Making wonderful glass mosaic tile art is easy!  Let me show you how.

Ever wonder what glass actually is?  Do we cut it or break it (is there a difference)?  Why and how does scoring a line allow us to control the way glass breaks?  To fully understand why we cut glass the way we do, we should first understand a bit about glass itself.

There are two types of solids: amorphous and crystalline.  (Huh?  Amorphous?  Wasn’t he a character in the movie series The Matrix?  No, that was Morpheus.)  As you’ll learn in my eBook in the chapter on Tessera Types, glass is an amorphous solid (the chapter explains what glass is to help the mosaic artist understand how to make better cuts and breaks, and to help reduce wasted glass).  An amorphous solid, such as glass and plastic, has molecules arranged randomly in no particular pattern.  On the contrary, a crystalline solid has molecules arranged in fixed patterns, sometimes called lattices.  Most solids are crystalline, such as metal, ice, and diamonds.

Glass can break in a controlled manner (e.g., along its score line) because it doesn’t have a specific molecular structure.  For example, a diamond breaks cleanly along its fixed molecular structure or cleavage (more commonly understood as “grain”).  If you don’t properly align your breaking tool along the grain, the diamond can shatter.  However, because glass doesn’t have a grain, you can break it in any direction without it shattering.  The question is how do we get it to break the way we want?

Depending on the tools used, glass can either break from exceeding its tensile strength or cut from exceeding its compressive or shear strength.  To control the fracture, we must define where to exceed the tensile, compressive, or shear strength to result in a controlled fracture.  We do this by scoring the glass when we want to break it by applying a tensile stress or properly aligning the cutters when we want to cut it by applying a compressive or shear stress.  For example, the glass’ tensile strength along a tiny score line is less than anywhere else on the glass, so it tends to break cleanly along that line (i.e., the break follows the path of least resistance).

When a separation occurs because of tensile stress, the separation is called a “break.”  When a separation occurs because of shear stress or compressive stress, the separation is called a “cut.”

When using a scoring tool and running pliers on stained glass, you apply tensile stress to break the glass.  When using wheeled cutters with the two wheels aligned (or other tool with the cutting edges aligned, such as nippers), you apply compressive stress to cut the glass.  When using wheeled cutters with the two wheels misaligned (e.g., because you dropped the tool and bent the jaws out of alignment), you apply shear stress to cut the glass.  (The most familiar example of a cutting tool with misaligned cutting edges is a pair of scissors where the two cutting edges are side by side instead of aligned.)

Remember, making mosaic art is easy. You can do it.  Yes, you can!





By: Bill Enslen

A film by Eric Festenstine. the karate eating maybelline pistol whipped a cowboy bar and socialized with ice cream trucks with income tax collected from spinal cans of prostitutes, floppy rocks,polarity smocks listermint and alamos. sillyputty/paperface we’ve waited this long to throw you to a shapeless paste in the milky way of the door jamb. . 3monked jimmy telegraph your last wish on a microwave, save me some bus faire and i will retrieve your severance pay.. somewhere theres a chariot …

Selecting the right reading glasses can be very daunting, as you may dislike the same pair that you just adored at the shop. It is also possible that your most honest friends may feel that your choice was not good enough. Whether your reading glasses look good on you or not, is relative and therefore you need a more concrete way of making a decision.

The best way to select designer reading glasses is by matching them with your face shape. Look at your face in a mirror, and try to figure out its shape. Once you figure this out, you can proceed to the next step: selecting the right designer reading glasses.

Triangular -Triangular faces can be of two types: base up and base down. Base down faces are wider towards the chin and narrower towards the forehead. Base up faces are broad towards the forehead and narrower towards the chin like the face of Liz Hurley. Cat eye frames or designer reading glasses that are sharply colored towards the top are suitable for base down faces. For base up faces, rimless glasses look great.

Square -If your face has the same width and length, you have a square face. You share your face shape with Jessica Simpson and Demi Moore. Reading glasses with frames that are wider will make your face look longer and natural. You can also go in for designer reading glasses with accents on the outer edges.

Round -Round faces have round foreheads and chins. They look cute and younger. They do not seem to age, and resemble the faces of babies. If you have a round face you share your face shape with Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. Rectangular or angular frames that are wider will make your face appear oval. A frame with a clear bridge and rhinestone temples will make your reading glasses look snazzy.

