Have To Resize 1 Piece Storm Window Panel
jimmiem
| Posted in General Discussion on
I have a couple of single pane storm window panels which I have to resize. They were custom made to cover the sidelights on the sides of my front entry door. The window panels are plexiglass with a metal/aluminum frame. I re-did the front door trim and the new pillasters are slightly wider than the old so the storm panels are now too wide for the opening. I was going to cut the plexi out of the frames and make new frames out of wood. I’m wondering if there is a way of making the new frames out of metal/aluminum. The panels are about 7 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Anybody aware of DIY metal/aluminum material that might work?
Replies
Before you get too far along you might want to price getting new panels or having those resized by a local glass shop.
DanH
Good idea. There is a local glass company that I have used in the past. I'll check prices with them.
Jim,
Why don't you resize the frames too. Aluminum cuts fine in a chop box.
KK
Yeah, aluminum frames on plastic storms will generally be simple aluminum channels held on by friction or glazing compound/caulk. You should be able to pull the frames apart fairly easily. The aluminum channel can be cut with a hacksaw.
Cutting the plastic will be a hair trickier, given that you can't really "practice" much. You have to somehow avoid the problem of the plastic melting as you cut it.
Worth a try...there is a rubber gasket and the aluminum seems to be crimped to hold the plexi? I'll try and take it apart.....can't use it the way it is now anyway.
I was able to get the frame off. The frame corners are crimped onto metal corner pieces that slide into a track in the frame....lousy explanation but it's doable. I have an OLFA plexiglass cutting tool but could use a new blade. I have seen the blades for sale on-line but the shipping will probably be more than the cost of the blades. Anybody know of a brick and mortar that might carry OLFA blades?
It's a long shot, but OLFA makes a lot of blades that sewers use. You might check with a fabric shop.
There's a Michael's store nearby.....they have fabrics and crafts stuff. I'll give them a try. They have interesting stuff....I needed some Bear Claws to hang a piece of metal sculpture.....I asked the Michaels's employee and they said to try a bakery or donut shop for the Bear Claw. Oh, Michael's did have the Bear Claws.
Jim,
You can cut with a fine blade in a jig saw or you can score with a razor knife a bunch of times and snap.
KK
For resizing doors or windows
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Thank You.
I wound up making a frame out of wood and PVC. I sized it to fit the opening. I've made fixed storm widows using this technique in the past. I was just looking for a less labor intensive solution but my search was taking too much time so I just bit the bullet and made them my self. My windows are painted to match the house trim colors so they are not noticeable.