The Stained Glass Cutter Tool - The Right Glass Cutter is Key to Your Projects

You want to ensure you are holding your cutter correctly as you score (meaning you can see the wheel) as well.

Let's discuss some glass cutter tips and find the right cutter that suits you best so that you are able to master this step of the stained glass making process.

Two things right off the bat you'll want to focus on as you cut is to make sure the stained glass cutter tool is perpendicular to the glass and you can see the wheel matched up to the line you are cutting - no matter the type of cutter you're using.

Be sure to read the breaking & cutting glass tips article if you need help in that area.

Although we've heard it utilized without oil, we are fans of using oil and making sure our stained glass cutter tool is always lubricated which helps it run smoothly.

This is for a number of reasons such as it keeps the wheel preserved so it lasts longer. It also avoids the little glass chips from shooting all over the place or getting in between the wheel and shaft of the cutter.

Believe it or not, working with the flow of the oil and your cutter is critical. You'll want to play with it. We tend to fill the cutter about half full (not entirely full) and loosen the cap just enough to help the flow of oil. Try different ways, but tightening the cap all the way or keep it off will

either make the oil run too fast or you won't get any at all - not what you want. If you'd prefer we've also used an oil soaked cloth and run the wheel over the cloth before every other score or so to keep the wheel lubricated.

What kind of oil? There is a special kind of oil if you have a glass shop close by or buy it off the web. We use lamp oil because we have a lot of kerosene lamps around our house and it seems to work great.

How to take care of your cutter so it lasts a long time: leave it upright when not using it, don't pull out the string when you take your stained glass cutter tool apart - this is the wick that assists with the oil through the chamber to the wheel, try to keep the cutter free of glass shards that might get lodged in there, keep an eye out of a dull wheel - if you're using more and more pressure it's time to replace it, and finally if your cutter is leaking oil then it may be that you have too much oil in the chamber.

Maintain your tools and they'll last a long time.

Types of Cutters

**Pistol Grip Cutters - this is what we use as it's very comfortable to handle. The pros to this cutter is it's easy to use for cutting curves, is self-lubricating, easy to hold and manage as you cut, and protects your hands/wrists from fatigue.

**Pencil Grip Cutters - This is a very popular form of cutter that comes in many brands both oil based and non-oil based. These types of cutters are held much like a pencil or in between your pointer and middle fingers. You can use your thumb for support. This cutter is lightweight, yet your fingers can get very sore after a while. You'll typically find the handles in brass or acrylic.

**Dry Wheel Cutter - This type of stained glass cutter tool is great for cutting sheets of glass. If you don't like the oil, this one is oil free. We've found that this typically outlasts many cutters, the handle is comfortable to hold, it's easy to use, creates a consistent score line, and the head is easily replaceable.

**Toyo Custom Grip & Thomas Grip Cutters - Toyo is a brand that is top of the line and one that we have used and recommend.

**Steel Wheel Glass Cutter - Another type of cutter that is used by artists who prefer the non-oil based cutting.

If you have trouble cutting or hate cutting, then there are a couple of products that you might want to check out: Score One and Cutter's Mate.

These may be a great alternative if you are having trouble with your cutting or have hand-strength problems since cutting does take quite a bit of pressure and technique.

Learn more about other stained glass supplies & tools

Do You Have a Stained Glass Question or Answer?

Learning to make stained glass brings about a lot of questions as you go. Finding quality answers quickly will make the process more enjoyable. Ask and answer questions here so everyone can benefit - we have found that there are many ways to create stained glass!