Is some of the glass produced today softer than it used to be?
Does glass become harder as it ages?
The painter scratched the glass on a 15 light door we put in a month or so ago. The glass was installed with a plastic film that needed removal as well a fair amount of silicone bedding weeping out around the edges. This happened another time recently. The painter said that he was using new razor blades. He’s a trusted guy who uses great care in his work, so I not inclined to think it was carelessness on his part. OTOH how can it not be attributed to carelessness?
Replies
Tempered glass (doors) IS softer. Razor will scratch it if you cut with the corner of the blade. Scraping with the edge doesn't seem to.
Forrest
Edit - two minutes, how's that?
Edited 5/11/2007 6:51 pm by McDesign
I'm just going to address any further posts right to you.
You are correct sir. Got to be REAL careful around Tempered. Clean blades. Brand new is better.
Have used steel wool on tempered too.
Solution helps but blades can get dings on them. Esp from dirt on other windows, then you move to the door and Blammo. Scratched.
Don't ask me how I know
Several years ago there was a thread about scratched glass.This "expert" (don't remember what his background was) claimed that he had found that most scratched tempered glass was not caused by cleaning them.But rather the problem was dirt ovens. When they where tempered bits of glass and dirt when become embedded in the surface.Then when the cleaned with a scraper it would knock out the debre and the glass would look scratched.Don't know now true that was..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I've been told that the proper way to scrape your glass involves first soaping the window up to reduce the risk of scratching. In other words as you are washing your window hit it first with the glass cleaner then scrape then squeegee.???????????
Jason
Like McDesign said it shouldn't happen if the blade is used properly. You need to keep sharp blades that are clean.
I'm real good at detailed stuff like this. Most people would call me nuts about details I do. And no one wants to pay for them.
Good morning
Tempered glass is not softer than ordinary annealed glass.
Generally, the blade does not scratch the glass directly, rather tempered glass has fine particles on its surface deposited there during the tempering process called - "fines".
Scraping with a blade will release the fines and then the fines - not the blade - will scratch the glass as they are pushed over, and into, the surface of the glass by the blade.
All tempered glass has fines. It can be cleaned if (as mentioned) the glass is well lubricated (soapy water works well as does some glass cleaners) and the cleaner uses great care to avoid "back-and-forth" or circular motion when scraping.
And (again, as mentioned) ONLY use brand new very sharp blades and be very careful.
Edited 5/14/2007 8:01 am ET by Oberon
Thanks for your responses. There is always something new to learn.