GLASS, back window for the 51.....wanna see?

[lulabelle]

I cut a new back glass for my 51 today.I started by making a guide to find the arch of the top.Just a scrap piece of wood with screws to show contact points.I then went to the junkyard to check it against every windshield that looked close.The winning windshield was from a Fiero.

[lulabelle]

Next I made a template of the fiero glass,and one for the desired backglass shape.It is as wide as the fiero glass shape would allow.Marked the centers and started to get nervous.

[lulabelle]

Put the marks on the glass.

[lulabelle]

Broke out the grinder.

[lulabelle]

thin cut-off wheel.

[lulabelle]

put the glass on old couch cushions so it was supported evenly.and made the first cut.

[lulabelle]

here is the finished product.Now to make the surround.

[lulabelle]

leftovers.

[choprods]

Were you using any special type cutting wheel?
did you saw clear thru or score and break?

and also what are you using for "coolant"-or liquid?

[mazdaslam]

Very cool!! How long did that take to cut?

[lulabelle]

Regular metabo cut off wheel-wd-40.The cutting took less than an hour.The marking took about 2.

[Clark]

Whitney is going to be pissed when she sees what you did with her couch :D
See you tomorrow
Clark

[Skate Fink]

........JT..........you've been my hero, now I know why! Great job.:cool:

[beatnik]

That rules! I'm glad it worked out, I didn't know it could be cut that way.

[old beet]

Lulabelle, good job!!!!!! As a glass guy I can dig it, having done similar many times. I think you will find many of the "one off custom glass" of the high rollers were done this way. Just about every shape is out threr if you do the research. Again, Thanks for the lesson!!!!!!.............OLDBEET

[lulabelle]

That rules! I'm glad it worked out, I didn't know it could be cut that way.I didn't either.See my signature.hahaha

[choprods]

Thanks for posting this Lulabelle-I have to cut the windshield for my 56 Suburban[5"] and was trying to decide what method to use......I have two demos;) to practice on!It will need cut some on all 4 sides....and wrapsaround too.

[50mercfan]

amazing! did you plunge and go or make several passes?

[50mercfan]

can you cut flat glass this way also?

[Tony]

JT, Very cool!
Thanks for the info on the cutting wheel..Thats great to know!!!

Looking forward to seeing this in person.

[lulabelle]

amazing! did you plunge and go or make several passes?alot of light passes with spray lube between.

[lulabelle]

can you cut flat glass this way also?you can,but it makes it a harder process.a simple glass cutter can cut flat in the right hands.

[46mopar]

What no Chevy bowtie? or better yet how bout getting another Fireo windshield cut it up double stack them leave some space in between fill it with water and make your back window a fish tank. Then you'd be my hero.

[50mercfan]

What no Chevy bowtie? or better yet how bout getting another Fireo windshield cut it up double stack them leave some space in between fill it with water and make your back window a fish tank. Then you'd be my hero.


why not a chevrolet bow tie fishtank! and about 17 tv screens!

[39chevy]

Wow that is amazing, never woulda thought of that one. Nice work!!

39

[tokyo]

nice job JT,

really well done..did you go to pyles for "reference"...

tok

[lulabelle]

nice job JT,

really well done..did you go to pyles for "reference"...

tokNo,46 mopar and I went to another yard to look at some other stuff,so I looked there.I then went to yet another yard where I found one already cut out.

[fc ute]

lulabelle,
was the glass from the donor car a front windscreen(laminated glass) or a rear screen (toughened glass)?
craig

[CharlieLed]

Nice job JT...I have read so much about cutting tempered glass that I was never sure what was the right way to go. Seems that you took the bull by the horns and jumped right in! That 51 is shaping up nicely, looks like it won't be long before its ready for a road trip to SoCal...:D

Keep up the good work!

[scarylarry]

You gotta be at least the second smartest guy I know! Good job.

