way you slice it. So far I have cut two bottles, but am not feeling I am doing it correctly. Oil lubricates glass tile cutters, so they slice through the glass cleanly without chipping or crushing it. I know I will have to rotate the bottle. Firmly press the edge of the glass cutter or carbide pencil along the line, using a carpenter square as a guide. After you mark your cut line, use the scoring tool to scratch that line into the surface … Glass tiles, which are also ordinary glass, can be cut by scoring with a glass cutter or with a tile saw fitted with a glass cutting blade. It is an electrically operated saw which works with water. Tiles saws are not that expensive to purchase, and are relatively easy to operate. You'll have the coolest, tinkling, green chimes in town! It was created years ago when I had nothing but an inexpensive digital camera. I cut liquor bottles neck to base quite a bit. Wet saw. The relatively small investment of $79 – $99 fits nicely in most people’s budgets. Be very careful, and be sure to check back in to tell me (crossing fingers) that you are using a wet saw. Hello! Did you make this project? Pull the glass pieces off when cutting the granite in the saw. You definitely do not want to breathe glass dust, or even tile dust, for that matter. Tile saw cut through the bottle like it was butter! Glass dust on top after the water has drained back into the resevoir. In our case, we’ll use a wet tile saw to cut glass bottles. The rip guide is a bar which runs vertically across the saw table. And there is really no way to cut it—at least not without ruining its tempered quality. Hi, we are anxiously waiting for the instructions on using the kiln with those glass rings that you had cut! Good luck!! Shown in this post are examples of different bottle shapes. There is relatively little cleanup, and you don’t have to deal with flames, torches, glass shards or shattered glass. We will try your method of turning the bottle towards ourself through the blade. Before using any tool to cut tile, measure the glazed side of the tile to determine where you need to make the cut. In fact, it is nothing like an actual saw blade with teeth or sharp edges, it is rough to the touch, though. You will also need starter holes for the corners and sharp turns of your design, as well. So the question shouldn't be if one can use a wet saw but what one has to do in order to use a wet saw for glass tile. Put on some clothing you don't mind getting dirty and wet, grab your safety glasses, ear plugs and let's have fun! on Introduction. A diamond blade is best, but if you don't have one, just try to at least use a new blade, and work slowly, holding your glass to cut smoothly. Instead of purchasing a new mirror, you can cut the mirror you already have to make it fit the size and shape you need. Many home improvement stores offer wet tile saws; which are intended for use in cutting tiles for mosaic and other projects such as backsplashes, counter tops, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. Details, details, details for the techy: (7" QEP Wet Tile Saw) 120 Volts 60 Cycle 3600 RPM 4 Amps, Alright folks, you now have a bottle cut into rings. You will soon get the hang of it. While I have used a standard, inexpensive blade intended for tiles, there is a blade available which is called a diamond blade. Slightly unscrew the knob, adjust each side of the rip guide, making certain they are both the same, tighten knobs. Wet saw, works best. If you have a larger saw, you can pull the blade through the bottle, I still recommend a slight roll, it will keep your cut smooth and keep the last little bit from breaking. As you should have ear plugs in, you should still be able to barely hear the glass hitting the cutting wheel. A few types of circular saws, however, are designed for this kind of cutting. Not so easy. Thanks so much for this tutorial! Compared to tile cutters, wet saws are best for large projects. Manual Method Using a Nipper. Good for high production work but you can only go back and forth not side to side. Since mirrors are basically glass with a reflective backing, you can cut them with a diamond-tipped wet saw blade. Check any glassmaker’s forum and you’ll find someone whose tile saw cuts glass about as well as a wood chipper. FREE Shipping by Amazon. The wet saw is a must if you want to feel cutting glass tiles as if it was butter. And again! Wet saws can also cut harder tile materials. 48. Glass is more fragile than ceramic or porcelain tile, so work slowly to reduce the risk of damage. 5 years ago About: Let's skip the pretentious titles. The rationale for cutting glass tiles upside down is that the glass tile blade will cut … Once you get the neck and the bottom cut from the bottle, you’ll have a cylinder of glass that is the start point for lots of other projects. Hi will a 4 inch cutter work fine cutting the bottle ? Note the bottle shape allows for slightly over half the bottle length to be cut into rings easily. Continue cutting until you have reached the last section of the bottle which can be cut evenly, typically before the neck, until the bottle is completely cut into rings. You might want to save these hubs, who knows when a new idea may strike. If you are using a wet saw, make certain the reservoir is always full of clean water. Slowly, don't move too fast. They run a pattern bar through the thing and instead of slices, they get frit. When you first begin cutting a bottle from the bottom, keep in mind that you only need to cut through the glass enough to separate the rings, or in this case, the bottom, from the bottle. I have a blade on my wet saw intended for glass tile. Once the cutting wheel (or blade) has entered the bottle, slowly turn the bottle back towards you, as though you were going to roll it off the table towards your body. I used a brand new diamond blade in a wet saw but the edges definitely need smoothing still. Ordinary glass can be cut by scoring and snapping along the score. It's easy to find affordable diamond files these days, Harbor Freight for example, or online. After purchasing numerous gadgets and widgets to cut glass over the years, I finally discovered the joys of using a wet tile saw. It is used to cut tiles for flooring, bathroom, kitchen, and other mosaic projects. 1 year ago In other words, consumption of the bottle contents is fine, just not while doing this project. A Wet Tile Saw is a power tool that you can easily find at any home improvement store. Let's begin making those rings, shall we? Be very, very mindful and careful when cutting. If you are wondering how to cut porcelain tile without a wet saw, there are several ways of doing it. They are quite rough. Glass is one of the trickiest materials when it comes to tiles. The tool which you will need here to cut a glass bottle here is a 7" QEP Wet Tile Saw (120 Volts, 60 Cycle, 3600 RPM, 4 Amps). :-). Thank you, Thank you. The Right Blade. And speaking of recycling, don't feel guilty at all about only getting a few rings out of a bottle. These glass saws have a steel ribbon blade with a diamond coated front edge. Band saw. If you didn't cut quite straight, don't worry, you can carefully file it off using the saw or leave it as is, the kiln will likely melt away any imperfections. Hi - Can you use a 10" Diamond Blade instead of the 7"? Only 9 left in stock - order soon. Make sure that the cutting process is not too slow If the glass blade you are using is of high quality, … Another thing to note are the punts, which I lovingly refer to as nubs or hubs on the bottom inside many bottles.