Cutting a hole in a glass globe - need help

[bgula]

Anyone have not only a way, but a cheap way of cutting 2 holes ~3 1/4 inches in diameter in a 12 inch glass globe that fits over a light? All the experts I've talked to say the globe won't survive, but I'm betting someone has an idea that might work. I'm willing to try anything and will sacrifice the globe if necessary just to try. Any ideas anyone?

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

if I was you I would check with a jewery store. they have tools for cutting that might work.

 

[Earstou]

This is the type of glass cutter I've used to cut glass for stained glass projects :http://www.glassmart.com/standard_cutters.asp
I think you could probably pick one up at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.
BUT...it would be very hard to cut a circle with this tool, plus cutting a globe would be nearly impossible, I think. Even cutting flat glass you can break it pretty easily.
I found a tool for circles, but at $49.95, it's not cheap. Plus you still have the problem of working on a curved surface. http://www.glassmart.com/circmate.asp

 

[themarquis]

I used to do stained glass, and to my knowledge what you want to do is not possible.

When glass is cut, it will always fracture along a straight line. That means that if you try to drill a hole, a crack will form in a line across where you want the hole to be.

It is possible in stained glass to cut a circle, but to my knowlege you can only do it by *breaking* away the pieces of glass around the *outside* of the circle. (i.e., breaking away pieces formed by straight line cracks tangential to the circle) YOu end up with a circle and a bunch of broken glass bits.

If the globe is made of some other material, like some form of plastic, then drilling a hole would be possible.

Have you thought about using some type of super-strength glue? I am not sure what you are trying to do, but if you wanted to drill holes so that some kind of metal hardware could go through it, you could glue the hardware on instead.

 

[bgula]

I used to do stained glass, and to my knowledge what you want to do is not possible.

When glass is cut, it will always fracture along a straight line. That means that if you try to drill a hole, a crack will form in a line across where you want the hole to be.

It is possible in stained glass to cut a circle, but to my knowlege you can only do it by *breaking* away the pieces of glass around the *outside* of the circle. (i.e., breaking away pieces formed by straight line cracks tangential to the circle) YOu end up with a circle and a bunch of broken glass bits.

If the globe is made of some other material, like some form of plastic, then drilling a hole would be possible.

Have you thought about using some type of super-strength glue? I am not sure what you are trying to do, but if you wanted to drill holes so that some kind of metal hardware could go through it, you could glue the hardware on instead.

It is for a mickey-head light. The holes are for the ears. Most people get the plastic globes, but I bought a clearance light which had everything included, but the globe is glass. Was hoping someone might have an answer, but as I've been told, not likely to happen.

 

[Evi]

well dont give up just yet you may be able to find a local glass smith that can heat up the glass and cut away and then attatch the pieces you want. I'd try the phone book for glassblowers and the like good luck

 

[bdcp]

well dont give up just yet you may be able to find a local glass smith that can heat up the glass and cut away and then attatch the pieces you want. I'd try the phone book for glassblowers and the like good luck

That's not the most common trade in the world. I doubt there are many in each state. Flat glass is hard enough to cut, but a globe is probably impossible to do without breaking.

 

[bgula]

This is only a $15 value piece - and that includes the hardware for the light! I'm not going to invest any $'s in this. I'll probably just go and order a plastic or acrylic globe instead.

 

[lightningkg]

I use polycarbonate globe The glass globes I would only glue on. Even the poly globes you have to be careful cutting but they are stronger.

 

[4shinystars]

My daughter is a trained glassblower and she said it is not possible.

 

[undertheradar]

After 10 years, here's hoping that the OP resolved the issue!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

After 10 years, here's hoping that the OP resolved the issue!

How in the world did this get resurrected.

 

[Eastern]

My daughter is a trained glassblower and she said it is not possible.

Wow I knew someone had to be or know someone who was. Anyway more good trivia for me to file away in my overloaded brain bank when someone asks me this question in the future.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

How in the world did this get resurrected.

This boards should disable the ability to bump these old threads. It usually is done by a newbie trying to up their thread count.