How to cut tempered glass with your own hands

Cut the tempered glass in the usual sense is impossible. After quenching, the material changes its properties. Toughened glass is more known to the average consumer under the name "safe." Cutting it in the traditional sense will cause the material to simply collapse into many small fragments. However, despite the existing restrictions, with a great desire for such a material is quite successfully cut. The work boils down to the fact that the glass is first annealed, and after that it is cut. Then, if desired, the glass can be re-potted to make it again very durable and safe.

The difference of tempered glass from the usual.

What you need to know about tempered glass before cutting it?

Tempered glass is characterized by increased durability. It is used for glazing balconies, loggias and light openings. From this material create a variety of furniture and translucent structures. If necessary, cut off tempered glass should be carefully prepared for this process, carefully examining all the features of the event.

The first step is to study the properties of tempered glass. At its core, it is a thermally polished material. Unpolished and polished glass sheets are used for its manufacture. Directly quenching is carried out in specially designed furnaces.

Cutting glass should be done on a flat surface with a cloth or a sheet of paper.

In this unit, the glass is heated to 680 degrees. At this temperature, there is a partial softening of the material. Next is the rapid cooling of the glass under the influence of uniform air flow. First cools the surface layer. The internal ones in the process are subject to residual compressive stress. Thanks to him, as a result, tempered glass becomes so heat-resistant and mechanically durable.

According to the averaged data, the strength of tempered glass is about 6 times higher than that of ordinary material. To break it without wanting to do it intentionally is quite difficult. Even if the product made of tempered glass breaks, the material will turn into many small fragments without sharp edges, so it will not work to hurt about them as it would have been in the case of ordinary glass.

All stages of work, including the processing of edges, carried out on the production. This is done even before sending glass to the furnace for hardening. After all related activities are completed, the hardened material is not subject to any mechanical stress. If you want to change anything, you will first need to perform glass annealing.

Patterns of movement of the glass cutter on glass.

The scope of such material is quite extensive. Tempered glass is popular in the construction and glazing of door and window openings; shower cabins, furniture and other structures are made of it. So if you plan to make durable and reliable glazing, but do not have the skills to cut tempered glass, study the proposed instructions in detail and do everything in accordance with the manual. If you think that such a process is too complicated for you, it is better to immediately turn to the services of a specialized company to order products of the desired shape and size, with all the required cuts and holes.

So is it possible to cut the glass after quenching?

In fact, tempered glass can be cut. But for this you need to properly prepare, so as not to result in a solid sheet on the mass of parts with blunt edges. To destroy a sheet, it is enough just to hit its end face with any suitable object. To change the size of the product, create cuts and other things, you need to adhere to the technology and, first of all, directly study the properties of tempered glass.

Example 1. Tempered glass cutting technology.

The technology of making tempered glass is such that in the process of its production zones are formed called areas of internal stress. When heated and further rapidly cooled, the stress zones are redistributed. As a result of such changes, the inner layers retain the characteristics of a liquid body, while remaining viscous, and the outer ones become much more durable when compared with simple glass that has not undergone the hardening procedure.

When applying point shocks to the end zones, the next redistribution of the existing stresses occurs. Because of the microcracks, the integrity of the sheet is broken, so that if improperly applied, even the weakest impact will lead to the emergence of extensive spider webs of various sizes. Glass will simply collapse with the slightest external effort. This principle is the basis for glass for cars: they are easily broken by a sharp blow with a sharp object. The film makes the glass safety: it holds the fragments and does not allow them to harm the driver.

Thus, the tempered glass gets its special properties directly in the hardening process. According to the technology, at first the material is cut into the necessary pieces, holes are made, they form and then they are hardened. Experts recommend refraining from further machining. However, if you are serious and categorical, first prepare the tools and remember the important nuances of cutting tempered glass.

Preparation for cutting: important points

In the hands of an inexperienced craftsman who wants to cut tempered glass, the product will instantly shatter into many pieces. The only effective option is cutting with a laser. However, at home it is hardly possible to find such a device. Therefore, it is necessary to go another way that requires preliminary annealing of the glass. The instruction will be given below.

Receptions cutting glass line.

It is important to take into account the fact that as the re-annealed glass cools, its outer part will cool faster than the inner one. If the surface of the glass has cooled, it does not confirm the readiness of the inside of the material. Due to the slow cooling of the glass, a large amount of stress is prevented from forming in it. This makes it possible to obtain a cut of higher quality. This moment must be taken into account when self-cutting tempered glass.

To do this complex work you will need the following:

1. Directly tempered glass.
2. Warm water.
3. Bake.
4. Thermostat The presence of this element is desirable, but you can do without it.
5. Marker.
6. Square.
7. Grinding stone.
8. Glass cutter
9. Wooden rod There will be enough products with a diameter of 6 mm.
10. Protective glasses.

Step-by-step instructions for cutting tempered glass

Cutting tempered glass involves the preliminary annealing of this material. The process involves uniform heating of tempered glass. The main task of this stage is to eliminate the stresses that appeared in the material during the previously performed quenching. It is these stresses that are the main obstacle to cutting safety glass. Get rid of them - you can implement the planned.

Annealing is performed in the following order. First, the glass is soaked in water with a constant temperature. It is necessary to soak until the temperature corresponding to the viscosity in the furnace unit is reached. It is η = 1013 poise. The time required for soaking depends on how large a piece of glass you are going to cut.

Example 2. Tempered glass cutting technology.

Glass brands Bullseye, Effetre and Lauscha soaked at a temperature of +504 degrees Celsius. Borosilicate glass requires a higher soaking temperature, +566 degrees. And for glass brand Satake optimal temperature is +477 degrees. It takes an average of 20 minutes to soak small beads. Larger beads must be kept for an hour. The paperweight of the big size is maintained 12 hours and more. Especially large products weighing 40 kg and more in some situations require quenching for a period of several months.

The glass must be gradually cooled to a temperature below the deformation temperature. It is equal to η = 1014.5 poise. The process must be carried out rather slowly in order to avoid additional stresses. Satake glasses are cooled at a temperature of +399 degrees Celsius. For cooling products of other brands suitable temperature equal to +427 degrees. The glass must be cooled in an oven to room temperature.

Wear safety glasses and start cutting annealed glass. Take the square, mark the line of cut. The square must be kept along the left line. Cut the glass cutter along the line. Press down with medium force, making a scratch along the marking line. Along the line is allowed to hold only 1 time.

Next you need to take a wooden rod 6 mm in diameter, put it under the cutting line and apply a quick and sharp pressing force on both sides. If done correctly, the glass will break into 2 neat pieces. The edges of the obtained parts must be machined with a grinding stone. This will make the product more durable and safer.

If desired, the glass is subjected to re-hardening. It is better if this work will be done by a professional. The procedure requires the availability of relevant skills and special equipment, so a beginner simply cannot cope with it.

Since the process of cutting tempered glass, which in practice is cutting annealed glass, is multi-step, you can simplify your task by buying simple glass, cutting off the necessary sections from it or preparing the desired holes and tempering it. This will save money, time and effort.

The thermostat was mentioned in the list of necessary tools and devices. It is needed to maintain the temperature in the furnace at a constant level. You can do without him, but it's easier with him.

Thus, cutting hot glass is very difficult. If you do not want to spoil the finished product, better order a new tempered glass, or cut the usual material, and then perform or order its hardening. Have a good job!