Cutting glass is a difficult task. And it takes some special skills and equipment to properly cut a glass. In this article, we will take a look at whether you can cut glass with a tile saw.
This equipment is widely known to be multipurpose and handy. Today we will take a thorough look at how glasses respond when we use a tile saw on it.
Can you cut glass with a tile saw?
You can cut glass with a tile saw. But you will have to make sure that the blade of the tile saw has been replaced with glass-cutting blades. These blades have small diamonds on the edge that will cut the glass without chipping or breaking it giving a smooth finish.
Table of Contents
Let’s take a look at whether you can cut different kinds of glasses with a tile saw:
Tempered glass:
It is important to clarify that you will not be able to cut the glass if it is truly tempered. Tempered glasses are not designed to be cut. These glasses will blow up when you intend to cut them.
Tempered glasses will crack or blow up when you crack through their upper surface. So you cannot cut tempered glass with a tile saw, or any other saw for that matter.
And if you have been able to cut tempered glass with a wet tile saw, then the glass is most likely not tempered correctly. A well-tempered glass is not supposed to be cut.
Glass bottles:
Yes, you can cut a glass bottle with a tile saw. Tile saws will make any kind of craft job very easy. You can get quite creative with a glass bottle when you have a tile saw around.
Window glass:
You can cut a window glass with a tile saw. But you will have to make sure that the blade is right. A regular tile saw blade will not be able to cut through window glass. You will need a glass-cutting blade to get the job done.
Stained glass:
You can cut stained glass with a tile saw. But make sure to replace the regular blade with a glass-cutting blade. Otherwise, the job will not be done nicely.
Glass mosaic:
You can cut a glass mosaic with a tile saw as well. But note that in order to cut a glass mosaic, you will need a glass-cutting blade attached to the tile saw. Otherwise, you will not be able to cut the glass mosaic smoothly.
Toughened glass:
You can cut toughened glass with a tile saw. All you will need is to replace the blade with a glass-cutting blade before you begin the procedure.
This will ensure a smooth cut. Otherwise, you may break or chip the toughened glass.
Mirror:
Yes, you can cut a mirror with a tile saw. Mirrors are relatively easy to cut with a tile saw. You can simply attach a glass-cutting blade with it and cut it to the size and shape of your need.
What happens when you cut glass with a tile saw?
Glasses are among the most fragile materials for tiles. So you will have to be very careful when you’re using a tile saw on glass. It is better to be well versed in what might happen when you cut glass with a tile saw.
Here are some of the most common incidents that happen when you cut glass with a tile saw:
Crack:
The glass may crack as soon as you begin to cut it with a tile saw. This happens when you have not changed the blade. This incident may also happen when you are applying excessive pressure on the glass.
So you would want to be very gentle when you’re using a tile saw on glass, mirror, or a glass tile.
Chip:
The edges of the glass may chip or cut unevenly when you’re using a tile saw on the glass. This is a very common incident. It happens when you have not changed the blade of the tile saw with a glass-cutting blade.
Glass-cutting blades feature small diamonds on the sides. These diamonds help cut the edges nicely and smoothly without chipping. So make sure to get the blades changed before you put the tile saw in action.
Damage on the painted side:
Glass tiles may be damaged on the painted side when you’re using a tile saw on it. It happens when you have not cleaned the tile properly before cutting it.
The glass tile is likely to have some small grains and dust on its surface. These hinder the operation of the tile saw and cause the machine to malfunction. You can easily clean the tile with water or a glass cleaner.
How to cut glass with a tile saw?
Tile saws are not generally designed to cut glasses. But you can make some changes in the saw and cut glasses with it effortlessly. Before you use a tile saw on glass, make sure to change the blade.
Since glasses are among the most fragile materials on the planet, you should be very careful with the procedure. Here are the steps that you can follow to cut glasses with a tile saw.
Wash the glass:
The first step of the process involves washing the glass that you’re planning to cut and get it cleaned. It is important that you cut the glass thoroughly in order to make sure that the operation is done smoothly.
If you fail to clean the glass and if the glass has dust and grains on it, the tile saw may cause damage to the glass.
Replace the blade:
Replace the blade of the tile saw with a glass-cutting blade. These blades are specially designed to cut glasses.
The glass-cutting blades feature tiny diamonds along the edge that will prevent the glass from breaking or chipping as you cut through it. This is how you can cut glasses with a tile saw.
Mark your cut:
Now you will have to carefully mark the glass tile as you plan to cut it. Measure the size and shape that you’re planning to achieve.
These marks will help you operate the tile saw on the glass smoothly. You will also be able to avoid accidents if you follow this step.
Now you can proceed to cut the glass.
What saw cuts glass?
There are several kinds of saws that will cut glasses. You can use a wet saw or a tile saw to cut glass. The results will be quite similar if you follow the steps properly.
A wet saw is a great tool for cutting glass tiles. This is especially useful if you’re cutting a large area of glass. A wet saw is also very time-effective as it gets the job done quite smoothly.
The saw is named wet saw because it releases water while operating. This flow of water will minimize friction. It also cools down the cutting edge and minimizes any risk of breakage along the cutting edge.
Moreover, you can use a tile saw to cut glass. Tile saws are a great tool for cutting glasses of almost all kinds, of all sizes. You can cut small mirrors as well as large glass tiles with a tile saw.
How to cut glass without chipping?
Chipping glasses while cutting them is a very common incident. But if you’re careful and follow the instructions properly, you will be able to avoid it altogether. Here are some steps that you can follow to cut glass without chipping:
Use a glass-cutting blade:
One of the most common mistakes that people make while cutting glass is using a regular blade for the job. It is essential that you use a glass-cutting blade to cut glasses.
Glasses are very fragile. You should use a glass-cutting blade because they are specially designed for this purpose.
These blades have tiny diamonds along the edge that will offer a smooth cut. The diamonds are primarily designed to avoid chipping or cracking of any kind.
Clean the glass:
Make sure to clean the glass thoroughly. You should use a glass cleaner as well as water to get rid of any dust or tiny grains from the surface.
Grains will leave a rough edge on the glass. Grains and dust will hinder the operation of a tile saw.
You may even end up with a bad chip or a crack along the edge of the glass. So make sure to run a thorough clean before you begin cutting the glass with a tile saw.
Final Thoughts
You can cut glass with a tile saw. But you will have to be very careful with it as tile saws are not primarily designed to cut glasses. But if you make a few changes in the machine, you can cut almost all kinds of glasses with a tile saw, from a mirror to stained glass.