Methods of separating a glass web

A method of separating a glass web comprising a first edge and a second edge opposed to the first edge, comprising:

• exposing a separation path on the glass web from the first edge to the second edge to at least one laser beam to produce thermal stress along the separation path from the first edge to the second edge without damaging the glass web, and the exposing comprises repeatedly passing a laser beam spot of the at least one laser beam along the separation path to produce the thermal stress along the separation path from the first edge to the second edge, wherein a portion of a laser beam of the at least one laser beam extends off an edge of the glass web;
• and
• redirecting the portion of the laser beam to repeatedly intersect a location of the separation path with the laser beam spot while producing the thermal stress along the separation path from the first edge to the second edge during the exposing, wherein repeatedly intersecting the location of the separation path with the laser beam spot creates a defect at the location of the separation path while the separation path is under thermal stress from the first edge to the second edge during the exposing, whereupon the glass web separates along the separation path in response to creating the defect.