How to Sand and Buff Glass Edges for a Smooth Finish

If you're planning on repurposing old glass or reusing a piece in your glass collection, it's important to smooth out any chipped or jagged edges. That way, you can continue using the piece safely and not worry that it's going to cut you or someone else. If you're not sure how to smooth out a glass edge, don't worry—we'll make the process crystal clear! Keep reading to learn 3 different methods for smoothing glass edges, including using sandpaper , a drill , and silicon carbide , with sanding and safety tips from glassblowing experts at Bicycle Glass.

Sanding a Glass Edge: Overview

Wet a piece of 80-grit sandpaper and lay it on a work surface. Set the glass edge onto the sandpaper and move it across in circles for at least 5 minutes. Rotate the glass every 2-3 circles to ensure a more even edge. Polish the edge by switching to a finer grit every 1-2 minutes, then wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Sandpaper to Smooth a Glass Edges

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1
Wet a piece of 80-grit sandpaper and lay it down on a work surface. Make sure the 80-grit sandpaper is very wet and that your work surface is hard and durable. To wet your sandpaper, dip it into a container of clean water, then sprinkle some additional water on top of the paper after you lay it down. ^{[1]
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- A popular alternative to sandpaper is an emery cloth , available in a wide selection of grits (including 80-grit). Emery cloth is more durable and flexible than sandpaper, which can help you sand around the curves of the glass edge better. But sandpaper is generally cheaper and easier to find.
- Wetting the sandpaper will help cut down on the amount of glass dust kicked up during sanding. It also gives the glass a shinier, more polished finish.
- Opt for dry sandpaper if you want your glass to look frosted or etched.
2
Place the cut edge of the glass down onto the sandpaper. Hold the glass in your dominant hand and keep the wet sandpaper steady with your non-dominant hand. ^{[2]
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Research source} Since you're handling what is essentially a piece of broken glass, David Royce from Bicycle Glass recommends donning protective gear such as thick gloves. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask to prevent glass dust from irritating your eyes, nose, and throat. ^{[3]
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Bicycle Glass
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- If your glass has multiple sharp edges, hold it so that none of the edges can cut your palm. If it’s impossible to hold your glass this way, consider smoothing the edges using a different method.
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3
Move the glass in a circular motion for 5 minutes to smooth the edge. Apply gentle downward pressure onto the top of the glass so that you drive it slightly into the sandpaper. ^{[4]
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Research source} Rotate the piece of glass every 2-3 circles to keep the sanding more uniform. ^{[5]
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- If you don't rotate your piece of glass, you may end up sanding one side much more than the others, leaving a noticeably uneven finish.
- Aim to do this for at least around 5 minutes to ensure that the glass edge is adequately smoothed.
4
Sand the inner and outer corners of the glass edge by hand. After you finish sanding the “front” of the glass edge, pick up the sandpaper and dip it into the water again to dampen it. Then, take the sandpaper in your dominant hand and place it over the glass edge so that your thumb and middle finger are over the corners of the edge. Finally, rub the sandpaper back and forth to sand down these sharp corners until they’re smooth. ^{[6]
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- Keep the sandpaper wet as you do this. You may need to continually dip it into the water to keep it adequately moist.
5
Repeat this process with increasingly finer grits of sandpaper. Sand down the edges with 150-grit , 220-grit , 320-grit , then finally 400-grit sandpaper to make your glass even smoother. Work with each grit for 1-2 minutes each. Then, use 1000-grit and 2000-grit sandpaper to finish polishing the edge. ^{[7]
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- Wipe the edge of the glass with a damp cloth once you’ve finished sanding to mop up any lingering dust.
EXPERT TIP

Bicycle Glass
Glassblowing Experts
Bicycle Glass Co. was founded in 2016 by David Royce and Michael Boyd, two professional glass experts. Bicycle Glass is primarily a lighting company, committed to quality, sustainability, and affordability. All Bicycle Glass products are made of high-quality, recycled glass and are hand-blown by a dedicated team of artisans. The studio is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by conserving energy in all of its production. Using renewable wind energy to offset all electricity usage, the studio is actively working toward the goal of carbon neutrality. Bicycle Glass believes that high-quality, handmade glass products should be within reach for everyone.

Bicycle Glass
Glassblowing Experts

Gradually increasing grit sizes is critical to a buffed or polished edge. Alternatively, you can use a felt wheel and cerium oxide to remove scratches and achieve a smooth finish.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Sanding Glass Edges with a Drill

