can saftey glass be cut

gbs · Dec 23, 2011

i need to replace a glass in a tractor cab,have a sheet of saftey glass that is large enough but don't know how to cut it to size or if it can even be done

oldtanker · Dec 23, 2011

Yes it can be cut but your best bet would be to take it to a glass shop and have them cut it.

Rick

Stephen Newell · Dec 23, 2011

There are different types of safety glass. If the glass you have is laminated it can be cut. If the glass is tempered, it would cost more to cut it than ordering a new piece. I can't remember the exact procedure but they have to heat the glass to about 900 degrees and remove the temper, cut it and them re-temper it.

Russ from MN · Dec 23, 2011

I tried cutting to a smaller size a rear window out of about a 51 Pontiac once! Scored it real well on both sides and started tapping on it, eventually it exploded into a million pieces, what a mess to clean up! I did buy a piece of safety glass for the window for a dune buggy, the guy cut it to size for me, must of been the other kind of glass.

Paul Janke · Dec 23, 2011

If it is tempered glass I think it may be able to cut it with a Dremel tool grinding wheel. Maybe running water on it to keep any one area from getting too warm and setting up internal stresses would increase chances of success.

Tony S. · Dec 23, 2011

A guy with a water jet cutter told me that tempered glass is the only thing he can"t cut.

Ralph wd45 · Dec 23, 2011

After reading the existing replies, and years of personal experience, (read that broken glass happenings), do you have the side or top room , to widen or lengthen your cab opening, and make your own frame??? good luck!!

NCWayne · Dec 23, 2011

Standard three layered safety glass, the kind with the thin 'plastic' piece layered between two sheets of glass, can be cut with no problem. This is usually done by scoring both sides to size, tapping it until it cracks. Once it cracks, what I've seen done, is to squirt lighter fluid on the crack and light it. Doing that melts the 'plastic' so the pieces come apart.

Now if your talking tempered safety glass ( the kind that shatters into millions of squares when it breaks) then the answer is no, it can't be cut with what you'd consider normal glass cutting proceedures.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 23, 2011

I'm not sure but I think tempered glass requires a diamond/special bit to cut and wouldn't be surprised if the temper has to be taken out first and then re-tempered. I made some glass shelves one time and the glass place suggested just using thicker standard glass because tempered is a lot more money and if it gets hit right will shatter into a million pieces.

Ryan - WI · Dec 24, 2011

Tempered glass can not be cut - Period. The way normal glass is made is that it is cooled down very slowly and evenly. This allows the glass to shrink uniformly while cooling. Tempered glass is cooled quickly. Because of the amount of mass there, the edges cool first and solidify. Then as the inside cools it wants to shrink but can't since the outside of the glass piece has solidified. The inside then is pulling on the inside and ends up under tension. If any part of the sheet weakens, the entire piece is able to release the internal tension and shatters into the 1/4" pieces we all love.

If you untemper the glass by reheating it (Usually while floating on a pool of mercury) and then cool it slowly the glass can be cut just like normal glass. It must then be retempered.

Laminated glass is 2 pieces of normal glass with either a mesh grid work or plastic sheet in between. This can be cut normally but is a bit more difficult because of the inside layer.

old · Dec 24, 2011

Simple answer is yes and any glass can be cut but few people have the knowledge and or tools to do so. Glass like that is best left to the pros to cut but yes it can be done. Years ago I knew a guy who owned a glass shop but he retired about 15 years ago so I can not even find the answer easy for you

GordoSD · Dec 24, 2011

Take it to a pro glass shop and have them cut it. If he doesn't have the correst pattern he will have to make one from the "hole" it's going into.
I used to cut glass in a shop in the 50's. Safety sheet and safety plate. And I did use alcohol to burn the plastic center layer. Then sand smotth with power grinder.
That glass someone referred to as breaking into a million pieces is referred to in the trade as "herculite". It's legal to use in back glass and some real side glass apps. Or it used to be. Don't know the federal regs now. I know I blew out the big rear side glass on a burb with the lawnmower and that was a 96 model.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 24, 2011

Yes tempered glass can be cut but very few places do
it. I was at a specialty glass place when someone
was asking about getting a hole cut in tempered
glass for of all things, the door handle for a
tractor cab.

showcrop · Dec 24, 2011

I needed to replace a cab glass once. I just took the dimensions to my friend's shop and they cut me the exact odd shape and even gave me the plastic "knife" tool to work it into the mounting rubber strip. Glass is made of dirt and for the most part it is pretty inexpensive.

Cow · Dec 24, 2011

I know automotive glass companies can do it, or at least their factories can but I have no idea what they use.

gbs · Dec 26, 2011

thanks for the replies

can saftey glass be cut

gbs

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oldtanker

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Stephen Newell

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Russ from MN

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Paul Janke

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Tony S.

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Ralph wd45

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NCWayne

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Anonymous-0

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Ryan - WI

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old

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GordoSD

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Anonymous-0

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showcrop

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Cow

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gbs

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