Glass tiles are becoming very popular for interior design concepts. Usually, glass tiles are attractive options for bathroom accents, shower walls, and backsplashes. The modern kitchen style also adopts this interior option. This is because glass tiles are easy to clean due to the glossy surface.
But the thing is, glass tiles can be easily broken during the installation process if not polished or cut perfectly, especially when the edges are still not that polished cut that you can’t fit the pieces together. So, in this blog, we will guide you in learning “how to polish cut glass tile edges” and the important tips to successfully install it on your house interiors.
How to Polish Cut Glass Tile Edges?
Polishing cut glass tile edges can be quite tricky if you are not familiar with the process. Some homeowners shared that they don’t want their glass edge to look dull when they cut its end. This is where polishing will come through. The glass edges should be well polished to avoid possible sharp and dull edges that can be disturbing or dangerous to the people nearby. With that, we came up with this short buyer’s guide, which came from various expert tips on how to polish cut glass tile edges.
Expert Tips for Glass Edge Polishing
Is it really necessary to polish your glass tile edges? When you are cutting glass materials, there is a possibility of small micro-breaks on the edges which increase the risk of breaking due to increased inner tensions under isolation. Polishing glass edges are also a safety prevention habit since it is a probable risk of accidental injuries like in an exposed glass wall or frameless door.
To guide you on how to polish cut glass tile edges, here’s a short description of the following methods you can use for a successful result.
Straight Glass Edge Polishing Machines
Glass edging machines are designed to grind and polish the edges of a cut glass tile. One commonly used glass edging machine is a straight-line edging machine which is applied for processing the straight edge of flat glass with arising, coarse grinding, fine grinding, and polishing in one operation.
Straight-line edging machines are known for their fast, accurate, and stable glass edging performance. It can be used anywhere as it is easy to be transported and installed. You won’t worry about its structures since it is characterized to have a robust structural design with a compact and space-effective design.
Glass Double Edge Deletion Table
You can also use an edge deletion table like the Low-E Deletion Table for double glass edges. This has a full-automatic and semi-automatic program. If you want to use its automatic function, you can adjust the distance of the stopping limit with respect to the glass surface. This is to make sure that the distance of the machine can be moved from left to right, which saves time and increase work efficiency.
Glass Beveling Machine
If you are achieving more accurate ground angles of your glass tile edges, you can use glass beveling machines. This is an excellent machine for rough grinding and fine grinding applications which provides well-polished effects similar to the mirror surface. It is also known for its 9/10/11 head bevel and bottom grinding feature.
Glass Grinding Wheels For Special Shaped Edging Machines
If you’ve chosen your glass edging machine and still don’t know what tool to use, there are lots of abrasive products that you use to achieve various special-shaped glass edges like a flat edge, pencil edge, triple OG, bevel 1, triple bevel, and convex glass edge shape.
List of grinding wheels for special shape glass edges:
| Product Name | Size(mm) | Hole Size(mm) | Mesh | Glass Thickness(mm) |
| FE flat edge glass diamond wheel | 100 | 22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 175 | 12/22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 200 | 12/22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| PE pencil edge diamond wheel for glass(Continuous/Segmented) | 100 | 22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 175 | 12/22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 200 | 12/22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| FA Trapezoidal edge glass diamond grinding wheel (Continuous/Segmented- diamond flat wheel with arris) | 100 | 22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 175 | 12/22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 200 | 12/22 | 80#-240# | 5-24 | |
| 45° glass diamond grinding wheel for CNC( Continuous/Segmented) | 100 | 22 | 80#-240# | 8-25 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#-240# | 8-25 | |
| 175 | 22 | 80#-240# | 8-25 | |
| CNC peripheral segmented flat edge glass diamond wheel | 100 | 22 | 80# | 8-25 |
| 150 | 22 | 80# | 8-25 | |
| 175 | 22 | 80# | 8-25 | |
| OG/2OG/3OG glass diamond wheel for CNC machine( Continuous/Segmented) | 100 | 22 | 80#/240# | 8/10/12/15/19 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#/240# | 8/10/12/15/19 | |
| Two/three groove circular arc diamond wheel for glass( pencil edge/trapezoidal edge) | 100 | 22 | 80#-240# | 8-25 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#-240# | 8-25 | |
| 175 | 22 | 80#-240# | 8-25 | |
| 1/4 diamond bull nose grinding wheel for glass( Continuous/Segmented) | 100 | 22 | 80#-240# | 10/12/15/19 |
| 150 | 22 | 80#-240# | 10/12/15/19 |
Trim Profiles for Glass Edge Polishing
You can also use various trim profiles in polishing or finishing glass cut edges. Trim profiles are vertical trim pieces that can be put at the edge of the glass so it won’t be exposed and the tiles will be installed and finished well. Here are various trim profiles you can use for polishing glass edges.
