Post by Starguy on Feb 11, 2014 23:27:22 GMT -5
Because of some questions in a post on another thread, I thought I would share some experience that I assumed everybody already knew. You can trim most slabs with a common glass cutter.
Just score the slab close to where you want the trim line to go then break it like you would with a piece of glass. It's extremely easy and faster than using a trim saw. You also save your expensive trim saw blades.
In order to do this, place your slab on a wood board with any slab end protrusions off the end of the board. You want the best part of the slab fully supported, not propped up on a rough chunk where the slab saw came out of the rock. Use a straight edge to guide the glass cutter and score the slab where you want to trim it.
On large pieces, you can now break them by hand along the scored line. Put the scored line near the edge of your piece of wood and gently push. Snap, good clean trim. No kerf waste. On smaller pieces, you will probably need to use a pair of pliers. I'm kind of partial to a small set of vice-grips.
You can actually use this method to trim gentle curves. Try that with a trim saw! It takes a little more nibbling, but I think it's even faster than making straight scores. You can get really close to the shape you are trying to cab.
Warning: This method won't work with fibrous slabs like tigereye or jade. You also need to be a little careful with weathered fortification agate. If you can feel the texture of the fortifications, you need to make sure you can score the slab deep. Multiple passes with the glass cutter helps.
It works extremely well with solid agate or jasper like bruneau or Montana moss agate. Go slow and don't make your first attempt on your best slab.
Here's a link to the heaviest duty glass cutter I have used. This one works good because you don't need a lot of hand strength to use it. Ordinary hardware store glass cutters work good too, but they are a little harder to hold onto and control. The Fletcher also has replaceable bits. They don't actually cut through the slab, they just make a weak spot for the slab to break.
www.amazon.com/Fletcher-Heavy-Duty-Glass-Cutter/dp/B000KWWUPG
I would love to see some feedback about what you guys think about this method. It's worked 99% for me. There must be others out there using this trim method.
thanks for looking.
Brent
Just score the slab close to where you want the trim line to go then break it like you would with a piece of glass. It's extremely easy and faster than using a trim saw. You also save your expensive trim saw blades.
In order to do this, place your slab on a wood board with any slab end protrusions off the end of the board. You want the best part of the slab fully supported, not propped up on a rough chunk where the slab saw came out of the rock. Use a straight edge to guide the glass cutter and score the slab where you want to trim it.
On large pieces, you can now break them by hand along the scored line. Put the scored line near the edge of your piece of wood and gently push. Snap, good clean trim. No kerf waste. On smaller pieces, you will probably need to use a pair of pliers. I'm kind of partial to a small set of vice-grips.
You can actually use this method to trim gentle curves. Try that with a trim saw! It takes a little more nibbling, but I think it's even faster than making straight scores. You can get really close to the shape you are trying to cab.
Warning: This method won't work with fibrous slabs like tigereye or jade. You also need to be a little careful with weathered fortification agate. If you can feel the texture of the fortifications, you need to make sure you can score the slab deep. Multiple passes with the glass cutter helps.
It works extremely well with solid agate or jasper like bruneau or Montana moss agate. Go slow and don't make your first attempt on your best slab.
Here's a link to the heaviest duty glass cutter I have used. This one works good because you don't need a lot of hand strength to use it. Ordinary hardware store glass cutters work good too, but they are a little harder to hold onto and control. The Fletcher also has replaceable bits. They don't actually cut through the slab, they just make a weak spot for the slab to break.
www.amazon.com/Fletcher-Heavy-Duty-Glass-Cutter/dp/B000KWWUPG
I would love to see some feedback about what you guys think about this method. It's worked 99% for me. There must be others out there using this trim method.
thanks for looking.
Brent