Mosaic Art Supply is proud to be the first online retailer to carry the new ProControl Mosaic Glass Cutter Model 32014. This is a sophisticated and ergonomic hand tool for cutting glass mosaic tile. The ProControl Mosaic Glass Cutter is a compression nipper just like our regular mosaic glass cutter, but has numerous improvements to appeal to professional mosaic artists who are cutting glass tile all the time.
- Weighs less than the traditional mosaic glass cutter (8.6 oz instead of 10.8 oz)
- Has longer handles (1 inch extra) to make cutting easier
- Has a tile thickness lock to reduce hand fatigue
- Comes with a hex key built into the back for adjusting or changing the blades
- Has a cutting-depth guide to help make uniform cuts
- Has thicker, more comfortable handle grips
- QEP Model # 32014
Note that LONG strips of glass are made with a different tool (Pistol-Grip Cutter), which scores the glass instead of nipping it like the ProControl tool does.
This tool cuts glass up to 3/8-inch thick with minimal crushing and splintering, and it easily cuts molded tile into quarters, halves and triangles. It is also great for nipping up small pieces of stained glass, although it is not a scoring tool for making long straight cuts in stained glass. This is a compression tool and tile is squeezed between the blades, and the circular blades do not actually rotate while cutting.
Replacement blades are available, although the blades should last for years if you don’t abuse them by attempting to cut materials other than glass, which ruins the precision of the tool itself by warping it.
Wheeled cutters such as the ProControl Mosaic Glass Cutter are the appropriate tool for cutting glass tiles. Unlike ordinary tile nippers, wheeled glass cutters won’t crush and splinter the glass. Instead, the cuts will be cleaner and less tile will be wasted as splinters.
Safety and Cutting Tile
- Always wear safety glasses with side shields when using the cutters.
- Make sure that you don’t cut glass around people who are not wearing safety glasses. Flying chips could potentially hit their eyes as easily as yours.
- Never use a mosaic glass cutter to cut materials other than glass, especially hard porcelain. The wheel-shaped blades can shatter. Cutting materials other than glass also ruins the precision of the cutters!
- Be aware that cutting glass tile can produce sharp tiny slivers. Never sweep off a work surface with your bare hand. Use a vacuum or counter brush.
Product Specifications for ProControl Mosaic Glass Cutter
- aluminum hand plier with cushion grip
- 8.5 oz,
- replaceable carbide steel cutting blades
- can be adjusted depending on tile thickness and preferred cut depth
- comes with a hex key for easy blade adjustment
- QEP model number 32014
How To Cut Glass Tile
Hold the cutter over a cardboard box or plastic dishpan to catch broken pieces and tiny slivers.
Hold vitreous glass tile upside down when cutting so that you can see the embossed pattern of ridges on the bottom. Make sure you position the blade so that the ridges do not interfere with it. It is easier to cut across a ridge or in a crease between two ridges than it is to try to cut with the blade on top of a ridge where it can slip off.
Efficient Cutting
It is much easier to cut up four or five pieces of tile and choose the one that fits best than it is to try to trim one piece to a certain shape or size. It is quicker too. Keep your rejects in a small pile and pay attention to the shapes that are in it. If you don’t use a certain size or shape as often, try to cut fewer pieces like that. This is much more effective than trimming a piece down to what you need, and it is a lot less tedious.
Replacement Springs
Replacement Springs are available, but your cutters are not defective or useless if the springs fall off. The springs tend to fall of all hand tools eventually, even the most expensive brands. Keep your pinky fingers inside the handle instead of outside with the rest of your fingers and use that to open the tool. This is basic shop/studio practice for using any type of plier tool, most of which do not come with springs in the first place.
How To Make Mosaics
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
