Man that guy royally screwed up my windshield, it's truly a mess. I'm gonna cut the windshield myself, I've had it with farming out jobs that come back totally screwed. I need to find a foolproof method for chopping the glass on my '54 Chevy. I've already dumped a ton of cash and time and I can't afford to break another expensive windshield. Please help me out. BTW, I started rubbing the paint out on the car and putting it back together. It looks really good, I think. I'd post pics but my wife losst her $500 digicam......damn!!!!
yeah know what. if you were'nt paying attention the first time then forget it !! LOL from what i have read (i actually paid attention) you lay on a bunch of layers of duct tape on the good side of where you want the cut line. cover the rest of the "good" part of the windshiled too. then go along that edge of the tape with the sand blaster. take your time and move side to side so you don't build too much heat in one spot or anything. after it has cut all the way through, take it to a glass shop and have them polish the edge so that you don't get any cracks starting from the raw edge you just made. you must be PATIENT when doing this proceedure. TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!! piece of cake. now go do it and let us know if it works??
i've also been told that monument companies (the guys who make head stones for the cemetary) have a special tape the use that is sandblaster resistant. might look up one in your area and see if they will sell you a roll of this magical tape.
My landlord owns 2 monument companies, Im gonna ask if that stuff exists and if I can have some and see if it works on a spare window. If its good i'll see about gettin some for the HAMB
ah shit nads!! a good old glassguy should be able to cut that pretty easy, my old boss just cut 2 for me ... that shield doesnt have alot of curve.. try a plate glass shop instead of an auto glass shop. you dont ever really have to cut glass in an auto glass shop.... ask old beet !
Thats pretty much it...I use a cardboard template so you don't have to tape the whole windshield cus it sucks takin off all that duct tape. Make sure the edges are really taped down good..any little bit that is up can blow up and let the sand sneak in and ruin yer glass. I use 30 mesh sand available at most good hardware stores and a cheepo sanblaster I bought at sears...run about 60 psi and keep the nozzle in motion...too much heat and cracko. When ya get to the laminate stop and flip the glass over and do the other side..then when ya get to the laminate cut through it with a blade ..then go to the glass shop and have them run it on their beltsander...you could probably do it at home but last time I cut one they charged $25 ...and it was done while I waited. I have done 3 with no problems...except the glass shop didn't polish the edge good enough and left a jagged edge in one spot...you know...the one spot that ended up cracking!
I used to work in a sign shop that sandblasted redwood signs. The "magical" tape is an adhesive back layer of rubber about 1/16" thick. Probably made by 3M. I bet any signmaker's supply place can get it. Or maybe your local higher-end sign shop will sell you a little bit. You can stick it on, lay your pattern over the top and mark on the tape (the stuff I used was light green). Take an Exacto and cut the tape on the precise line, remove the excess, then blast with no concern of the tape coming off. It will be much more reliable than multiple layers of duct tape. Make sure you cover ALL of the rest of the glass with something to prevent fogging it with a missplaced spray. - alchemy Here's a supplier of the stencil tape: www.percellsigns.com/i-shoppro/products/sandblast_tapes.html I don't know if they are cheap or expensive compared to others, but you get the idea what the stuff looks like and costs.
There's alot of good advice here but if there is anything left of your old windshields I'd practice on them first then when you feel comfortable with the technique, practice more, then cut the windshield for the car. Good luck. Billy
The blade is solely for cutting the rubber mask. It won't do a thing to the glass unless you've got no sense of touch and give it waaaay too much pressure. Even then, the part that would "see" the blade is the portion which is going to be blasted away anyway.
Ditto that, Daves man hooked me up. Repaired a stone chip and cut the original glass on my 53 for the wopping sum of 75 bucks! I think the key is to find a guy thats at least sixty years old. John
The 3M tape is the way to go!! All I can add is to put some old blankets or pillows under the glass to support it, as the air pressure could push on the unsupported glass and cause a break. Glass is very strong, but dosen"t like "alot" of anything. Like heat, bending and twisting. And always store your glass standing not laying flat so it does not lose its shape. People like to store their glass out of the way in the rafters of the shop, heat and time will take their toll. Wish you were closer, hard to help from here!.......OLDBEET
Gonzo, I hear you. Unfortunately, my 60 year old guy's done retired. That old boy was good, he cut the first screen for my Chevy for $40, no cracks, no nothing, just perfect. Those guys are long gone, I wish they were still here.
Good luck with the windshield nads. Me and Dan have a free weekend this weekend, we could come down and help buff that paint out if you want...
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