How To Cut Tempered Glass screen protector scissors

It is impossible to cut tempered glass in the usual sense. After hardening, the material changes its properties. Tempered glass is best known to the average consumer as “safe.” It is cutting in the traditional sense will lead to the material collapsing into many small fragments. However, despite the existing restrictions, with great desire. In this article, we will give you a complete guide about how to cut tempered glass.

The work comes down to the fact that the glass is first annealed and then cut. How to cut tempered glass is worth preparing everything you need. The process requires precision and attention. Otherwise, the material can collapse into hundreds of small pieces.

Table of Contents

How to cut tempered glass

Modern architectural structures are now appearing in different parts of the world. Amaze us with their lightness, transparency, and unique appeal. This is the merit not only of concrete and metal structures but also of large glass surfaces. But a beautiful appearance is, of course, good, but what about the quality and reliability of these structures? After all, the use of ordinary glass in the construction of monumental buildings is by no means safe. For the health and life of people. To solve this problem, tempered glass, a product of modern technologies, is called upon. That is why this material has become so widespread in the construction industry.

Strained glass – this is sheet glass that has undergone a particular chemical and heat treatment. In this regard, is it several times superior to conventional glass in terms of mechanical strength? And resistance to sudden temperature changes? When broken, tempered glass crumbles into tiny particles. That are safe for human life and health.

Tempered glass production is carried out in special furnaces. The raw materials are sheets of any glass: unpolished, polished, matte, tinted, or patterned. It soft and then cooled evenly quickly. Thus, the mechanical strength and heat resistance of tempered glass is ensured.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass can withstand sudden temperature changes from -70 ° C to 250 ° C. This property, in turn, is precious in the harsh Siberian conditions. In Siberia, the air temperature in winter can drop to -40 ° С outside. While inside the building, it is + 30 ° С. Ordinary glass often does not withstand such a temperature difference.

The material can maintain its integrity and physical characteristics with a slow increase in temperature to 1800 ° C. In this regard, how to cut tempered glass? Tempered glass has become widespread in the field of fire protection glazing as the primary material. And as a result of heat treatment. Even if the tinted glass has undergone tempering, it still does not lose its optical characteristics.

Tempered glass is increasingly used in the decoration of offices and public buildings. Reception counters, office partitions, booklet stands, various types of stands, etc., are made. However, modern buildings and structures made of concrete and glass must be beautiful and safe. Using high-strength tempered glass in their construction, developers not only give a tribute to fashion. But also take care of the safety of people.

How to cut tempered glass: properties of glass

The first feature that makes the tempered glass very popular is its increased strength. In addition, this material serves as a raw material for the manufacture of translucent structures and furniture. And experienced specialists work on the stack itself. So what to do when the material needs to be cut at home? First of all, you will need to study its properties.

Essentially, glass is a thermally polished material. Inside the unit, it heats up to approx. 670 ° C. Under these conditions, the upper layers of the glass become softer. First of all, the upper sections of the material excellent. At the same time, the inner zones succumb to intense stress and shrink. After such processing, the material becomes more durable and heat-resistant.

Tempered material is 7 times stronger than regular glass. Therefore, it is pretty difficult to damage the surface after hardening unless you do it deliberately. Even in cases where the material does break, it shatters into small pieces with blunt edges. At the end of quenching, it cannot undergo any changes.

There are quite a few areas of application for such material. The great demand for glass makes more and more people learn how to work with it.

Can the glass be cut after tempering?

Despite the opinions of some “experts,” it is possible to cut glass after tempering. You need to prepare for its implementation carefully. To break the glass, you need to hit it hard. But to give it the desired shape, it will take much more effort and spend a lot of time.

Due to the peculiarities of the production technology, zones are formed on the glass. As a result, the layers inside become similar to a liquid body with specific viscosity. The outer layers, on the other hand, become more rigid and more durable. In order not to violate the integrity of the sheet, you need to handle it extremely carefully.

