Cutting tempered glass

[sheetrock_22]

Cousin has an old tempered glass table top that she wants to cut. Thinking about using grinder with a wet dry tile blade to cut. Thinking this may get the job done. Any suggestions?

[rustyjames]

From what I know, it can't be cut.

[S.Joisey]

Rusty is correct. Glass is cut first, then tempered. If you cut tempered glass, it will shatter. Just like a car window in an accident. A quick web search will give the whys and wherefores.

[Lavrans]

You might get lucky, but it would just be luck.

You can sand the edges to modify the size/shape a little, but I think that works because you aren't introducing stresses inside the panel.

[David Meiland]

From what I have read, tempered glass has a lot of tension in it that's introduced when it's baked. Start cutting it and it just POPS!

[Lavrans]

yep- heat and cool quickly. Increases strength, and the tension is handy in that when it does break, it shatters into small pieces, for the most part.

[MarkMc]

If not seen, this is fun when compared to the action tossing a simple [real] pub dart can get.
http://www.wilsonglass.com/Strength.htm

[tomthetoolman40]

Originally Posted by MarkMc

If not seen, this is fun when compared to the action tossing a simple [real] pub dart can get.
http://www.wilsonglass.com/Strength.htm

That's amazing. I would've bet money it would shatter.

[dave_k]

Originally Posted by MarkMc

If not seen, this is fun when compared to the action tossing a simple [real] pub dart can get.
http://www.wilsonglass.com/Strength.htm

I've had a piece of tempered storefront shatter and nearly take my fingers off. Those little squares are razor sharp and can do some real damage when there is a 2' square of razor sharp little squares acting in unison like a guillotine. All I was doing was carrying it at an angle and it exploded in my hands.

[kreg McMahon]

yep it will pop. especially if you hit the side of it. the front is pretty strong. buy a new piece the correct size.

[always-learning]

Hey Kreg,

Did you check out that video of the guys in the glass shop?


I'd heard of these "glass" jumpers, before, but I'd never seen one. Must be a CA thing...


My buddy, back in high school, had a 70-71 buick riveria that he was junking. We had fun smashing the body panels up, before it went. I remember taking a hammer and hitting the side windows as hard as I could, and the damn thing wouldn't break.

On the other hand, I was carrying a glass shelf out of a curio cabinet, we were going to salvage / sell from my mom's first condominium. I took the glass out of the moving van, and as soon as I hit the exterior air (outside the truck) it shattered in my hands.

Go figure.

[slimpickens]

Do I need to add to this "You can't cut tempered glass" thread? Probably not, but I will. My wife is a glass artist/fabricator, kilnformed, specifically. According to her, as well as everyone else here, tempered glass cannot be cut.

[Jeff J. Buck]

When U drill into a tempered glass oven door, even though you full well know you shouldn't drill into tempered glass ... even if U use the special tapered glass drill bit, and go slow ... and it goes "almost" the whole way thru real easy ....

Yes, it will indeed explode the hell outta the glass as you try to relocate the handle on a kitchen install someone else F'd up as a favor to your wife's friend who didn't have you do the kitchen remodel.

It will also scare the sh!t outta her pain in the butt dog that up till that point would not leave you alone. The dog will yelp, run and never come back. that's the only upside.

Also, when you call the appliance shop for a replacement panel ... they'll laugh then give you a price break ... as they and both realize you just tried to drill thru the most expensive glass panel in the industry.

and it'll still cost you several hundred dollars.

So long story short ... er ... don't try to alter tempered glass.

Jeff

[markhoni]

I once cut a piece of tempered glass with nothing more than a HSS drill bit. Cut it into a million little squares, and it only took about half a second to do it. DAMN!!! I'm fast.

[Tom Bainbridge]

i knew americans were fast, but thats damm fast :)