[lulabelle]

lulabelle,
was the glass from the donor car a front windscreen(laminated glass) or a rear screen (toughened glass)?
craigthis was from the windshield.(laminated not tempered)

[ol fueler]

this was from the windshield.(laminated not tempered)

From my experience ( not a lot) with tempered Glass it can't be cut. The second the surface is breached the whole thing Crumbles.

[Paul]

I just checked the Tech Archive

surprisingly there is only one thread about cutting glass
unfortunately the pictures are no longer visible..

Beetle, do you still have them?
if you do we should replace them.

and this thread will definitely be saved
it is too cool no to

thanks for posting lulabelle!

[lulabelle]

Tempered glass can't be cut.
Thanks for the kind words.

[Tman]

Tempered glass can't be cut.
Thanks for the kind words.

Killer post Lulla! The choice of Metabo cut off wheels certainly helped. We use those thin things at the shop, I sent some samples out to HAMBers a few years back.

FYI, if you guys have a Fastenal nearby (they are a national chain) they can get teh thin Metabos.

Cant wait to see the progress on that car!!!!!!!

[lulabelle]

Killer post Lulla! The choice of Metabo cut off wheels certainly helped. We use those thin things at the shop, I sent some samples out to HAMBers a few years back.

FYI, if you guys have a Fastenal nearby (they are a national chain) they can get teh thin Metabos.

Cant wait to see the progress on that car!!!!!!!I use them for everything.(from fastenal)That one is not the thinnest one,I was out of them.

[fc ute]

I use them for everything.(from fastenal)That one is not the thinnest one,I was out of them.
so the cut off wheel you used is for metal cutting?
or something else?
craig

[lulabelle]

Yeah,I guess they are for metal.

[Tman]

Yeah,I guess they are for metal.

BTTT

[johnnylonghair]

You are so smart S-M-R-T, I mean smart...

[REVEREND JAKE]

This should be a Tech. I think the template is an excellent idea. You just screw em in until it matches the window channel, load it in the back of the truck and it won't distort at all.

Great Tech.

Reverend Jake

[cougardan]

Yeah,I guess they are for metal.

Lulabelle:

I didn't see the answer about cutting. Did you cut entirely through from one side or half way from both sides?

Was glass powder flying all over? I usually use a shield instead of goggles since they fog up on me bad.

Did you cut "square corners" and shave them down when you had the glass loose?

Thanks a bunch for the Tech.
Dan

[CheaterChris]

I am very impressed, thanks for sharing this. I am sitting here shocked. THNAKS AGAIN!!!!

best tech of the year!!!!!


later
Chris

[lulabelle]

Lulabelle:

I didn't see the answer about cutting. Did you cut entirely through from one side or half way from both sides?

Was glass powder flying all over? I usually use a shield instead of goggles since they fog up on me bad.

Did you cut "square corners" and shave them down when you had the glass loose?

Thanks a bunch for the Tech.
Dan
I did not plunge and cut.I made several light passes.Yes there was powder,the lube keeps that down though.The corners were square then a couple of somewhat curved cuts to make the corners.

[sawzall]

nice!

i expect to see this car at the showdown... darn it!

[Brickster]

Awsome post!!! Can't wait to use that some day.

Brick

[Boones]

JT, great job.

[Spike!]

Wow JT! You made short work of that! Yes, that was a short joke. Be careful around Clark, he's looking for a cheap hood ornament like Posies. don't fall asleep near those guys for a while. I got your back buddy.

Spikey

[fur biscuit]

here is the finished product.Now to make the surround.

how did you radius the corners?, and did you have it the edges polished?

also did you drop the cut in, or start at the edge? and how did you get the curvature of the cut on the top and bottom?

thanks,

looks great!

[lulabelle]

how did you radius the corners?, and did you have it the edges polished?

also did you drop the cut in, or start at the edge? and how did you get the curvature of the cut on the top and bottom?

thanks,

looks great!
Yes the edges have been sanded.The shape is a shorter version of the original.