The AM Forum

 I have come accross a 4' X 5' piece of 1/4" plate glass fer free. I need to cut it; I've cut "normal" window type glass, but never anything like this. Any Clues/advise/dumb comments on how to do this with the least amount of risk of life?  Tnx,  klc

Is it tempered glass?

My understanding is that, once tempered, glass cannot be cut without causing it to shatter into tiny pieces.

Stu

I don't think the glass is tempered, and I think ur right r/e tempered glass cutting. Maybee reheating it to 'loose' the tempering would work, but THATS not going to be done by mee..  klc

Kevin,
         Feel the edges of the glass. If they are sharp enough to cut you, it is annealed glass and you can cut it easily. If the edges are somewhat smooth or slightly rounded over and devoid of sharp edges, it is most likely tempered. It is cut to size first and then run back into the oven for tempering. This process melts over the hair-sharp edges formed in the cutting process. also most often tempered glass has a mfr's mark in one corner.

If it is annealed, feel free to cut it. If it is tempered, hit it with a hammer and shovel up and discard the pieces of "rock candy" as that is all you can do with it. It will shatter when you try to score it with the cutter.

Tempered glass can be cut, but it requires a diamond grinding wheel and a water bath. Not to mention the 50-50 chance that it will still shatter anyway.
The price for this far exceeds the cost of having it remade to the correct size.

(This is what I do for a living) (I sell commercial glass and glazing)

                                                            the Slab Bacon

Oh Tay, then it's probably tempered. It's got the 'rounded ' corners. I did look fer the markings, but I did not see any. I guess i'll put on the respirator and go to town with my other big maul.........  klc

sounds like it would make a nice solar collector. What is it 200 BTU/foot squared