I ordered a polycarbonate protective glass for a smart display and it turned out to be a couple of mm longer than the screen. How and with what can I carefully trim it? And where is it better to cut - from the top (corners) or from the bottom?
I think you can do without a knife. You will need sandpaper somewhere around 80-100 number, and some kind of flat object (ideally a wooden block). The sandpaper can either be glued to the block or nailed with nails or a stapler. Sand along the edge - this way there will be no chips. I see that the glass is also uneven from the bottom; both places can be polished. You may need 200 grit sandpaper or more if the glass edge is rough.
The device is protected from shocks and scratches by protective glass , which is several times harder than the most durable film. If the glass does not fit, it needs to be cut. It is best to do this with a laser engraver, which does not damage the layers in the glass.
It will not be possible to cut it with scissors or a glass cutter, since the protective glass crumbles. A paper cutter won't work either. The only thing that worked for us was using sandpaper on a block. It’s better to immediately take the correct measurements and buy the right glass right away.
If you are wondering about cutting the protective glass, it means that there is most likely no original accessory for your smartphone model, and the universal one does not fit in height or width.
Unfortunately, many smartphone users face this problem, despite the fact that the market for protective accessories is growing at a tremendous pace.
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How to replace protective glass
Prepare a new replacement glass and a wet and dry cloth to remove traces of the previous glass. Usually the necessary wipes come with a new protective coating. If wipes are not available, use a regular alcohol wipe or a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
You will also need a wooden toothpick or a wooden match sharpened at one end to pry and remove the old glass. You will also need a dry cloth to squeeze out air, stickers to remove dust particles, or tape with stationery scissors. Before replacing glass, wash your hands to degrease or use rubber gloves.
Instructions:
Place your mobile device on a flat surface. It is advisable to place a towel or other non-slip fabric.
Use a toothpick or match to pry off the protective glass. The best place is in a corner or where the glass has peeled off. Next, with light movements to the left and right, move along the glass to gradually separate the silicone base, which is used to fasten the glass.
To prevent the glass from accidentally sticking back, place a plastic card in the place where you managed to separate the glass. Do not apply excessive force when holding the glass tightly, otherwise the glass may break or crack.
After two years of use, it is often impossible to remove old glass without damaging the glass itself. In this case, you should stick stationery tape over the glass and continue to slowly remove the glass.
Once the silicone has loosened sufficiently, remove the glass.
Wipe the screen module with a damp cloth No. 1 to remove the previous silicone coating and dust. Use a dry cloth No. 2 to remove any remaining moisture and remaining stains.
Clean your smartphone glass.
Remove any remaining moisture.
Before installation, attach the glass to the screen module for fitting.
Remove shipping film No. 1 from the new glass.
Place the edge of the new glass against the screen module, and then gradually release the glass, simultaneously squeezing out the air with a dry cloth.
If there is air or dust particles trapped under the glass, remove the glass using a wooden toothpick or match. Smooth the glass again to remove air. Use Guide Stickers or office tape to remove dust particles.
After successful installation, remove shipping film No. 2.
Alternative solutions to the problem
The fact that it is not possible to carefully cut protective glass at home does not mean that you will have to be left without a protective accessory. We offer several options to solve this problem.
Selecting protective glass from another model
In order to select such a protective glass. You will have to spend a lot of time in the accessory store, and if you are ready for this, then first you need to select a list of smartphone models with the same screen diagonal and aspect ratio. At the same time, it is also worth considering the placement of the earpiece (whether a cutout is needed for it), after which, with a huge list, you need to go to the store where you can apply protective glasses and weed out the unsuitable ones.
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It is also worth clarifying that the likelihood that the cutout for the proximity and lighting sensors will coincide with their locations on your smartphone is close to zero, which means that they will not work under a layer of glass.
In this same block we will also include fittings of universal glasses from different manufacturers, since with the same diagonal, different manufacturers make glass with different heights and widths. In this case, you can look at these indicators in the glass characteristics in the online store.
Trimming the universal protective film
If you cannot cut the protective glass at home, then with the film things are different, but you should follow some recommendations so as not to damage the adhesive layer.
You can cut not only universal film, but also any other film.
To do this, place it on the smartphone screen with the side marked 1 down, trace the contours, but do not mark small holes, you will not be able to cut them out so as not to damage the silicone layer, instead of several small cutouts, it is better to make one common one for them.
Place the film on a hard work surface and cut with a sharp utility knife or scalpel in one motion. Do not use scissors, they will bend the edge and it will not stick in this place.
Next, you can glue the film to the device screen, having previously treated it from grease and dust with the wipes included with the film.
The protective film is not as hard as glass, but in most cases it is enough to protect the screen from scratches and abrasions.