This principle can be observed in cases of road traffic accidents. The film helps to make car glass safer. How to cut tempered glass &takes on all its characteristics when tempered. And only after that, they start hardening. Many experts advise not to further process the material. Nevertheless, if it becomes necessary to cut an already hardened material.

Getting started – what tools are needed?

Often, in the hands of beginners, hardened material falls into disrepair precisely because of haste and lack of experience. But not everyone can afford to buy such a device. In this regard, you will have to look for another way out. Many experts advise using the pre-annealing method. This will allow you to accurately cut the glass and use it for its intended purpose.

It is necessary to take into account the feature that when the annealed material is cooled. It is outer side will cool much faster than the inner one. If the surface has completely cooled down, this does not mean that the inner part is ready for cutting.

To do the job correctly, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:

a piece of tempered glass
warm, clean water
bake
a thermostat. However, if it is not there, then you can cut the material without it
square
marker
grinding stone
glass cutter
wood rod with a diameter of not more than 6 mm
glasses for protection.

Having prepared everything you need, get to work. In the process of cutting, adhere to safety rules to not damage the skin of your hands and face.

How to cut tempered glass: Cutting material

This process involves uniform heating of the surface of the material. Thus, it will be possible to eliminate the stress that has formed as a result of hardening. It is the stresses that become the main obstacles to the precise cutting of the material. First, heat the water and keep it warm. Higher temperatures require borosilicate material. Satake glass requires less heat – about 470 ° C. Small beads will take no more than 30 minutes on average to soak. The most significant products, the weight of which exceeds 50 kg.

The final temperature of the finished glass should be slightly below the temperature limit at which the glass deforms. This figure is on average 1014.5 Poise. Again, do all work very slowly to avoid the slightest stress. For cooling, you will need an oven in which the temperature of the material must drop to room temperature. After the glass has cooled down, please put on your glasses and start cutting them. To do this, take a square and outline the notch line.

Material cutting

This process involves uniform heating of the surface of the material. Thus, it will be possible to eliminate the tension that has formed as a result of extinction. It is the stresses that become the main obstacles to the precise cutting of the material. Carry out annealing in a particular order. To start, heat the water and maintain its temperature. Cutting different grades requires a specific temperature.

A higher temperature requires borosilicate material, which must be immersed in water at a temperature of 567 ° C. Satake brand glass requires less heating – about 470 °. C. To soak tiny pearls, on average, it will take no more than 30 minutes. More oversized products weighing more than 50 kg sometimes have to be kept in boiling water for several months.

The final temperature of the finished glass should be slight. This figure is on average 1014.5 Poise. Again, do all the work very slowly to avoid any stress. After the glass has cooled, put on your glasses and start cutting them. To do this, take a square and draw a cutting line.

Be very careful, as you can only cut the glass along the line once. The next step is to take the rod. Place it strictly under the cut line and make a strong push on both sides of the glass. According to the algorithm, if you did everything exactly according to the algorithm, the material will break into two neat and even parts.

If there is time and desire, then the glass can be tempered again. However, it is best to trust a specialist who has both skills and equipment. Because the tempered glass cutting process is quite lengthy and complicated, many proceed differently.

Is it possible to cut the glass after it has been tempered?

Despite the opinions of some “specialists,” it is possible to cut glass after tempering. However, for the work to be successful, it is necessary to prepare for its implementation carefully. To break the glass, just hit hard. But to give it the desired shape will take much more effort, and a lot of time will pass.

In connection with the peculiarities of manufacturing technology, zones are formed on the glass. During heating and with further cooling. As a result, the layers inside become like a liquid body with specific viscosity. The outer layers, on the contrary, become more complex and more robust. To not violate the integrity of the sheet, it is necessary to handle it with extreme care.

This principle can be observed in the event of an accident. For example, the glass of a car scatters from a sharp object. Making automotive glass safer helps the film. Tempered glass acquires all its characteristics when tempered. And only then do they begin to harden. Therefore, many experts advise against further processing of the material. However, if it is necessary to cut material that has already hardened. It is possible to do this by adhering to specific recommendations.