Cutting a Mirror: The Best Tips and Tricks

Cutting a Mirror – The Right Tools

Although a mirror is fragile, it can be cut into any shape without too much effort and thus adapted to a mirror frame. It’s important that you have the necessary tools on hand.

• The most important tool is definitely the glass cutter. It doesn’t matter whether you choose a glass cutter with a diamond tip or one with a cutting wheel. You’ll also need cutting oil.
• The cutting oil helps the glass dust get into the small cracks more easily during cutting, ensuring a clean break edge.
• Last but not least, you’ll need a ruler and a felt-tip pen to sketch out the desired shape.

Tips for Cutting a Mirror

When cutting a mirror, always wear sturdy gloves for your safety. Even with great care, a mirror can break. If it does, there is a risk of injury from the shards.

• Clean the mirror thoroughly before you start cutting.
• If you want to cut a mirror, you can only do so on a sturdy, level surface.
• Before you pick up the glass cutter, mark the cutting line with a felt-tip pen.
• If you want to cut a straight line, place the ruler against the line and cut along it.
• Before applying the glass cutter, first apply a small amount of cutting oil to the cutting surface and dip the glass cutter into the oil.
• When cutting a mirror, just like when cutting glass, you’ll need a bit of finesse. Run the glass cutter along the marked line with even pressure.
• Make the cut in one smooth motion. Do not lift the glass cutter and then start again from the same spot. The tool is so precise that you’ll hardly be able to hit the exact same score line again.
• The mirror isn’t cut all the way through—it’s only scored. You’ll need to carefully snap off the section at the end. To do this, place the mirror slightly elevated so that the part to be snapped off protrudes a bit.
• If you want to reuse the pieces, make sure the mirror isn’t placed too high. A book should suffice as a base. Also place a soft towel underneath so that the broken-off piece doesn’t shatter.
• Gently tap the protruding part of the mirror until it falls off on its own.