uPVC windows not always a bad thing.

[Moneypit]

For us that is.

This morning we spotted that the house two doors along the road was having its ground floor bay window sashes replaced with the dreaded plastic. It was inevitable I suppose since both of the other two floors' windows have already been done, and it's a hotel. Never ones to miss an opportunity we asked if we could have the sashes, weights and some of the mouldings.

So we are now the proud owners of 12 large single pane sashes, most of which still have their original glass. As we are in the early stages of steadily renovating our 29! original windows this will be brilliant for replacing any of our unwavy glass. I expect it to be tricky to cut but I'm full of confidence after getting a 'professional' cutter from Holkham.

 

[biffvernon]

Congratulations. The idea that old glass is harder to cut is, I believe, more urban myth than physical reality, so approach with confidence.

 

[Lime]

Congratulations. The idea that old glass is harder to cut is, I believe, more urban myth than physical reality, so approach with confidence.

Yes, I agree.
As long as the glass is clean there should be little difficulty.

Often the real problems are getting it out of the old frames first without chipping it. :wink:

 

[Moneypit]

Yes, I have found the whole putty prising/chiselling/scraping process to be quite soul destroying at times. We were looking at getting an infra red putty lamp but they are very expensive and don't seem to be readily available. If there was one in B&Q i'm sure i'd just get it as it would save hours in the long run. Anyone got a 2nd hand one for sale? An alternative that we might try is a Fein Multimaster which seems to be rather like one of your normal orbital sanders. It has triangle shaped pad attachments for sanding into corners but also has saws and chisels. These are also driven by the same high speed oscillation and work by vibration. There is a promotional video that shows a circular saw cutting putty from a window and also a flat blade saw plunge cutting through timber. It looks excellent but then it is the promo video. Fein make very good kit normally, I have used it industrially with good results. Anyway they are available on the great store in the ether for less than £200 and it is my birthday soon.

 

[biffvernon]

Putty lamps do make this almost impossible job quite easy. Have you asked Holkhams?

 

[NT]

Anyone tried using a router for this?

 

[Nemesis]

I did once read of someone who hired out lamps and wish I'd taken more notice.

Word of advice - measure twice, cut once.

I speak with feeling...

 

[Penners]

An alternative that we might try is a Fein Multimaster.

A pal of mine has one of these, and I borrowed it to remove some old tiles (without attached plaster) by sliding the oscillating blade behind them. I thought it was an excellent tool. Never tried it with putty though.

 

[Penners]

Congratulations. The idea that old glass is harder to cut is, I believe, more urban myth than physical reality

I quite agree. I can b*gger up glass cutting, whether the glass is old or new.

 

[chuckey]

"cutting" glass really means breaking it on a predetermined line. In theory scratching the surface raises the stress concentration along the line so the glass breaks along this this point preferrentially. If there are bubbles and included things in the glass it logically must bugger up the "straightness" of the stress concentration. I think I am plagued by cutting wheels which have microscopic nicks in their edge? or some other lack of technique which means my practise tryout always work and the actual one fails.
Frank

 

[Penners]

In theory

Yes, Frank. That's the way I feel about it, too.

 

[worms]

Anyone tried using a router for this?

Would you not risk catching the diamond-shaped metal pins holding the glass in and damaging the router bit, or perhaps worse, sending the pins flying off at high speed as very sharp shrapnel?

 

[biffvernon]

I usually use a solid diamond tip cutter (cost about a tenner) but a high quality wheel is just as good. But ALWAYS dip the cutter in oil (or use an oil filled cutter). Any old oil will do.

 

[Moneypit]

Putty lamps do make this almost impossible job quite easy. Have you asked Holkhams?

Their website says that they are not currently available, but I will call them and get the full story.

 

[skier-hughes]

Last I read on their site was that they were improving it.

Graham

 

[Nemesis]

Hire - see if Roger Mears Architects is still hiring a lamp out:

http://www.rogermears.com/guides/glass/index.html

 

[Moneypit]

Yes, I had seen the hiring option but I imagine the 4 to 5 year duration that we will need it over could prove a tad expensive compared to forking out for a new one.

Have done a bit more tinterweb research today and found http://www.speedheatersystem.com which is the Swedish site for their manufacture. This gives numerous European, Australasian and States distributors for the 'Speedheater'. $499 from the states and £370 from IR Pro Systems in London. An identical tool, called 'The Silent Paint Remover' is available from Viking Sales Inc for just $395!

So the search continues........

 

[skier-hughes]

An MSN search for infra red putty lamp through up this dodgy page as the first hit
http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/glass.htm

:lol: :lol:

 

[biffvernon]

An MSN search for infra red putty lamp through up this dodgy page as the first hit
http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/glass.htm

:lol: :lol:

Almost as dodgy as your spelling - through / threw.

 

[Nemesis]

I recall posting a thread a while ago about a DIY version - looked even more dodgy than the Biff Vernon site!!!