I know there have been several threads started about cutting curved windshields. I have a 54 Chevy and will be starting the chop in around a month. What would be a reasonable price to pay to have a gl*** shop cut the windshield. I'm just trying to see if it would be worth me trying and cracking one over just taking it to get done. I think I can handle the flat side windows, just not sure about the front.
I would guess about 50-100 bucks, depending on if any of the shop guys feel comfortable with curved lami. They will do it at your risk, and might give you a 50/50 outlook for breakage. Its not something most autogl*** shops do. If it was me id try the wet tile saw method. Do a search for it. BTW, I worked at a gl*** shop for 6 years.
$500 buck's is what it cost,or you can pay $100 buck's and have them brake it ,buy a new one and start over in the end the $ 500 buck's is not bad-----later oz
Do a search, there is some good stuff on here. I am using a tile saw with a diamond blade to cut mine this weekend. I cut the old original one (practice) a few weeks ago and it cut thru it like ****er, but I got too excited and didn't keep it straight so I got a small crack. The trick is to just go slow and keep it straight. I think the hardest part was getting a template so you know how much to cut. I will try and take some pics of mine as I go. This is my first time, and I am not a gl*** guy, and ya I am scared **** less ...............
i cut all are own windshield on the cars I chop,I got tired of the gl*** shop breaking my gl*** and still wanting to charge me, one time they broke 5 out of 5 that ****ed! right now I am 20 and 3 later OZ
good luck finding a gl*** shop that would even try, most will laugh at you. they just don't have experience cutting curved gl***, and if they don't have the experience already, you probably don't want to be their first. me, i like ****ing my own stuff up.
Do you have a new one or are you going to get your old one, Im going to do a how to tech on cutting gl*** one day soon in Rod&Kulture if you want to wait or I can cut it for you ,it's $500 bucks hope that helps you OZ
My price is about what Oz charges.Heres a tech post I did awhile back on how I do it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25614
I do alot of chops. I need the car in my shop. if I sell you the windshield for 50% off the list price. I charge $125 an inch for cutting in advance (it hard to collect if something happens) if I lose it (doesn't happen often) we start over at $100 an inch in advance! 54 chev is an easy one to cut, but I lost one at the Hamb chop at the unfinished nationals a couple years ago. that would not have happened in shop. I use a gl*** cutter and finish off with a wet belt and 60 grit. I also plan to do a tech I do not ship gl*** or cut without having the car in the shop. Jim Arnold "the Old Car Gl*** Guy" since 1965
Thanks guys. That's some good info. What would be a good replacement for the original if something were to go wrong. Again, I appreciate the insight.
One big piece of advice. Always cut the gl*** first, and match the metal to the gl***. You can always m***age metal, but never gl***. Remember the arc of the gl*** changes as it goes up the windshield. Craig
For 30 years I charged $100....Cut 37 in a row no breaks...then broke the next 5...Oh well...Guess I charge $500 now.........OLDBEET
I had a local gl*** shop cut the windshield for my S-10(I know,I know) not HAMB friendly,but just answering a question. They removed the windshield from the truck,cut 4 1/2 inches off the top and put it in a box in the bed for $120 .I drove the truck home without a windshield,and proceeded to cut the top to match the gl***.after I got the top chopped,a mobile gl*** guy charged me $25 to reinstall the windshield.
That was something I didn't realise until reading a little on here. I figured you chopped it, then measured and had the gl*** fit. I can see where you say cut the gl*** first, metal has forgiveness. I have it lined up for a guy to cut my original for around $200. What do you guys think. Should I try it myself or **** it up and pay the $200.
I have sand blasted 2 windshields successfully only to break them when I sand them I would guess if you new someone that had a water jet they could do this with ease??????????? Ed ke6bnl
I like the way this guy cut a front windshield for his back gl***. Seems like you could do the same for a chopped front windshield? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86789
There may be better wheels to use. I will try this on some spare gl*** using samples from a local abrasive distributor. I do have a couple of questions: When considering a cut on curved gl***, should the job be done on the shortest or the least curved route (top or bottom)? The flatter the curve the straighter the main cut can be. My thinking may be all out of phase, because the TOP was chopped, does the top of the gl*** have to be cut? What about gasket gap? Many old vehicles do not use stainless mouldings to cover up the installation. What is generally the rule of thumb when under-cutting the gl*** to allow room for temperature expansion and body motion?
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