Cutting glass cleanly is the single skill everything else in stained glass depends on — and it's far more approachable than it looks once you understand what the tool is actually doing.
- What You'll Need
- Step 1: Score the Glass
- Step 2: Break the Score
- Step 3: Clean the Edge
- Common Beginner Mistakes
What You'll Need
- A glass cutter (pistol-grip or pencil-style)
- Cutting oil
- Running pliers and grozing pliers
- A cutting surface and safety glasses
Step 1: Score the Glass
Hold the cutter like a pen, at a consistent angle, and drag it across the glass in a single smooth motion. You should hear a light, even scratching sound — not a scraping or chipping noise. Never go back over a score line twice.
Practice this exact technique
Our Modern Minimal patterns use simple, straight-edged shapes — ideal for building confidence with your first cuts.
View on EtsyStep 2: Break the Score
Position the score line over the edge of your running pliers or a dowel, and apply gentle, even pressure. A clean score will separate with very little force.
Step 3: Clean the Edge
Use grozing pliers to nibble away any small, sharp irregularities along the cut edge before moving on to grinding or wrapping. Patience here saves time later.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Pressing too hard while scoring, which chips the glass instead of scoring it
- Going back over the same score line more than once
- Skipping cutting oil, which shortens the life of your cutter wheel
A Final Word
Every stained glass artist has broken more glass than they'd like to admit while learning this step. Expect a few cracked pieces — they're part of building the muscle memory that makes every future cut easier.