Breaking and Grossing Pliers
To go with a glass cutter you will need a good pair of combination
glass grossing and breaking pliers. Breaking pliers are used
to grip and break the extra glass after the score is made. They
become an extension of the fingers to grip without crushing the
glass. Breaking pliers are the next most valuable tool after
the glass cutter for use in small piece, foil wrap work.
Every score made around each small glass part must be griped
and broken away. Grossing pliers enable you to chip away and
trim the glass with a rolling wrist movement, to finish small
inside cuts, true up trim and bevel the edge. They are excellent
for gripping to break out small inside cuts.
The highest quality grossing pliers and the best I have found
are made by Knipex in Germany. They come in several widths, the
narrow 3/16" width is perfect for making lamps. They are
constructed of soft iron, with teeth arranged on the gripping
surface.
3/16" narrow breaking and grossing pliers
Experienced glass craftsmen use a combination of accurate glass
scoring and breaking, then use grossing pliers for the final
trimming. The less you must use a grinder the easier glass cutting
becomes.
For economy attempt the most difficult cuts first, also cut the
larger pieces first using the scrap for smaller pieces.
Pattern mark should be on scrap
Example #1 The inside cut
is the most difficult. Each cut is numbered in sequence. A straight
cut #1 is made across the inside cut. This is broken away leaving
glass on both sides of the inside cut. Inside cut #2 is then
scored and broken out using the corner of your breaking pliers.
Work any protruding glass down with grossing pliers, a hand stone
or a grinding machine.
Example #2 Again each cut is numbered in sequence. Scores
3, 4, and 5, show breaking plier grip areas marked with an X.
Grip the glass away from the narrow pointed ends so the break
will be toward the narrowest part.
Example #3 The inside cut on this piece is too deep
to break out in one piece. Two score lines are made, then use
the corner of the pliers to break out in sequence 2 and 3.
Example #4 Leave extra glass on each side. Make a series
of score lines #1-#10. Carefully nibble and break away glass
with the corner of the pliers. Your fingers holding the glass
must grip firmly and close to the nose of the pliers.
Compare each glass piece with the paper pattern. The glass
piece should be of equal size or slightly smaller than the paper
pattern. Use grossing pliers as much as you can, then grind where
needed. Rinse each piece and towel dry.
Compare each glass piece with the paper pattern. The glass piece
should be of equal size of slightly smaller than the paper pattern.
Cutting Gridwork Freehand without a Jig
Many lamp designs have gridwork. These pieces may be cut out
separately or together. Pattern groups allow the grain flow of
the glass to extend from one piece to another. For fast, easy
cutting, background may be assembled in strips either horizontally
or vertically. Assemble grid vertically so that color flow and
grain extends from one part to the next. Try to keep the same
amount of glass on each side of the score line.
Supplies needed: scissors, glass marking pen or pencil,
sticky tape, cellophane tape, glass cutter, ruler. This method
of cutting out grid work differs from using a jig. All the scoring
is done freehand a line is drawn on the glass, glass is
scored on the inside or center of the line without using a straight
edge.
Always push the cutter as you score so you can see where you
are scoring.
Vertical: Arrange the background pieces together similar
illustration with no space between. Fasten together with cellophane
tape. Notch out between the pieces so a line can be drawn on
the glass with a straight edge. Score in the center of this
line between the parts.
Tape pattern together with pattern pieces arranged to cut gridwork
vertically.
Score, break and check fit of one section before proceeding
with the balance of the parts. Fig. 3 illustrates how patterns
can be grouped together and then cut apart.
Horizontal: First cut a strip of glass that is equal to
the height of each piece. The height of the pieces in each row
around the lamp will be the same; however, not all the rows in
a lamp will be the same height. Mark each grid pattern on the
glass while turning the pattern end over end until you have enough
to cover one sectional form or one pattern repeat. Make adjustments
if necessary and cut out the number you will need for the entire
lamp. Overlap the grid pattern pieces so that adjoining pieces
share a score line.
Arrange grid work pattern on strips, mark and score
Cutting Strips
To make strips for gridwork and borders. Measure and lay out
the strips in pairs of 2, 4, 8, 16, etc. This keeps the same
amount of glass (mass) on each side of the score line. Score
using a ruler or jig starting in the center each time. Run the
score to break them apart. Use running pliers on strips that
are too narrow to run the score line with your hands.
Start cutting in the center of each strip
Glass Grinders and Routers
There are several machines on the market designed for grinding
away small amounts of glass in making the final fit. By using
a machine, a craftsman new to small piece glass lamp construction
can do a professional job on the first project. Grind any uneven
edges to the score line. The marks around the pattern should
end up on the scrap. Wash and dry.
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