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Glass Liners
For glass edges that are quite hard to finish, you may use glass liners. There are often round, pencil-style, or flat liners which can be several inches long. These are an excellent choice for installations due to their rounded variety. These glass liners are commonly installed next to the last row of tiles where the inner edge is grouted. But before you can use this method, make sure that the glass tile you are using has a liner in it. Since the tiles’ color, texture and transparency should be considered in creating glass tiles, mixing or matching different tiles can be done if the color of the tiles and their style coordinates well.
- Other Liners using Ceramic or Stone
If you can’t use glass liners, the alternative for it is to use other liners made from ceramic or stone materials. If you will use this type of liner, make sure to select the liner tile that coordinates well with the color, texture, and accent of your glass tile. For example, you can use a stone liner for a kitchen glass tile backsplash that has a stone floor. This coordinates well with the interior of the room while polishing the edges of the glass tile.
If you are finding it difficult to make transitions on your tiles from one piece to another, you can use metal transition strips such as a transition between a glass tile and a wood floor. This is a modern installation method used nowadays. These are also called Schluter strips that are characterized as long, thin metal strips that come in a variety of colors. Metal transition strips have a small profile compared to ceramics or stone liners.
Procedural Steps in Polishing Glass Tile Edges
When you are about to install your tiles, it is a common problem to make the edge of the tiles not exposed and not that visible. Here are some steps you can follow for polishing glass tile edges.
Step 1: Using a wet tile saw, cut down the tiles based on what size you have planned. After the straight cutting method, you may now lose the nut on the side of the saw blade using a wrench. After removing the nut, you may pull it out and then replace it with a bullnose blade. Before jumping to the next step, make sure that you have already replaced and tightened the nut.
Step 2: The next step you can do next is to line up the edge of the tile using the curve part of the bullnose blade. This will remove the sharp edges in the glass tile and will certainly give it a rounded shape
Step 3: This is where you are going to do the push and pull methods between the tiles and the blade. You can repeat the pushing and pulling method until you get a smoother glass edge.
Step 4: Using a polishing or buffing pad, fit it on an angle grinder to buff the newly rounded edge of the tile until it results in a smoother or polished surface just like the top surface of the glass tile.
Step 5: Lastly, switch on the angle grinder and apply the buffing pad to the edge of the tile. Roll the pad back and forth across the edge of the tile and on its longest side. Make sure to hold it in one spot while keeping its constant speed. Just continue to roll the pads over the glass edge until it matches the rest of the tile.
Real-Life Application of Polished Glass Tiles
There are various advantages of polishing glass tiles when it comes to industrial development. Since glass reduces the risk of injury in case of pane breakage and provides high aesthetics finishing, it has been used in several fields until today.
Here are some of the industrial glass fields:
- Architectural glass: balcony glass, canopies glass, partition glass
- Home Glass: Kitchen splashbacks, shower glass, furniture glass, glass doors, bathroom mirrors, glass tableware, lighting glass, etc.
- Art Glass: Decorative glass, Church glass windows
- Flat Glass: Automotive glass
- Other Glass Materials: Antique glass, hollow glass, technical glass, float glass, insulating glass, laminated glass, wired glass, toughened glass, solar control glass, sound insulation glass, patterned glass, integrated glass, privacy glass, a glass substrate, solar panel, etc.
This only proves that polishing glass edge tiles have its own purpose when it comes to industrial glass fields.
In terms of how to polish cut glass tile edges, it is very important to know what method is appropriate for the material being used, what factors might affect the polishing process, and what are the important things to remember while doing the process. Whether you use a glass edge polishing machine, trim profile tools, or other methods, you have to be equipped with proper knowledge on how to operate the glass polishing tools before applying them to the material.
To know more about polishing glass tile edges and other abrasive products like our grinding wheels, you can visit our website at agrindtool.com or forturetools.com and check the latest, safest, and coolest high-quality tools for your work application.
More customized specifications are available, contact us.