WarmGlass.com

I just tried cutting two glass slabs with my tile saw and ran into a problem. The first slab was about 1 inch thick (consistently) and about 10 inches long. I made one cut just fine. However, the second cut started out fine for about the first 3 inches, then the glass broke off and the blade flexed and jammed (either that, or the blade flexed first and broke off the glass). When I say flexed, I mean that the blade instead of cutting straight, flexes so it looks like it cuts at a 45 degree angle to the original cut. This happened on all subsequent cuts. The second glass slab varied in thickness from 2.5 inches to about 1/2 inch. The slices I was cutting off both slabs were 1/4 inch thick. I was using a result blade from HIS glassworks and a new MK 101 saw. The blade is fairly flexible. The blade looks to be running true and the cutting table slides straight. I go what I think is VERY slow when I'm cutting. I can't figure out what is going on. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you for your help.
Charlotte

I am not sure which thickness Result blade you are using, but with either, you might try getting some blade stiffeners from HIS. They are just metal discs that go on either side of the blade and give it more rigidity.

Also, make sure that you are pushing equally with both hands on the table. I have found that if I am pushing harder with one hand or the other, I will start getting uneven, wonky cuts and even breakage.

Hope this helps.

Lisa

An interruption in the water supply (or not enough water) could do exactly that . Metal failure in the blade is a possibility; the blades do lose their temper (no, not like we do).
For slabbing you should use a thicker blade. I'm not sure that a thin blade with stiffeners is going to be much of an improvement.
Do you have some sort of cushion inbetween the glass and the table? Newspaper works well- it'll give you a solid bed that will compensate for any irregularities in the bottom of the slab that would flex the blade.
As far as speed goes, if you can hear the motor slow down, you should too.
Sometimes I think we weren't meant to do these things with glass...
good luck, Marty

Thanks Martyand Lisa. I'll try your suggestions. It's so discouraging to end up with a pile of glass pieces instead of slabs. At least I can say that my garage floor is clean!

Tile Saw Rookie

If your blade is flexing and binding you are pushing too hard for the machine. The bit about two hands is totally right. Listen to the motor, through your earplugs!
One tip: that second slab, start your cut in the 1/2" section and cut towards the thickness; the slice will be less likely to drop off from it's own weight.
The tile saw can find any flaw in your work