Storing Curved Windshields... do's and don'ts

I picked up a spare curved windshield this weekend for my '59 dodge. The price was right and knowing myself, I'll probably break one in the process of cutting the glass for my chop.

Problem is, the bugger is pretty big. Anyone have any tips on storing these windshields?

Right now it's wrapped in a blanket on a high up shelf. I'd like to stand it up but I don't have the space for this. I'm worried about stress cracks in the center even though I've supported the ends.

Any tips or suggestions appreciated!

 

I have some glass right now between two pillows and lots of fat bubble wrap. All taped up. No problems sofar, and it is also laying down on a shelf.

 

Thanks smokindave. Good to know yours is still ok and in the same position. I'd hate to have it break on the shelf after dragging it in the truck for so many miles.

 

I store my stuff on bottom edge unstressed. Tape some thick pieces of corrugated cardboard on the edges for shock insulation. Protect it from falling over or anything heavy or sharp smacking it and you'll be fine. I've had to temporarily store compund curved glass on my sofa a time or two when space got tight. The nice thing is you can make sure it's truly clean.

 

I had a chopped 56 F100 windshield stored flat on foam while painting the truck. One good sonic boom from my niebor (an air force base) and the windshield split, kiss 400 bucks goodby. My glass guy says store them upright, build a simple stand like glass guys have in their truck if you have to.

 

Oh yeah, I wanna see pics of your Dodge after it's chopped, always loved how those big finned mopars looked chopped. Gotta be a challange to cut thou!

 

A few weeks back I was cleaning out a storage container at work and came across some windsheilds. They were all laying down and wraped in bubble wrap. No strees cracks at all. They have been in there for easly ten years.
Not as old as '59 but gives some sort of idea what class can take just laying down.

 

metalman- I'll keep you posted, but it's going to be a couple of months before I cut. The curved windshield is throwing me off... I want it to look right, ya know.


It's not so much the cost of the windshield if it were to break (paid 150), it's the bother of having to find another and get it down here that's my concern.


Thanks for the insite guys.

 

you dont have an atic in your home?..atics are great place for storing shit like that

 

Always store glass standing up!..............OLDBEET

 

I have layed them face up over the rafters in my garage. Up high and out of the way. Tape some foam over the wrap around ends which are pointing down to protect them. Never had a problem with any breakage.

 

After a long time in a well heated area, they can loose there shape. Even worst is storing them face down!.............OLDBEET

 

you cant build a box for it , say a cardboard box that you can take up space with an expanding foam and plastic bag deal? im lucky i have just enough space to store mine edgewise like old beet says. but mines also wrapped up to the backlight with various chunks of foam in between with and cardboard over all.

 

This is exactly what happened to my 53's windshield, it was NOS glass but stored wrong. I didn't notice the changed shape before it cracked about ½ hour after installing...

 

Are you saying glass is fluid at room temperature? For it to change shape during storage it would have to be. I respectfully disagree with you on this point. Brian

 

Yes!!! I'm a retired union glazier. Did it for over 30 years. Glass bends......OLDBEET

 

In my case, when I thought that afterwards, there was about 1 inch gap between the post and windshield in the other end while the rest of the windshield was on its place. And then I pushed it there... I was told later that it could have been saved with some long-lasting heat and steady pressure.

 

Don't sit them face down on a foam pad on your garage floor, and then lose your balance trying to maneuver around some of the other junk on your garage floor and end up stepping on it. Especially, if you're a fat-ass like I am. It WILL break. And you will feel like the biggest jack-ass in history.

 

It is very true...Glass will change it's shape...I learned the hard way...I got a good deal on a cherry windshield for my 62, stored it a couple years, and when it came time to install it, it didn't fit correctly... ...cracked it right up the middle trying...Ended up having to buy a new one...And those ain't cheap...Old beet knows his shit...

 

OLDBEET is right - glass IS in motion. That's one of the few things I took away from physics class. Need an example? Notice how the glass in old houses has those funny runs, warps and swirls?
This just means I'm going to have to dig my way through three feet of snow to the storage shed to resecure my windshields. Damn.

 

I stored a freshly cut windshield for my '54 Chevy on its front, I got to kiss it and the $80 it cost to get it cut goodbye.

 

Public televison had a program where they checked out the stained glass windows of 14th century cathedrals in England. They were trying to prove that glass was fluid at normal temps, by measuring the thickness of the glass at the top and the bottom. If it flowed it would be thicker at the bottom than the top after hundreds of years standing vertical in a church window. They found some thicker at the top and some thicker at the bottom, it just depended on how the window glass was made, and how it was put into the window originally. The swirls and imperfections of old window glass is from the manufacturing process. It was blown first to get the thickness then cut into sheets for flat glass. Modern flat glass is poured molton onto a pool of mercury which is perfectly level to cool. It is called float glass. That is why it is so perfectly flat and the same thickness. Brian

 

Damn BJR - between you and my physics professor I'm going to be one confused dude.

 

That is correct! But has nothing to do with a W/S changing its shape.....OLDBEET

 

So... being flexable is not the same as being fluid? I think I may be getting this. Brian

 

Glass is a liquid but that doesn't have anything to do with storing windshields.
Windshields are a laminate of glass with plastic sandwiched inbetween. The layers can shift or delaminate in relation to each other from inproper storage, heat/cold .

 

I had my 67 Camaro Convertible's glass stored in my rafters laying down on its face, When I went to reinstall it, there was a 2" to 3" gap on each side.

But, I gave it a few days to settle in and gently pressed each end to the windshield frame, and didnt break it. I was lucky...Store it standing up.

 

What would be considered an improper temp to store a windshield at? Granted it's the cooler months here in CA, but it is practically on the ceiling of our garage and it does get hot up there.

In regards to storing it upright, I think I'll cut the glass... it just might fit standing upright on the shelf it's on after being cut.

Thanks guys!

 

Hey Mel.. hows it going?

I don't know if too hot will hurt anything on a windshield. I remember playing with one of those laser temp things at work summer day here in dallas and I checked the temp of the windshield on a firebird outside.. it read 132 degrees... Yeah it was a hot summer. Anyway.. nothing happened to it, but a sudden change in temp will help any small cracks or chips grow pretty fast.

 

when you look at a windshield think of an arch, they are designed to resist force from the out side
You lay one on it's face the weight is all in the center and the weight of both ends in the air are down force trying it's best to break it self
store it just as it sit in the car and you will have no problems. I've stored windshields 30-40 years in racks and have yet to find one that doesn't fit like new!
I have a new NOS clear windshield for that mopar if you run thru the first two. My best advice is cut the glass BEFORE you cut the car!!!
Jim