Is it possible to do without glass at all? Yes, use a book case
Although this option is not the most reliable, most of the time the smartphone in such a case is closed and the likelihood of damage to the screen is minimal. And if you combine the protective film with a book case, you can keep your screen in excellent condition throughout the entire period of use.
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And as a nice bonus, we offer readers of this article a 10% discount on protective accessories in the online store Floy.com.ua
To do this, use the promotional code art10 when placing an order, and the order amount will be reduced by 10% .
How to replace the protective film
The principle of replacing protective film is similar to glass. It is advisable to prepare 2 films, since due to difficulties in installation, it is not always possible to stick the film the first time. You also need a dry cloth to squeeze out air, stickers or tape with office scissors to remove dust particles, a wooden toothpick or a sharpened match.
Instructions:
Use a wooden toothpick or match to pry it off and then remove the film.
Wipe the coating with a damp cloth No. 1 to remove any remaining silicone coating and dust. Use dry cloth No. 2 to wipe away any remaining moisture and remaining stains.
Try on the film, then remove shipping cover No. 1.
Place the edge of the protective film on the screen of your mobile device.
Use a dry cloth to squeeze out the air trapped under the film and gradually continue further installation of the protective coating.
If there is any remaining air or dust particles, remove the film to remove air or dust particles.
If installation is successful, remove shipping cover No. 2 from the film.
So is it possible to cut glass after tempering?
In fact, tempered glass can be cut. But you need to properly prepare for this so as not to end up turning a whole sheet into a mass of parts with blunt edges. To destroy a sheet, it is enough to simply hit its end with any suitable object. To change the size of the product, create cutouts, etc., you need to adhere to the technology and, first of all, directly study the properties of tempered glass.
Example 1. Tempered glass cutting technology.
The manufacturing technology of tempered glass is such that during its production, zones called internal stress areas are formed. When heated and further sharply cooled, the stress zones are redistributed. As a result of such changes, the inner layers retain the characteristics of a liquid body, remaining viscous, and the outer layers become much more durable when compared with simple glass that has not undergone the tempering procedure.
When point blows are applied to the end zones, another redistribution of the existing stresses occurs. Due to microcracks, the integrity of the sheet is compromised, so that if handled incorrectly, even the slightest blow will lead to the formation of extensive webs of cracks of various sizes. The glass will simply collapse at the slightest external force. This principle is the basis for car windows: they can be easily broken by a sharp blow from a sharp object. The film makes the glass injury-proof: it holds the fragments and does not allow them to harm the driver.
Thus, tempered glass receives its special properties directly during the tempering process. According to the technology, the material is first cut into the required pieces, holes are made, the shape is set, and after that it is hardened. Experts recommend refraining from further mechanical processing. However, if you are serious and categorical, first prepare your tools and remember the important nuances of cutting tempered glass.
Cutting tempered glass at home
Tempered glass is considered one of the most common materials. To increase its strength, hardening technology is used. After carrying out such a procedure, the degree of machinability of the material is significantly reduced. When considering whether it is possible to cut tempered glass, we note that only by using special technologies can the occurrence of a defect be avoided. Today, cutting tempered glass can be done at home, using a variety of tools.
Why do you need glass?
Previously, the smartphone screen was covered with film to protect it from cracks. Over time, dust accumulated under the edges of the film, which scratched the display and spoiled the appearance of the device. Also, the film often worsened color reproduction and slowed down the sensor's response to clicks. The film was replaced by tempered glass, which:
- reliably absorbs shock - if dropped hard, it will crack, leaving the display intact;
- scratch-resistant - even if you carry your phone in the same pocket as your keys, there will be no traces of contact;
- holds tightly over the entire surface.
The disadvantages include the thickness - after applying the sticker, the smartphone will become 0.2-0.5 mm wider. Also, good glass is not cheap, but it is still several times cheaper than replacing a broken screen.
Preparation of the workplace
This advice seems absurd to many. Before gluing the protective glass, you need to wet clean the room where the work will be carried out. This is necessary to remove dust from the room. All electrical appliances attract the smallest dirt, and smartphones are no exception. This complicates the application of the protective coating. Due to the settling of tiny dust particles, invisible to the eye, animal hair creates air bubbles.
Before gluing the protective glass, we wet clean the room
If for some reason there is no time to clean, then at least ventilate the room. The bathroom or kitchen, where there is the least dust, is most suitable for gluing.
Despite the possibility of following the previous recommendation, be sure to wipe the table on which all work will be carried out with a damp cloth. It is advisable to moisten a cloth with water and detergent or antistatic agent. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and wear thin medical gloves.
