Help cutting standard wall tubing

[Bugzy1972]

Hey all,

Thanks for the advise and guidance over the years but i am stumped on how to get a nice break on thin wall tubing. I have tried scoring it with both a scoring knife and disc cutters. When i try to get a nice score it breaks through and shatters, when i do get a good score, its iffy that i get a clean break on it. I've also tried thermal shock with iffy results.

Anybody got a tried and true method of getting a good break on standard wall tubing without using a saw?

[smolder holder]

Have you tried diamond shears or a v-tool to neckdown and snap off? That works for just about anything. And leaves a nice hole for a blowtube to be attached.

Good luck and maybe others have a better option for ya.

[The Bigles]

why does it need to be cut? flame

[Greymatter Glass]

Use a sharp carbide knife, they do dull over time. Don't press too hard, get a decent score at least 1/3 of the way around the tube...you don't need a deep gouge, but you should be able to feel the score with a fingernail...

get the score wet, this really helps. Homer Hoyt's book explains how the water reacts with the silica bonds to weaken the glass... it's science bitches!

Hold the tube like handlebars, thumbs out, tips about 1/2" apart or so centered on the score (score facing out). Pull apart more than bend, but bend it away from you with the score on the outside of the bend, and it should snap clean apart.

[kilgroth]

I must recommend wearing gloves when cutting that stuff. I have seen some nasty accidents happen while cutting that 12x1.

Carbide knife must be SHARP to get a good score. I found that it actually breaks better if you face the score towards you, pull out, and tip you hands in towards you. My neon bending buddy showed me this, and it works better than pushing it out with your thumbs.

Usually I have my neon buddy over for some beers, and let him cut down a couple hundred pieces for me. He is wicked good at it.

[somewhere]

I must recommend wearing gloves when cutting that stuff. I have seen some nasty accidents happen while cutting that 12x1.

Carbide knife must be SHARP to get a good score. I found that it actually breaks better if you face the score towards you, pull out, and tip you hands in towards you. My neon bending buddy showed me this, and it works better than pushing it out with your thumbs.

Usually I have my neon buddy over for some beers, and let him cut down a couple hundred pieces for me. He is wicked good at it.

I can't help but saying scoring and breaking towards your self sounds like a bad idea. Maybe ok for the experienced but bad advise for someone already having problems getting a clean break. Gloves take away dexterity and feeling follow Doug's instructions they are tried and true.

[Bugzy1972]

no time to buy new wheels for the wheel cutter, How can you sharpen the carbide score knife to get a better score?

[Greymatter Glass]

don't use a wheel type cutter... use a carbide knife. You can sharpen them with emery cloth. Don't use diamond laps (carbide reacts with the diamonds and turns them into graphite)...

or find a professional sharpening service, they can reface carbide tools pretty cheap (cheaper than the tool's worth, anyways)

[gn0me]

Are you using 12x1?? It's tricky tubing to get a good score on but easy to break down if you know how. A sharp scoring tool is necessary, but a long score is not. Just something somewhat deep, continuous, and straight. As has been mentioned, pull apart more than bending the tubing. When you're busting down tube, envision the motion as if you had a couple of stiff boards with a hinge coupling them - the point where the hinge would be must be opposite of where the scratch is. If you're getting a little wedge shaped piece popping out of the side opposite the score, that area is undergoing compression when you're bending the tube - the pivot point is nearer the scratch, so that little piece flies out. You've got to pull more so the pivot point is more opposite the scratch than in the middle of the tube.