ON CUTTING GLASS. 263 



to be named. Now, supposing we wish to cut the slides of 

 the usual size, viz., three inches long by one inch wide, we 

 must be provided with two rulers, the one not quite one 

 inch broad, the other not quite three inches, as no diamond 

 will cut close to the edge of the ruler, in consequence of its 

 being set in the middle of a piece of steel or brass, therefore 

 the distance of the cut, made by the diamond-point from the 

 edge of the ruler, will be regulated by the thickness of the 

 setting, and as no two are of the same thickness, it becomes 

 necessary to have the rulers, at first, of the respective 

 breadths of one inch and three inches, and then to have 

 one edge planed, until the cut made by the diamond is 

 exactly the right measure. When those who use plate- 

 glass prefer having the edges of their sUdes either ground 

 or polished, it is as well to keep the rulers of the exact size 

 of the slide, viz., one of an inch and the other of three inches 

 broad, by these the slides will be cut larger than is required, 

 but the loss the edges sustain in the grinding will, in all 

 probability, bring them down to the proper size. 



Process of Cutting. — In the cutting of slides, it is advisable 

 first to cut the glass into strips three inches broad, this is 

 done in the following manner : — One edge of the glass, if not 

 quite straight, is to be made so by cutting a thin strip off; 

 this straight side is to be placed against the thin raised edge 

 on the cutting-board, and pressed firmly towards it, the broad 

 ruler is then to be laid upon the glass, and also pressed 

 against the raised edge, and a cut, made with the diamond in 

 the manner previously described ; we shall now have a strip 

 of glass three inches broad. The next step is to make one of 

 its ends square, this may be done by laying the strip against 

 the raised edge of the cutting-board, with one extremity ex- 

 tending a little beyond it, the broad ruler, being perfectly 

 square at both ends, is now to be placed with one of these 

 against the raised edge and a cut made, this will render the 

 end of the strip of the glass square ; this squared end is then to 

 be brought against the edge of the cutting-board, and, with 

 the narrow ruler, it can be cut up into as many slides of three 

 inches by one as its length will admit of; when these are 



