Silberschnitt running pliers are the highest quality pliers available for stained glass artisans.  They feature solid aluminum handles, so they are perfectly rigid, allowing greater control when running scores in the glass.  This tutorial will demonstrate how they’re used, making use of the rotating top jaw, allowing you to run a score from any angle.  We apologize for the poor pictures, as they get scaled down, both in size and quality, when they get added to the tutorial.

In the picture below is a deep inside cut that is often encountered during the construction of a stained glass project.  Depending on the glass used, this can be a difficult, nerve-wracking cut to make!

The next picture shows the first break made, once the line has been scored.  Notice how the rubber breaking bar on the top jaw of the pliers is positioned perpendicular to the score line.  This is important, and being able to keep that perpendicular angle will become more important later.  After this break, the score has been run about an inch into the glass.

The next picture shows the second break made.  The pliers are reaching into the glass from the edge, but the breaking bar on the top jaw has been rotated, so it is still perpendicular to the scored line.  The throat on these pliers is extra deep, so it can reach further into the glass than regular running pliers can.  Positioning the pliers for this break would have been impossible with traditional running pliers.  After this break, the score has been run about 2/3 of the way around the total curve.

In the fifth picture, the pliers have been positioned for the third break.  The breaking block on the top jaw has been rotated again, allowing it to remain perpendicular to the score line, even though the handles of the pliers are not.  After this break, the piece is nearly loose, and just needs a final break at the end of the score.

The picture below shows the final break, allowing the piece of glass to pop loose.  With these Silberschnitt running pliers, you can actually watch the score being run, millimeter by millimeter.  This gives you precise control over the distance being run, and precise control over how the glass will break.  These pliers also work great for mosaic work, breaking glass for fusing/slumping in a kiln, and breaking glass for stepping stones.  We’ve sold many pairs of these pliers, and are the only supplier on eBay carrying them.  See the hand tools section of our eBay store at the link below for our current auction of these great pliers, and also the famous yellow-handled Silberschnitt grozing pliers, famous in professional glass studios worldwide!  Buy both and save, as we can ship them both for the same shipping charge as either one individually.  Be sure to visit our eBay store for a wide variety of quality tools and supplies, including eBay’s largest selection of clear/colored bevels, and high quality solder.

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