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- Dec 28, 2009
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Scoring, Cutting, and Flame Polishing Borosilicate Glass Tubing
1) Method 1 - cutting glass tubing by scoring and applying sufficient leverage to snap it. Scoring can be accomplished with a small corner file, Dremel tool with a diamond wheel, a Glass Tubing Cutter, or your fiancée’s diamond engagement ring. This method will work well for small-diameter tubing and long lengths where sufficient leverage can be applied to flex the tube to the break at the scored point. This is not effective for cutting short sections of tubing.
2) Method 2 – score the tubing and heat with a hot wire. A sufficient current source is required to heat the wire quickly to red hot; however, providing uniform heat transfer from the wire to the glass can be problematic.
3) Method 3 – Score the tubing on a lathe and use a micro torch to sharply heat the score mark as it is rotating. This method works well for cutting 1" test-tube glass into a variety of lengths, as short as ¼".
4) Method 3A - Score the tubing on a lathe by using the corner edge of a long 1/8" square carbide blank. This will still make a perfect score around the tube, and the edge of the carbide blank will last a lot longer than if using the point.
5) Method 4 - Fill tubing with water to length required, freeze the water within the tubing and submerge into boiling water. A nice clean break (nor maybe not) should occur right where the edge of the ice was.
6) WTF method - Last but not friggin least by any means:
Scoring and Breaking Technique:
1.Use the edge of a steel file to score or notch the glass perpendicular to its length. A single score works best. If you saw back and forth, you're asking for a messy break. Also, a light score works better than a deep cut.
2.Put on eye protection and heavy gloves. If you don't have gloves, you can minimize a chance of being cut by wrapping the tubing in a towel.
3.Place your thumbs on either side of the notch and apply gentle pressure until the tubing snaps in two.
4.The ends of the tubing will be extremely sharp, so you'll need to fire polish them before using the tubing. Fire polish the tubing by holding the sharp ends of the glass in the flame of an alcohol lamp or gas burner. Turn the tubing so that it is heated evenly. Stop when the ends are smooth. Be careful that you don't leave the glass in the flame too long, which melts the tubing and may block the ends.
The following web site has loads of information and photos of various glasswork. Adams & Chittenden Scientific Glass, California - Video of cutting large-diameter (over 30cm!) glass tubing
Source acknowledgement for methods 1 thru 3A listed above: Cutting glass tubing on the lathe (16/11/10)
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Pen Host 405nm 400mW shining thru 4” 8mm Uranium Glass Tube
3 Watt UV LED illuminated 4” 8mm Uranium Glass Tubes
1) Method 1 - cutting glass tubing by scoring and applying sufficient leverage to snap it. Scoring can be accomplished with a small corner file, Dremel tool with a diamond wheel, a Glass Tubing Cutter, or your fiancée’s diamond engagement ring. This method will work well for small-diameter tubing and long lengths where sufficient leverage can be applied to flex the tube to the break at the scored point. This is not effective for cutting short sections of tubing.
2) Method 2 – score the tubing and heat with a hot wire. A sufficient current source is required to heat the wire quickly to red hot; however, providing uniform heat transfer from the wire to the glass can be problematic.
3) Method 3 – Score the tubing on a lathe and use a micro torch to sharply heat the score mark as it is rotating. This method works well for cutting 1" test-tube glass into a variety of lengths, as short as ¼".
4) Method 3A - Score the tubing on a lathe by using the corner edge of a long 1/8" square carbide blank. This will still make a perfect score around the tube, and the edge of the carbide blank will last a lot longer than if using the point.
5) Method 4 - Fill tubing with water to length required, freeze the water within the tubing and submerge into boiling water. A nice clean break (nor maybe not) should occur right where the edge of the ice was.
6) WTF method - Last but not friggin least by any means:
Scoring and Breaking Technique:
1.Use the edge of a steel file to score or notch the glass perpendicular to its length. A single score works best. If you saw back and forth, you're asking for a messy break. Also, a light score works better than a deep cut.
2.Put on eye protection and heavy gloves. If you don't have gloves, you can minimize a chance of being cut by wrapping the tubing in a towel.
3.Place your thumbs on either side of the notch and apply gentle pressure until the tubing snaps in two.
4.The ends of the tubing will be extremely sharp, so you'll need to fire polish them before using the tubing. Fire polish the tubing by holding the sharp ends of the glass in the flame of an alcohol lamp or gas burner. Turn the tubing so that it is heated evenly. Stop when the ends are smooth. Be careful that you don't leave the glass in the flame too long, which melts the tubing and may block the ends.
The following web site has loads of information and photos of various glasswork. Adams & Chittenden Scientific Glass, California - Video of cutting large-diameter (over 30cm!) glass tubing
Source acknowledgement for methods 1 thru 3A listed above: Cutting glass tubing on the lathe (16/11/10)
--------------------------------
Pen Host 405nm 400mW shining thru 4” 8mm Uranium Glass Tube
3 Watt UV LED illuminated 4” 8mm Uranium Glass Tubes
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