Features of stickers for some models
The main feature of each individual product will be the size of the glass and the presence of holes for function keys. As an example, it would be relevant to study the features that protection for an iPhone has, for example, a product such as Zool iPhone 5 0.1mm 9H.
Such pieces of glass have such features as an exact match to the size of the smartphone, the presence of a special coating for comfortable operation of the device, and increased protective properties of the glass combined with an ultra-thin design. However, as with other products, it is unlikely to be possible to remove the glass and put it back in place a second time.
Remember that you are putting a screen protector on your iPhone for security, not aesthetics or functionality. Carefully match all edges and holes before placing the glass screen on the device.
Can tempered glass be cut? — Machine tools, welding, metalworking
Glass cutting is carried out mainly in production, but sometimes such a need arises at home. Of course, it is very good if a person has cut glass at least once in his life, but what should those who have no idea how to cut tempered glass do?
To cut glass, you need to purchase a glass cutter; it looks very similar to a can opener. In production, they use special, equipped tables for cutting tempered glass, and in domestic conditions, you can use an ordinary dining table, having previously covered it with a thin cloth.
How to cut glass without a glass cutter
Tools for cutting glass were not always as widespread as they are today. In the second half of the last century, people came up with their own ways to conquer this capricious material, without using a glass cutter. In fact, to cut non-tempered glass up to 8 mm thick, you can use many available items, you just need to have a little skill.
It is better to start listing items suitable for working with glass by identifying the types of impact on this material. The main methods include thermal, when glass is heated in a certain place, and physical, when it is cut by brute force. The industry uses a waterjet cutting method, when glass is processed using expensive equipment under strong water pressure.
To cut glass using the thermal method, all you need is a small piece of string and a flammable liquid like alcohol or acetone; a soldering iron and a burning apparatus can also be used as a cutter. To cut glass by physical force, you can use a file, a pobedit drill, a nail, a thin diamond disk, and even ordinary tailor's scissors. Of course, some of the listed items are difficult to get a good chip, but with the right skill, a quite suitable result can come out. Now, knowing how you can cut glass without a glass cutter, you can move on to the process itself.
Step-by-step instructions for cutting tempered glass
Cutting tempered glass involves preliminary annealing of this material. The process involves heating tempered glass evenly. The main task of this stage is to eliminate the stresses that appeared in the material during the previously performed hardening. It is these stresses that are the main obstacle to cutting safety glass. Get rid of them and you will be able to realize what you planned.
Annealing is performed in the following order. First, the glass is soaked in water at a constant temperature. It is necessary to soak until the temperature corresponding to the viscosity in the furnace unit is reached. It is equal to η = 1013 Poise. The time it takes to soak depends on how large a piece of glass you are cutting.
Example 2. Tempered glass cutting technology.
Glass brands Bullseye, Effetre and Lauscha are soaked at a temperature of +504 degrees Celsius. Borosilicate glass requires a higher soaking temperature, +566 degrees. And for Satake brand glass, the optimal temperature is +477 degrees. It takes an average of 20 minutes to soak small beads. Larger beads should be kept for an hour. Large paperweights are aged for 12 hours or more. Especially large products weighing 40 kg or more in some situations require hardening for a period of several months.
The glass must be gradually cooled to a temperature below the deformation temperature. It is equal to η = 1014.5 Poise. The process should be done fairly slowly so that additional stress does not occur. Satake brand glass is cooled at a temperature of +399 degrees Celsius. For cooling products of other brands, a temperature of +427 degrees is suitable. The glass must be cooled in the oven to room temperature.
Put on your safety glasses and start cutting the annealed glass. Take a square and mark the cutting line. The square must be held along the left line. Cut along the line with a glass cutter. Press with medium force, making a scratch along the marking line. It is allowed to carry out only 1 time along the line.
Next, you need to take a wooden rod 6mm in diameter, place it under the cutting line and apply a quick and sharp pressing force on both sides. If done correctly, the glass will break into 2 neat pieces. The edges of the resulting parts must be processed using a grinding stone. This will make the product more durable and safe.
If desired, the glass can be re-tempered. It is better if a professional does this work. The procedure requires appropriate skills and special equipment, so a beginner simply cannot cope with it.
Since the process of cutting tempered glass, which in practice is cutting annealed glass, is multi-step, you can simplify the task by purchasing plain glass, cutting off the desired sections from it, or preparing the desired holes and tempering it. This will save money, effort and time.
The list of necessary tools and devices mentioned a thermostat. It is needed to maintain the temperature in the oven at a constant level. You can do without it, but it’s easier with it.
Therefore, cutting tempered glass is very difficult. If you do not want to spoil the finished product, it is better to order new tempered glass or cut regular material and then either temper it or order it. Good luck!
