WarmGlass.com

Hello !
I have a question about trimming the edges of finished piece using water jet or laser cutting. I did fusing and slumping in one firing using a mold I constructed myselt. I cut the glass larger than the desired shape to leave about 3.5 cm of glass resting on the border for the glass to sag easily inside the mold without accumulating in the bottom. The result was OK , and now I want to trim the edges. If I use a simple glass cutter the result is not guaranteed. Can I do the trimming using water jet, or laser cutting at a specialized shop? Thanks to all !

Most of us just use abrasives, either diamond or silicon carbide. If you've got a friend with a water jet, go for it.

It can work with a waterjet but will likely cost you $100 to get it done. (based on local waterjet pricing)

As MArty said abrasives is likely a better way to go, you can spend the cash on something that'll be useful for years to come.

Since it is straight edges, you might also consider finding someone that has a glass cutting bandsaw and trim the edges that way, then cold work the edges. Unless you use abrasives to polish, you will probably need to fire polish (in case you hadn't thought of that)... even a water jet cut would need cold working on the edges.

Mike

Mike Jordan wrote:Since it is straight edges, you might also consider finding someone that has a glass cutting bandsaw and trim the edges that way, then cold work the edges. Unless you use abrasives to polish, you will probably need to fire polish (in case you hadn't thought of that)... even a water jet cut would need cold working on the edges.

Mike

It is a paradox that not too many workshops in Egypt use bandsaws but more sophosticated machines are abundant because of the well established marble industry. What temperature would you suggest for fire polishing an already slumped piece? Should I keep it inside the original mold to avoid distortion?

Yes, keep it in the original mold. Otherwise you will unslump it.

Many thanks for your ideas. They were very helpful !

Maggie Abdel Rahman wrote:clip
because of the well established marble industry.

makes sense. I do recall that they've been cutting stone for a few years in that particular corner of the world.

I think they copied Havi's pyramids, too. Jen

The only issue I see is how you set the piece on the waterjet machine. The machine will cut plumb, relative to it's level base. Usually they put some solid throw away material beneath the glass that gets cut along with the glass. Your issue is to get the glass to sit stable and at the right angle. I have routinely cut thick fused glass on a waterjet machine.

I think they (the workshop) will have to invert the piece and cut around the original shape or, as you mentioned, put some kind of support under the flat areas