Hot Rods Glass, its goin up

I went to my local glass guy today for a new windshield for my 52 jeep. In the past, flat glass has always been cheap, usually about 50 bucks for a flat windshield, same guy for about 35 years. Today, he tells me there is a shortage of the film between the glass (safety glass), so his supplier will no longer sell him a bulk sheet, he now needs to give them a rough measurement of the size needed, they cut and ship that size instead of a whole sheet, at twice the price. Then my guy will cut again, and finish, with a 10 day wait for what used to be done overnight. I know I am just an old grouch with a bad attitude, but every time I hear these "new costs" I have to wonder if its really a shortage, or are they just jumping on the current bandwagon of try to get more out of my wallet. Done ranting

 

I just bought 2 sheets, 3'X5', and they were the same price they've been for quite a while. I still sell my glass for $20 a square foot

 

i feel your pain. i just monday took a pattern to a glass guy from my henry j door window. 95 bucks each. holy moley!!

 

Some time back I stopped to get a doughnut as I hadn't had one in months and was shocked to see the price had just about doubled. I asked the owner (oriental guy) why the big price jump and his answer was "gasoline".

I do a lot of cooking and I haven't seen a big price increase in bulk flour or sugar or cooking oil lately so yes, if they can jack up the price and get away with it, they will.

 

I got a windshield made (flat laminated) a couple months ago...about 3 times what they used to cost.

Oh well.

 

Just curious as to why the owner’s ethnicity has anything to do with it...

 

Ok, i lied, I said i was done ranting ... but I'm not. So, whats happened is that the glass supply people have made it so each order has its own shipping cost, and logistics, instead of selling a bulk sheet that would supply the needs of several jobs, and spread the shipping cost to several customers. In this world of pushing "green, save the planet shit", they have introduced more shipping, more trucking, more fuel, more everything to accomplish less. While I agree, we need to be kind to mother nature, I believe all this shortage shit is in the plan of those few that literally own the planet. Today while in the glass shop he pointed to a rack of sheets that were 5x8, or maybe 5x10, all tinted, so i did not pay attention, but thats how he used to buy glass, which would obviously be more efficient.

 

Have you shopped around? We have a few glass shops and no two are the same . Check on epay .

 

Yep, everything is going to shit

 

I learned the hard way a while ago that about the only thing you can refer to any more as, “oriental” and not be taken to task, is a carpet. Hell, I’m even leery of saying orientation in mixed company.

 

So, don't eat the Chinese donuts? But I love the donuts from the fresh donut place! You guys slander and libel the fuck out of Chinese parts and tools around here, but we can't call the Chinese guy that's making donuts "oriental"? I assume i need to apologize to Javier for calling his restaurant a "Mexican restaurant"? In a short period of time, gas has almost doubled here. I own a mobile glass business. So, when I used to say "I'll come to you and install a new windshield for $300", but now I say $320, is that bad? Should I be eating the cost of gas and just deal with it? Somebody has to pay the bill. I'm all stressed out now, gotta go see hopsing and get some oriental donuts.

 

Unfortunately everything has gone up but this will give you the opportunity to learn “how to “ or diy. I was always intrigued with cutting glass and have done just straight plain glass but not automotive.
I have to get some glass for my 32 and kicking myself for not getting it sooner with all the issues today.
So any glass guys willing to share some secrets of cutting laminated glass.

FYI All donuts are good

 

Purchase a belt sander and some aluminum oxide belts! 80 grit and 150. Don't try to cut your curves perfect, finish them with the sander. Lots of water, keep the belt wet. Sparks are bad. Roll your cutter head across your hand before you use it, if you feel a burr, throw it away. Fletcher is my favorite cutter, but I have a pretty damn nice one that came from hobby lobby of all places.

 

I cut laminate flat glass at work, we always order 4'x8' sheets, & cut from patterns. Its always a big bill, but, now it's really BIG! & the last order i called in, they said they have to hold smaller order's to fulfill the larger companies orders.

 

Prices here locally are 25-30 bucks a sq ft plus labor. Bigger challenge is finding someone who actually wants to DO it...

 

Thanks for the info @Lloyd's paint & glass and @abonecollector how do you go about cutting the laminate film.
I had a guy come out and he scored both sides and snapped it then poured some of his fluid from his zippo to melt the film. This was many years ago and not sure if this is correct way of doing it

 

Automotive safety glass is like everything else, the film in between the glass is a petroleum based product and if you haven't noticed the price of everything remotely connected to the industry is sky high. HRP

 

The laminate cuts with a razor blade, the issue is creating space to get the razor blade into the crack. If it's a nice warm day it'll flex enough. I carry what's called release agent in a spray can, it's used to clean up urethane messes mostly, but it's flammable. I just spray it across my cut line and ignite it. You'll see the glass start to move, that's warm enough, then just take your blade and cut it. I don't like to get it too hot, because I feel like that'll cause delamination prematurely on your final piece. Couple more tips, make sure your glass is clean, lay your pattern on it and mark it. I use a sharpie. Be sure to cut the inside of your line. I cut straight lines, one at a time. Then I angle cut my curves, and finish them with the belt sander.

 

Where can you buy the longer window channels needed when removing vent windows?

 

I buy the from Northern KY Street rods. They have an ebay store. Or the street rod nationals, there's a guy inside that sells long sticks of it, about 8' long.

 

Most of the shops around here that cut glass & do upholstery stock window channel in 6 to 8 foot lengths. HRP

 

So, Lloyd, you must score both sides I assume ?

 

How does the price of tempered flat glass compare to laminated now?

I have a good windshield in my 56 PU but will need all new flat.

 

I mark my pattern, score a straight line, run the crack, then flip it and score the other side, then run that crack. Then I heat it, and cut the laminate. Then I move to the next straight line. I'll cut a piece here and take some pictures and kinda show you what I mean...

 

This will take a few minutes, so bear with me. Basic door glass shape to start. Fletcher on the left, my hobby lobby cutter on the right, it has replaceable heads.

 

Score one side, then run the crack, you can see the reflection of the crack in the bottom piece of glass

 

Turn it over, score on top of your other line, and run the crack. Big thing is maintain pressure on your glass cutter. Once you start, just go. You can't stop and go back, because the crack follows the score, and if you mess up on that, you'll break the glass in the wrong place lol

 

On small pieces, I use a map gas torch, because I don't wanna set the work table on fire. 4 or 5 passes over the glass, and it'll flex enough to cut it.

 

Give me a minute and I'll cut the other straight lines, and show you how I do curves..

 

OK, on the larger curve I can cut most of it, but on the small one, I'll cut an angle, and sand the rest. On a curve, score both sides...