I'd like to share with you a number of tips I have discovered to help you make easier and cleaner cuts on glass. The first and most important tip I can think of is this: don't be intimidated or afraid of the glass, when handled properly, glass is very easy to work with and can be very safe as well. Don't get me wrong, over time you will cut and scrape your self many times, but most of these cuts will be very minor as long as you pay attention to what you are doing.

Here are some basic tips and guidelines to follow when you cut glass:

• Remember to always have a clean work area when you start so that you will not encounter shards of glass from a previous project.
  
  
• Always WEAR SAFETY GLASSES and always make sure you have a decent FIRST AID KIT available at all times.
  
  
• Learn to hold your glass cutter in as comfortable a position as possible during the cutting process so you don't fatigue.
  
  
• Make sure you are using a surface to cut on that is either specifically designed for the job, like a Morton Surface, or one that is firm but not to hard so that you do not abuse your glass cutting wheel such as Homasote.
  
  
• To get a perfect score in the glass, make sure you are holding the glass cutter comfortably, make sure it is properly lubricated, and be sure the wheel is completely perpendicular to the glass and is turning freely.
  
  
• You don't need to take every piece to the grinder. A carburundum stone can often do small pieces faster and more gently than a grinder can.
  
  
• You don't  necessarily have to to glue down all of the pattern pieces onto the glass. You can set the template pattern piece on to a large piece of glass and cut out a piece of glass that comes close to the size of the final piece, this way you will have a smaller piece of glass to work with. After you have cut this smaller piece of glass, replace the template piece on the glass with one hand, and with the other hand, use your glass cutter and work your way around the template pattern. When you have gone all the way around the piece, use your pliers to break away all of the excess glass.
  
  
• For difficult glass, first make your score, then hold the piece in one hand and tap the bottom of the glass under the score line with either the back of the cutter or some other tool a few times to encourage the glass to break. Remember to score difficult glass on whichever side has the smoother surface for easier cutting.