I am just getting into building bows.  I have noticed that when trimming down the Glass it is very easy to create Cracks in the glass.  Which method or tool is best for the cutting process?

I use a belt sander when I can. If I use my band saw it is a bi-metal blade.

In the video from Binghams, they use a set of tin snips. Works like a charm, in the video. Don

In the most recent bow I built I tried using the tin snips after watching the binghams Video.  Maybe i did not have good snips but the glass still cracked.

I found the easiest and cleanest way was to simply put a miter box in my vise, use spring clamps to hold the glass and use an easy, low pressure to cut it with a hacksaw.  Using any kind of power saw on it is just death on the blades.  I no longer allow glass to touch any of my big saws.  Shaping limbs is done on the belt sander and cutouts are done with a rasp and files.

I use a chop saw with a steal cutting blade.

same thing here with the tin snips.. cracked the glass.. so I use a dremel tool with a cut off wheel.. works good.

The straight cut tin snips work, but you have to cut it fast in one smooth quick motion or you will get split ends. I also use a cut off wheel in a die grinder but you have to be careful with that too or it will burn the cut edges.

Like Bradford I use a dremel tool with a cutoff wheel, I lay the glass on a 60 inch long piece of 2x6 and.cut away.... tried the Binghams way and crushed and shattered the ends of the glass.. I would think any thin cutoff wheel would work as long as  glass is supported and laying flat

I put masking tape over both glass lams, then clamp down to a pice of scrap wood and cut with a hack saw.  

Java Man

QuoteOriginally posted by Java Man:
I put masking tape over both glass lams, then clamp down to a pice of scrap wood and cut with a hack saw.  

Java Man

The masking tape thing is ok, but you can still raise splinters taking the tape off wrong, or split the stuff.

The single most important thing about cutting any kind of thin composite in my opinion is using a backing board. I use a chop saw (power miter saw) and table saw all the time.... but... i always use a scrap piece of wood behind it. on the table saw if you use a scrap piece of plywood and run the blade up through it where there is zero clearance works excellent.

for finished limbs, the edge sander is the only way to go.

I use a hacksaw in a miterbox, works fine.

Most often, I use the same method as Greg, clamp the glass to a backer-board and then use a hacksaw.  I have used a chop saw with a scrap board under and behind the glass with good results, but with my small working space, it is often faster to use the hacksaw then to set up the chop saw.

Thanks for all the advice guys really helped