I’m working for a friend who wants me to swap 2 panes of glass in a 3 pane jalousie window. ( I’m in Tucson, not in snow country). So with judicious use of a heat gun I have managed to scrape away the OLD glazing on the outside of the window… and the glass won’t budge. I swung the window open so as to have a hand on either side, no go. There seems to be some glazing behind the glass. Maybe somebody put it there to hold it in place while glazing the outside as there are no points or grooves to hold it in. Is there something I can use to soften up the putty (other than the heat gun) How am I gonna get this glass out without breaking it??? Thanx in advance!
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Replies
Glass is usually set in a bed of glazing compound on the ftame, then held in place with points, and finally, sealed with glazing compond on the outside. Luckily, the glass is most often already broken when it's time to take it out. Do you really need to save the old glass? Wouldn't it be quicker and cheaper just to buy new glass?
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
evidently. Is there a way to glaze a window so that when you go back in a few years the compound hasn't turned to rock?
I honestly don't know. Perhaps some kind of caulking could be used. If the sash is primed or oiled before the compond is applied, and everything is well painted, the compound should stay flexible longer. But, frankly, I don't think many people paln on switching glass around routinely. They wait for it to break, and then they don't have to be so careful taking it out.
I imagine historical restoration people may try to take old glass out carefully. That may be a place to look if this is important.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
I've seen a tool in FHB that you use to chew the old glazing compound out of windows, apparently without damage to the wood. It's an attachment that goes on a drill. If you had something like that, it wouldn't matter much how hard the compound gets.
Dunc,
Thought that prazi cutter was too hard to control. Stiff putty knife or 5in1 works.
KK
Could be. I've never used it. I thought I remembered seeing a good review of it, but I've been wrong before.
Yup..go to the glass shop and "Borrow" a tube of the polyurethane caulk THEY use to bed/seal thermopanes on installs..stays flexible, can be removed with some elbow greaze and a dull 5in 1.
Try windshield cut-out wire. You string the wire between two pairs of pliers or dowels and move the wire side to side as you go. A glass shop will have the wire and should be able to spare a couple of feet. And if the glass breaks he will be glad to sell you the glass.