Technical TECH WEEK: Cutting curved laminated glass the cheap and easy way.

Hi Morgan 91....Thanks for posting ..have been hangin to see how you cut your screen....are you still useing a two piece or did you install it all in one piece screen..I have several curved screens to practice on...my install is for a 49 Caddy split screen chopped 4 1/2"...have found 70's VW Kombie is nearly the correct curve and I should get the 2 screens out of it..they are pretty cheap so not to expensive if I stuff a couple up.... Doug

 

Great thread, just as a supplement, this is the tape I use, there are other brands similar to this online that will work the same. This tape makes the process alot easier.

http://www.3m.com/product/information/Impact-Stripping-Tape.html

here is a sample of how well it works, keeps the cut line clean and straight:

 

Auto glass guys don't like doing old/used glass. They will tell you no <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <woNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <wontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <wontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <wontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="&#45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> guarantees on used glass. They don't know how it's been handled or abused. If it cracks while chopping it down, it be will I am sorry.

 

interseting.

 

Actually, I've had MUCH better luck with doing old windshields. The newer, foreign made ones are made of thinner glass, and often cannot be picked up carelessly after beign chopped. They just break under their own weight. Old ones are stronger, thicker!
The curvier they are, the harder they are to cut without problems.

 

No worries! Yeah im still running a split windshield at the moment... will eventually try and get a one peice olds one for it.

 

The plastic film that gets cloudy with age from the edges can be from having to put a lot of pressure around the gasket as you work the glass into the gasket. It will separate a little and not show up for a while as fogged. So making the glass a little undersized helps. Also on curved glass sometimes tweeking the metal flange to better suit the glass can make getting the glass in easier. Pre-fitting the glass to the hole and looking for misalignment and consistant gaps can help. A fresh new gasket makes installing easier. Once they get hard and start cracking they are hard to work with.

I had always cut the plastic with a razor blade and never tried the fire method.

Painting the edge all around the glass helps seal the plastic to the glass and keeps moisture from getting in there.

 

I used methyl- hydrate (hardware store) to separate the laminate. It burns much cleaner and is hotter. In fact, if the cut on both sides is in line, the methyl-hydrate (alcohol ) will dissolve the laminate without igniting it.