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Step 3The initial cut...
Hope you still have your safety glasses and earplugs handy!
Let's begin making those rings, shall we?
Make certain your saw is plugged in and on a stable, level work surface.
Ensure the water reservoir is full, make sure it stays that way every chance
you get. Babies, pets and other critters under feet are not a good idea while
using the saw. Don't look away while working. Instead, stop what you are
doing, turn off the saw, then tend to your business. Bottles can be replaced,
babies on the other hand...hmm. Not so easy.
Holding the bottle firmly, but not in a death-grip manner, slowly move the
bottle toward the blade. As you should have ear plugs in, you should still be
able to barely hear the glass hitting the cutting wheel. My personal manner
of holding the bottle is with both hands. My method is to roll the bottle towards
myself, rather than away, because I feel there is a greater chance of kickback
when rolling the bottle away from your body.
Speaking of hands, I feel much more comfortable using bare hands. Once in
a great while I will get a teeny tiny glass splinter, but as long as you work slowly
and carefully, glass splinters should not be that big of a problem, more of a
nuisance.
After you work, be sure to clean your hands and arms and put on lotion, as they
will feel as though you have been handling chalk all day.
Once the cutting wheel (or blade) has entered the bottle, slowly turn the bottle
back towards you, as though you were going to roll it off the table towards your
body. Slowly, don't move too fast. You will soon get the hang of it. Keep in mind
that thicker bottles will require more cutting time. Don't rush it. Let the tool do
the work.
When you have completed one ring, turn off the saw and examine it. See how
easy that was? If you didn't cut quite straight, don't worry, you can carefully file
it off using the saw or leave it as is, the kiln will likely melt away any imperfections.
Let's begin making those rings, shall we?
Make certain your saw is plugged in and on a stable, level work surface.
Ensure the water reservoir is full, make sure it stays that way every chance
you get. Babies, pets and other critters under feet are not a good idea while
using the saw. Don't look away while working. Instead, stop what you are
doing, turn off the saw, then tend to your business. Bottles can be replaced,
babies on the other hand...hmm. Not so easy.
Holding the bottle firmly, but not in a death-grip manner, slowly move the
bottle toward the blade. As you should have ear plugs in, you should still be
able to barely hear the glass hitting the cutting wheel. My personal manner
of holding the bottle is with both hands. My method is to roll the bottle towards
myself, rather than away, because I feel there is a greater chance of kickback
when rolling the bottle away from your body.
Speaking of hands, I feel much more comfortable using bare hands. Once in
a great while I will get a teeny tiny glass splinter, but as long as you work slowly
and carefully, glass splinters should not be that big of a problem, more of a
nuisance.
After you work, be sure to clean your hands and arms and put on lotion, as they
will feel as though you have been handling chalk all day.
Once the cutting wheel (or blade) has entered the bottle, slowly turn the bottle
back towards you, as though you were going to roll it off the table towards your
body. Slowly, don't move too fast. You will soon get the hang of it. Keep in mind
that thicker bottles will require more cutting time. Don't rush it. Let the tool do
the work.
When you have completed one ring, turn off the saw and examine it. See how
easy that was? If you didn't cut quite straight, don't worry, you can carefully file
it off using the saw or leave it as is, the kiln will likely melt away any imperfections.
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