Removing Glass

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After final install of 8 nine lite French doors the painter on the job scratched ALL the glass. Client only trusts me to replace it all. I usually use a special cutting wheel that severs the glass /caulking/stop joint to release the caulk bond. Has anyone used a Fien tool or anything else that may expedite the task ?

Geoff

Are these doors interior or exterior? If they are exterior ( I would assume they are insulated glass unit) are they SDL or TDL? Who built the doors and what did they bed the glass in?

I personally use a couple putty knives, a small pry bar and a utility knife.

Gary

They are TDL bedded in Silproof 2000 in doors built by me.

David R Sochar

Member

I have had this happen to me before. On one job with about 120 lights, the painter actually bragged to me that he cleaned every light with just one razor blade. All but the first 3 or 4 lights he cleaned had to be replaced.

I did not have one then, but these newer buzzer type saws that have a fast, short stroke may work well at getting the silicone out. Putty knives also work, and are the preferred method, as Geoff's tool list shows. Have plenty of putty knives and razor knives, well sharpened. A hammer is also handy since after breaking about 12-14 razor knives and destroying and equal amount of putty knives, it is appropriate to smash a bunch of glass. However, you still have to clean it up.

It is good to put in your documentation somewhere a warning about glass scratches and how tempered will scratch more easily. Mention wet cleaning, and one razor blade per window.

Joe Calhoon

A while back we installed Green Mountain insulated units with restoration glass in a historic project. Top quality IGU by the way.
I managed to break one unit at the install. (always good for morale when the boss does that)
We had installed these as per GMGs advice and a discussion here a while back. Bedded in silicone and the entire glass pocket filled with silicone.

We spent 1 1/2 hours changing one light using putty knives, pry bars and razor knives. In the end what worked was crisscrossing the glass with tape and beating it out with a hammer. A few small pieces of the glass rebate came with it. It was a mess to clean up. I think a Fien type tool might work for this especially if the glass is setting on glazing tape.

Needless to say I will never install glass like this again. Our method of caulking bead notch to the weather, IGU space vented and a bead of caulk between top of IGU and glass bead is a way better system. Two easy cuts with a razor knife is all that is needed for removing glass.

James

I first remove the trim,the Fein tool can help. Then take a heat gun to soften the silicone to get the glass out. Then a razor blade or putty knife to remove old caulk. The silicone makes a strong bond, annoying in this situation though.

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