Smoothing Sharp, Rough Edges Of Cut Glass Question

Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy

"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy


wet/dry sandpaper on a sanding block if you only have a little to do. rub
the edge with another piece of glass will make it lots less sharp too.

belt sander or grinder if you have a lot.

If you you're doing it by hand, Emory cloth tape, or sand paper, with about
a med. grit. Coarse might cause chipping of the edge. If you're using a
machine of any kind you will need to add water to it

Randy Hansen
SC Glass Tech.
Scam Diego, Comi-fornia (what's left of it)




"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy

"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy


Whatever tools are mentioned, its the technique that smoothes it, and
without some kind of practice, and professional instruction, ( by that I
mean instruction from someone who KNOWS how to do it), you can make things
worse and irreversible. Get some hands on assistance in this one, even if
you have to go to the local glass guys, it will be worth it. Too difficult
to explain on a newsgroup. really simple once you see it done.

"Randy" wrote in message
news:KJBsb.204$iS6.23@fed1read04...
Randy Hansen
SC Glass Tech.
Scam Diego, Comi-fornia (what's left of it)

Your sig line sounds as if you might be just a weeeee bit disenchanted with
the Left Coast?

I agree with Randy H; for a small amount of sanding any old medium grit
sandpaper will do.
If hand rubbing a lot (or for other future work), a diamond hand sanding
block about 180 grit does an excellent job, and lasts for at least a year if
you are careful not to rub corners of glass in the same spot etc.
These are $22 here in Australia, and should be available from glazing supply
companies around the globe I imagine.
If using a machine, you should use water, and from glazing company suppliers
(or abrasives supplier) you should be able to get some silicone carbide
belts, made especially for glass sanding.
--
Regards,
Les
e-mail munged, remove the obvious to reply direct

These opinions are mine, not those of my employer.
It is the opinion of my employer that I should,
at this moment, be working.


"Charles Spitzer" wrote in message
...

"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy


wet/dry sandpaper on a sanding block if you only have a little to do. rub
the edge with another piece of glass will make it lots less sharp too.

belt sander or grinder if you have a lot.

Ok, true.
I read it as just wanting to take the sharp edges off, and sure a rub with
any old medium grit (wet & dry or dry rub) sandpaper will do this.
It wears out quickly though, so for long term work of this nature you'd need
to consider a hand belt sander with silicone carbide belts, or a diamond
pad.
For better edgework, I suggest a local glass shop with an FEP (flat edge
polish) machine, upright belt arrisser, or a pencil edge machine.
--
Regards,
Les
e-mail munged, remove the obvious to reply direct

These opinions are mine, not those of my employer.
It is the opinion of my employer that I should,
at this moment, be working.

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy


Whatever tools are mentioned, its the technique that smoothes it, and
without some kind of practice, and professional instruction, ( by that I
mean instruction from someone who KNOWS how to do it), you can make things
worse and irreversible. Get some hands on assistance in this one, even if
you have to go to the local glass guys, it will be worth it. Too
difficult
to explain on a newsgroup. really simple once you see it done.

Golly gee - cut plate glass is cheap. Emery cloth is cheap. Medical
repairs of fingers testing sharp edges awkwardly may be expensive, but
probably is not. WARNING: if you drop the glass, you will make the sharp
edges worse - it is almost impossible to make them more sharp - worse - with
the following technique.
Get some cheap glass scraps. Get a block of wood. Get an assortment
pack of wet or dry black emery cloth "sand paper". Wrap a piece of the
medium cloth around the block of wood. Observe the sharp edge of the glass
in good light to observe how fine the sharp line it. Holding wood at 45°
angle to glass edge, gently stroke the sharp edge with a couple or 3 longish
strokes. Observe the increase in width of the sharpness from almost nothing
to a fine white line. Gently stroke the line sideways [hoping you have
tested a knive blade in your life without cutting yourself - otherwise find
an expert to learn how to do this] to observe the loss of sharpness.
Decide how unsharp you want the glass and continue the process if you wish.
A - Using finer grit paper, you can reduce the drag of the whiteness -
smooth it. With other materials you may be able to polish it.
B - Using a rounded groove cut in the wood, try making a rounded over edge
(work involved, time also.) With the flat wood, you may be able to make a
pencil edge.

--
Mike Firth
Hot Glass Bits Furnace Working Website
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/hotbit45.htm Latest notes
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/NTBowl.htm Once again, Empty Bowls
will collect for the North Texas food banks - donate.
"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy


Whatever tools are mentioned, its the technique that smoothes it, and
without some kind of practice, and professional instruction, ( by that I
mean instruction from someone who KNOWS how to do it), you can make things
worse and irreversible. Get some hands on assistance in this one, even if
you have to go to the local glass guys, it will be worth it. Too
difficult
to explain on a newsgroup. really simple once you see it done.

Golly gee - a Texas Euphamism?




cut plate glass is cheap. Emery cloth is cheap. Medical
repairs of fingers testing sharp edges awkwardly may be expensive, but
probably is not. WARNING: if you drop the glass, you will make the sharp
edges worse - it is almost impossible to make them more sharp - worse -
with
the following technique.

WHO asked about cheap?
Run the tool "up" the edge and see what the chips look like and how they
"improve" the look of your "cheap"(how thick is the plate? 1/2" table top?
cheap?)plate glass. Mike's right, you can't, most likely , make it sharper,
but you can make it uglier.

Get some cheap glass scraps. From where?


Get a block of wood. Get an assortment
pack of wet or dry black emery cloth "sand paper". Wrap a piece of the
medium cloth around the block of wood. Observe the sharp edge of the
glass
in good light to observe how fine the sharp line it. Holding wood at 45°
angle to glass edge, gently stroke the sharp edge with a couple or 3
longish
strokes.

Why not use a disc sander with PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) back
silicon carbide disc, aluminum oxide is available in MOST hardware stores,
you could even use a belt sander, same material on the belts

HOld a angle to the edge, just be sure that the direction of motion, disc or
belt is "toward" the edge, not toward the center of the glass. Continue
until you, or the glass, has had enough.

Still easier to see than explain.


Observe the increase in width of the sharpness from almost nothing
to a fine white line. Gently stroke the line sideways [hoping you have
tested a knive blade in your life without cutting yourself - otherwise
find
an expert to learn how to do this] to observe the loss of sharpness.
Decide how unsharp you want the glass and continue the process if you
wish.
A - Using finer grit paper, you can reduce the drag of the whiteness -
smooth it. With other materials you may be able to polish it.
B - Using a rounded groove cut in the wood, try making a rounded over
edge
(work involved, time also.) With the flat wood, you may be able to make a
pencil edge.

--
Mike Firth
Hot Glass Bits Furnace Working Website
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/hotbit45.htm Latest notes
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/NTBowl.htm Once again, Empty Bowls
will collect for the North Texas food banks - donate.
"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"Randy Cox" wrote in message
...
Is their a way to "sand" down the sharp, rough edges of
cut plate glass so that they're smooth?

If there is a way to do it, what do you use and how do you
go about doing it?

Randy


Whatever tools are mentioned, its the technique that smoothes it, and
without some kind of practice, and professional instruction, ( by that I
mean instruction from someone who KNOWS how to do it), you can make
things
worse and irreversible. Get some hands on assistance in this one, even
if
you have to go to the local glass guys, it will be worth it. Too
difficult
to explain on a newsgroup. really simple once you see it done.

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

Still easier to see than explain.


Maybe you could make us a VIDEO? Heh, heh. Nudge, nudge. ;)