Oval -An oval face is something that everyone desires. An oval face has high cheekbones and soft jaw lines. If you have an oval shaped face, you share your face shape with Ashley Judd and Britney Spears. In order to maintain that lovely oval look, you must select a frame that will be as wide or just a little wider than your face. Accented frames and designer reading glasses may mar the perfect balance of your face; so keep your reading glass frames simple.

Oblong -If anyone tells you that an oblong face reflects sadness, Celine Dion or Jennifer Love Hewitt may just prove them wrong. This type of face is not as wide as it is long, and has elongated cheek lines. You can select reading glasses with a low bridge to make your nose appear shorter, and accented temples to add width to your face.

Diamond -If your cheek bones are prominent and they taper towards your forehead and your chin, you have a diamond shaped face. If you are worried about your cheekbones, have a look at Madonna and Sophia Loren, and you will begin to appreciate your face. Butterfly shaped frames, square frames or designer reading glasses with accented tops will give your face a well rounded appearance.

Heart -If you have high cheekbones and your face tapers towards the chin, you have a heart shaped face. You fall in the same category as Naomi Campbell and Mariah Carrey. The heart shape is more pronounced when you are smiling. Frames without rims and with the glass screwed to the temples are the best for your type of face.





By: Kent Hamilton

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Awesome totally unique show! front row.. yes that’s my hand holding daryl up =) Enjoy!

Glass is undoubtedly one of the most popular materials used for different ornamental and industrial projects. Homeowners are recognizing the need to cut glass because more often, there are just simple tasks at home that need the ability and skill to do so. Thus, the popularity of glass cutting tools is a natural and phenomenal occurrence. These days, such glass cutting materials are proliferating across the market.

If you are not yet that familiar about the most useful and recommended glass cutting tools, there is a need for you to catch up. There are just too many of such items in the market these days and the number is continuously rising. Perhaps a trip to the hardware or home keeping shop will be effective and helpful to bring you the needed exposure.

Observe precautionary measures and extra care when handling glass materials for whatever purpose you may have. This is a logical and practical tip. You know that glass materials can easily cut you, especially if you are a little clumsy. However, even if you are extremely careful, you might still get some cuts if you try to cut glass without using the necessary and prescribed tools and instruments.

Here are some of the most commonly found glass cutting tools across the market. If you are out to buy any glass cutter you will initially encounter any of the following common glass cutting tools.

Solid brass glass cutter – The solid brass glass cutter is oil filled and is supplied with a professional quality cutting head. Usually, you can easily recognize and distinguish this glass cutting tool because it comes with a knurled handle that is painted creatively and impressively with dark gray and other colors. The brass oil filled plug is also o-ring sealed. The item is not very expensive, usually costing around $30 on the average.

Running pliers – You may not initially classify a running pliers as among glass cutting tools. However, you should get used to categorizing the object as one. In general, running pliers are used strategically to break glass along a line that is scored using a cutter. The tool has jaws that are coated with plastic and are angled to apply pressure into the glass in the spot where you may want to break it or cut it. The running pliers are among the cheapest glass cutting tools there are in the market, costing about $10 on the average.

Tile cutter or nipper – This is a professional quality type of cutter that is designed to conveniently cut small pieces and strips of glass materials. Aside from expertly and smoothly cutting stained glass, the item is also used popularly and widely as a cutting tool for ceramic tiles, shells, terrazzo and stones of about a quarter of an inch thick. Some people note that these glass cutting tools are most admirable and effective when used in mosaics. Thus, home keepers like this one because of its versatility and wider use. The average price on the market stands at about $30.

Pistol grip cutter – For requirements of cutting glass into longer and more precise strips, the pistol grip glass cutting tool is the most recommended. Usually, the instrument has a wheel that is carbide scoring glass and allowing for breakage along the especially scored line. This type of glass cutter is the most popular choice among home owners because of its wide availability. Beginners can even have the advantage of easily figuring out how this equipment is practically used. The average price tags stand at about $30. Not bad for a very helpful glass cutting tool.





By: Mike L.

sing a song wiv ur glass jaw

Me playing “Pink Roses” off of Glassjaw’s ‘Worship and Tribute’ Gear Used: Fender Toronado Deluxe (tuned DADGBE) 1993 Peavey 5150 head + matching 4×12 cab