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1
Attach a sanding bit to a Dremel tool or power drill. For best results, choose a medium-grit sandpaper (60- to 100-grit) and a relatively large sanding bit . The larger the bit, the more of the edge it will be able to smooth at once. ^{[8]
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- Make sure the sanding bit is the right size for your glass piece. For example, if you’re smoothing the edges of a wine bottle that you’ve cut in half, make sure the sanding bit can fit inside the hole so it can sand the inner edge of the glass rim.
2
Hold the tool with your dominant hand and the glass with the other hand. You can try placing your piece of glass in a clamp to keep it secure, but this makes it much more likely that the edge of your glass will crack. However, you should only hold the glass by hand if you can safely grasp it without coming into contact with the sanding bit. ^{[9]
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- Be very careful when handling glass and electrical tools. Wear gloves, eye protection, and a ventilation mask. ^{[10]
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- If your glass object is too small to safely hold by hand, use a clamp to hold it or use an alternative method to smooth out the edges.
3
Run the sanding bit against the inner edge of the glass. Press the power button to start the power tool and hold the side of the bit against the inside corner of the edge of the glass. Don’t apply any pressure to the sanding bit, or else you may break the glass. Instead, says Royce, simply hold it against the edge to allow the smoothing process to take place. ^{[11]
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- Spend about 3-5 minutes doing this to smooth the inner edge of the glass to your liking.
- Be sure to wear a ventilation mask during this step, since the sanding process will kick up a lot of glass powder into the air.
4
Move the sanding bit to the top and outer corner of the glass edge. Work in toward the center and out toward the outside edge to get a rounded edge. Rotate the bit slowly until you've traveled around the entire outside edge. ^{[12]
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- This step shouldn’t take more than 3-5 minutes.
5
Repeat this process with fine-grit sandpaper to polish the edge. Replace the sandpaper on your sanding bit with fine-grit sandpaper (120- to 220-grit). Then, run the sanding bit over the edge of the glass again to make it even smoother. Repeat this step as necessary with increasingly finer grits until the glass edge is polished to your liking. ^{[13]
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- You can also simply polish the glass edge by hand if you don’t want to continue using the power tool.
- Once you’ve finished sanding, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away any leftover grit or dust.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Smoothing Glass Edges with Silicon Carbide

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1
Place a piece of float glass over rubber foam on your work surface. You’ll use the float glass as the main work surface on which you’ll grind your glass edges. The rubber foam layer will keep the float glass in place so it doesn’t slide off during the grinding process. ^{[14]
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- If you don’t have a dedicated piece of float glass, you can also use a piece of scrap plate glass, such as a piece of window, mirror, or picture glass.
2
Add water and 120-grit silicon carbide powder to the glass. Pour water into the center of your float glass to create a small puddle. Then, pour enough 120-grit silicon carbide to cover the surface of the puddle. Finally, use your gloved fingers to gently stir the silicon carbide and water together. ^{[15]
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- To make it easier to add the silicon carbide powder, place it in a small disposable cup first and then pour it onto the glass.
- Alternatively, some people prefer smoothing glass edges with a solid silicon carbide stick , also called a sharpening stone.
3
Set the sharp edge of the glass against the float glass. Grasp the piece of glass you're smoothing with your dominant hand (or both hands, if needed). Be sure to place the glass edge directly over the spot where you mixed the silicon carbide with the water. ^{[16]
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- For maximum safety, wear thick gloves to avoid cutting your hands on the glass, a ventilation mask, and safety glasses.
4
Circle your hand and the bottle around the glass for 30-60 seconds. Move the glass over and through the silicon carbide in a figure 8 motion, applying gentle downward pressure as you do so. Make sure to stay on the float glass and avoid going beyond the silicon carbide puddle. ^{[17]
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- Look at the edge of the glass after about a minute of circling. If the glass is no longer glossy and is smooth to the touch all around, you're done.
5
Wipe the glass off with a towel and use sandpaper to smooth the inside. Use a wet paper towel or a dedicated cloth towel to remove the silicon carbide water from the glass piece. ^{[18]
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Research source} Then, use wet, fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the inner corner of the edge of the glass if needed.
- If you’re smoothing the bottom of a cut glass bottle, for example, you won’t be able to smooth the inner corners of the glass edge with the silicon carbide puddle.
- You can also use sandpaper to sand down any rough spots you find that the silicon carbide didn’t touch.

Community Q&A

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Question

Where can I find an emery cloth?

Community Answer

Local hardware stores will have one. Emery cloth is just a stronger structured sandpaper with a different chemical compound to do the sanding/smoothing.

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Will these same items work on antique cut glass? I have a small water pitcher that has several small chips in the edge of the spout.

Community Answer

It will work but you have to be very careful not to accidentally sand the sides of the pitcher with the sand paper as it will show extremely visible scratches. Practice on something else first a few times to get the hang of it.

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How can I remove a scratch on my glass table?

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Loctite glass glue dries fast and clear. A single drop on a toothpick might run the length of the scratch. Several applications might be required; don't try to do it all at once.

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Things You'll Need

Using Sandpaper

80-grit , 150-grit , 220-grit , 320-grit , & 400-grit sandpaper
Water
Gloves
Dust mask
Safety glasses

Using a Drill

Dremel tool or power drill
Sanding bit
Medium-grit sandpaper
Fine-grit sandpaper
Gloves
Ventilation mask
Safety glasses

Using Silicon Carbide

Float glass
Rubber foam
Water
120-grit silicon carbide
Fine-grit sandpaper
Gloves
Ventilation mask
Safety glasses

Tips

Wash any glass pieces you plan to eat or drink from with dish soap and water after sanding.

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Bicycle Glass
Glassblowing Experts

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How to Sand and Buff Glass Edges for a Smooth Finish

Sanding a Glass Edge: Overview

Steps

Using Sandpaper to Smooth a Glass Edges

Sanding Glass Edges with a Drill

Smoothing Glass Edges with Silicon Carbide

Community Q&A

Video

Things You'll Need

Using Sandpaper

Using a Drill

Using Silicon Carbide

Tips

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Expert Interview

References

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