cutting curved glass????

Who knows the tricks? I have heard that sandblasting is the best way, anyone try it? I need to cut a new windshield on my 52 chevy and don't want to F'up a brand new one, they ain't that cheap. I might try the spilt one before I try the new one. Any ideas out there?
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ive seen the duck tape sand blasting one once, it worked without a hitch.

 

about 20 threads on this subject lot of good information .// use search

 

There's a tech on here and he uses a cut off wheel and WD40!

 

The search is a powerful tool.....

 

I've heard of guys using wood shaped to match then clamped and sand blasted.many cabinet shops can cut your wood for you.

 

..... but only if you use it.

 

Thanks guys,I know I know I should just keep my fingers off the keyboard for questions and use the search and believe me I do......alot.

 

There is a HAMBer that still does it the old way with a gl*** cutter and some alcohol to set on fire when he taps it.

He scores both sides with the gl*** cutter then squirts alcohol on it and sets it on fore before he starts tapping on the gl*** to bereak it off. The fire burns the nylon inside the gl*** so that both side will shear without busting one layer of the gl***.

Of course that takes a little finess but that is the way that the real gl*** guys used to do it.

 

the way it used to be!!! I was probably 8 or so when I seen this first done, and it does work.

 

Here is what I did.

YMMV, good luck

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278603

 

I've been cutting windshields with a gl*** cutter since 1965 with very good success. but don't reccomend it for everyone. there is a learning curve involved. I don't like tapping the gl*** but that does work.

I've never tried sand blasting but I know it works but still has risks involved. tile saws and diamond blades work in straight lines with some risks also.
if there is a sure fire no risk way I would think a 5 axis water jet might be a good start.

 

I think that the water jet is a good idea as well but even that is going to have some risk. gl*** is still gl***.


I actually never knew of any other way to cut gl*** until I got on the HAMB. Some of the fellas had done all straight cuts to get the gl*** close then shaped it an angle grinder.

I am not a gl*** cutter but am still partial to the gl*** cutter and fire way. Its not like I don't know someone that does it that way that is willing to do it for me.

 

I'll give up another glaiziers secret. Alcohol will disolve the lamination in just a few seconds. the burning alcohol just allows you to stretch it enough to get a razor blade in to cut. heating slowly bending it to open the cut a little more alcohol and it falls apart. probably be good for the sand blasters too!

 

I grind them with an aeracing machine with a really good success rate but it is extremely labour intensive.

 

I just cut mine. I used a diamond bit in a roto zip. Took me 10 minutes. I took it to a gl*** shop after and had them sand and polish the edges. worked great

 

NoName,
That is something that I wish I had learned when I was young. I guess always knowing someone that would do it for me was not a good thing for me.

 

Thats exactly what i do and have done for years, just less the tapping and setting fire to stuff. A good positive cut, a nice sharp 1" blade and a gentle going over with a heat gun will allow you enough room between the gl*** to nicely cut the laminate. I have seen many screens suffer from delamination years on where the laminate has been stretched or degraded in some way. I've known of many ways of cutting gl*** over the years but a quality gl*** cutter, fresh 1" blades and a heat gun will always be my tools of choice, its how i learnt. If i were to use a cutting wheel i'd be making sure the gl*** was constantly wet to avoid creating gl*** dust and excessive heat, usual H&S equipment applies. Each to their own as many autoglaziers have their own spin on things.

Good luck!