I can’t tell you how many panes of glass I’ve broken, cracked, or inaccurately cut because my aluminum straightedge slipped as I ran the cutter wheel down its edge. I’ve tried clamps, but they run the risk of cracking the glass. Extra hands help but are often not around.
A while back, I had to cut a replacement piece of glass when, coincidentally, I had my hot-melt glue gun fired up for making a countertop template. When my straightedge started to slip on the glass, I decided on the spur of the moment to see if I could secure it with a couple of dabs of hot-melt glue. The glue kept the straightedge right where I wanted it, and the straightedge popped right off when the cut was complete. I’ve never messed up cutting glass again.
—Harold Bailey, Tampa, FL
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #190
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