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torchin' a windshield...

5K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  bailey40ford 
#1 ·
can i torch a windshield to trim it down?
 
#2 ·
I'm guessing if you torch it, you might mess up the polymer liner between the two sheets of glass. Wouldn't you be better off cutting it with a glass cutter? Mind you it's tempered glass, so either way, it sounds like something, somewhere would probably go awry. Good luck.



Marc
 
#3 ·
I,m not sure if your post is some kind a Joke, sorry if it is I did n,t get it.
Please do not torch any glass it is very, very dangerous and depending on if the screen is Laminated or Toughened it can be cut down in different ways.

There are specialist water jet cutters for lam screens as well as the traditional hand aproach and for toughenened they can be sanded from the edge inward down, for this you need to understand the principles of glass tension and compression due to the toughening process and where the stresses are and move to when sanded. This is not an easy or reliable process but is achivable.

please do not tourch your screen. I work as an engineering manager for a glass company in the UK. My company is a world wide concern and we are experts in glass - please please do not do this.

Bailey
 
#5 ·
cutting methods..

re bailey40ford reply;

engineer eh? goody.
questions
1) what temperature does "tempered windshield glass melt at" ?
2) how do water cutters work?

*anyone ever tried cutting a tempered glass winshield? seems to me like this may be a good buissness opportunity.. ha!
 
#9 ·
Your windshield is NOT tempered. It will be laminated safety glass.It can be cut with a water cutter but is certainly not worth trying to do it at home. Even the pro's have a hell of a time cutting them down. I would certainly not reccomend trying it at home unless you have a endless supply to play with. Good luck.
 
#10 ·
appologies for the delayed reply, I only acces the board now and then and due to the time difference, weekends etc it can take a while, but heres some info on glass screens etc.

Toughened glass is tempered at 700 degress C or there abouts and the quenched with air - about 30inchs of water guage air pressure for 20 seconds and about 20000cfm of flow.
the glass is at the point of melting / deformation so above this hey presto melted glass.
This answers the toughened glass melting point but here's the draw back, if you manage in your endevor to heat the glass to 700+ degrees (easily achiveable with a torch),evenly so it does not explode and without deforming it you could possibly cut the edge while soft with a torch. Bingo cut down screen.
Unfortunatly you will then need to crank up your compressor to 20000cfm of flow and keep the glass still while you then quench it again as you have removed the initial toughend stress by reheating. good luck.

Water jet cutters use a concentrated water jet, about 0.1mm jet at around 1000bar and upward, this will cut glass, steel and almost anything, stainless steel at 2inch and over is cut with these by most big steel stock holders and the finished cut is flawless. Glass is easy for these.
As per the other responses, there are many ways to cut glass down and you most definatly have a laminated screen as since the 50's they nearly all are. This will definatly not torch to a new shape unless you are into modern art. So either go to a practiced glass cutter, sand blasting specialist etc.
Alternativley start grinding from the edge down with 80 grit carburundum belts on a glass edging file and good luck.
:yawn: :D
 
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