How to Cut Glass Mirrors

Mirrors are one of the best accent pieces to have in your house because they serve multiple purposes, both in a fashionable and a functional way. Aside from their obvious use, mirrors can be a beautiful way to decorate your home. They open spaces up, make rooms appear larger than they are, and can be an eye-catching piece of artwork on your wall. 

Sometimes, using mirrors as a decoration in your home requires some elbow grease, especially if you are diving into a DIY project. We can tell you the right way (and the safe way!) to cut mirrors for whatever you want to create, from large, sit-down tables to crafts with the kids.

Start with a large, clean work area. Because of any mess that may occur, you might want to take this project on in either your garage or backyard.

Lay your mirror on a flat surface like a work bench or table.

Before you start wielding your glass cutter, mark exactly where on the mirror you want to cut. This will make your project easier once you’ve started. That way, you’re cutting down (no pun intended) on the mistakes you’ll make with your design! Use a tape measurer and a dry-erase pen, as the marker will come off the mirror easily once you’re done. 

Align a straight edge along the marks that you made with the dry erase pen. This will ensure that the cuts you make with be as straight as possible and right where you want them.

Holding the straight edge firmly in one hand, take your glass cutter and press the cutting wheel to the mirror. Apply even, steady pressure and simply cut along the lines you marked with the dry erase marker. By doing this, you’ll create a small crack in the mirror.

One the initial cuts have been made, hold the mirror over the edge of the surface it’s resting on and gently tap along the cut line with the blunt end of your glass cutter. It should separate the mirror into two pieces safely and easily. Repeat until you have all the pieces of mirror that you want to use. 

If you want to refine the edges where the glass has been cut, use some fine sandpaper and rub the edges of the glass gently, just until it’s smooth.  

That’s all, folks!

Custom Glass Tabletops

Here at Santa Fe Glass, we provide not only the best in commercial glass installation and repair, but also custom glass projects. That includes custom glass table tops.

Whether it’s for the living room, kitchen, or conference-style table for the office, there are countless possibilities to designing the custom glass table of your dreams. 

When choosing what you want your custom glass table to encompass, think of the size and shape you want. Look at the desired space you want to use and determine if you want an oval, rectangle, square… or even a unique, one of a kind design. 

While glass is typically clear and see through, there are many options to consider when it comes to the design of the glass itself.  ‘Decorated’ glass has etching, sandblasting, cutting or engraving, to give the glass a one-of-a-kind look. Add a splash of color with a tint, or create a sturdier look by using a deeper color throughout the glass. Keep in mind that the base of the table can even help influence what the color of the glass itself looks like. 

Now that you’ve got the design and size figured out, it’s time for arguably the most important decision of the design process…. What type of glass to use? 

A lot of people don’t realize that in building furniture that involves glass, there is more than one type of product to choose from. Unlike glass vases or decorative pieces, glass used for furniture can be made differently to accommodate the dangers and wear and tear of every day living. 

Tempered glass is a popular option in glass furniture. It’s available as clear, frosted, patterned… any way the consumer may want. It’s referred to often as ‘safety glass’, because it’s less likely to break than regular glass. This is thanks to rapid heating and cooling processes the glass endures throughout its production, making it four to five times stronger than a typical glass product. In the rare occasion that tempered glass does break, it breaks into small circular pieces, not dangerous shards.  

Another type of glass that is popular in furniture use is ‘film-backed’ glass. This product has a flexible plastic sheet applied to the back of the glass. This film holds the glass together if it’s broken, avoiding a messy and potentially dangerous clean-up job. 

If you have ideas that you want to get off the paper and into your home or business, give us a call. We can’t wait to get started.