Chop top glass cutting: sandblaster or wet saw?

[mechmitch]

Ok chopped tops out there, what did you do for front glass? I have a '71 SB with a 3.5" angle chop and need front glass. The glass is not exactly flat like everyone tries to tell me so it has to be cut from an actual windshield. From '65 up, it is what they call flat curved (!!??). I have heard of people using a sandblaster shooting aluminum oxide to cut (blast away?) the unwanted (and unmasked) section of windshield. I can't find anyone who has personally done it though. Would a wet tile saw work?

[Kubel Nick]

I heard wet tile works with plenty of water to cool it down. Also heard about blasting it. But most people just took their glass to a glass cutting place (windshield place or glass makers company).

[mechmitch]

Well, it was a glass shop guy who told me they can't cut down curved windshields. He suggested the custom stained glass shops that use a laser (!?). I tried a sandblaster last night at work but with no success. It barely frosted the surface. I think it was because it was silica sand and not aluminum oxide. I will try the wet saw tonight.

[Kubel Nick]

Not all glass place will cut curved glass, you need to ask around. Check your local hotrod shops and ask them if they know of any place. Of course most of them won't guarantee they'd get a successful cut the first time, the sometimes shatter while being cut, especially the old factory glass.

[BrianVW]

I knew someone once who did stain glass and she used a Glass cutting tool she picked up from the near by Hobby store. The way she used it was she scored the glass with the glass cutters the used the other end of the cutters which had a small metal ball on the end to tap and the glass and thus cutting it were she had scored it. I personally have never used this method on automotive glass but i did use it on "normal" glass once.

[Kubel Nick]

That method won't work since windshields are double sided with a shhet of plastic in the middle (safety glass). And plus this one's curved so normal glass cutting methods won't work as well.

[mechmitch]

Well, so much for using a wet saw. The cut had small chips all along it about 1/32" wide on each side. I suppose if all else fails, a guy could round the edges on a glass sander to take out the chips but I will looking for another way. The glass guy cut a windshield from flat glass for me to try. I might be able to massage the moulding lip a bit to "flatten" the hole. We'll see.

[rooster]

I was told a good glass man can cut it by cutting both sides then using lighter fluid on the glue in the middle of the glass. I didn't get to see it done but I saw the finished product and it was nice. There has to be a trick to it or everyone would be doing their own.

[Volkswagen147]

whatever you find that works please post or email me it. I am building a 71 beetle chopped 4" all the way around so i have a lot of glass to cut. i havent tried yet but had also heard of the sandblasting version.

[mechmitch]

Well, so much for trying a flat windshield and bending the moulding lip out to match. The first half went in fine but the last half cracked like mad. I did see a chopbug in Eureka Springs last year that had done a split windshield like the old '40-'53 chevy trucks and used clear silicone in the middle seam. lt looked good, I'll see if I can find pix. BTW, I have seen the lighter fluid trick years ago (20). I don't remember if it was on flat or curved but it worked like magic. Hmmm...

[Kubel Nick]

I hear people mask the cut line and the rest of the glass (except the part to be cut) then sandblast the glass at the line. Once you get to the plastic turn it around and blast the other side until you get to the plastic sheet again. Then take a razor and cutoff the plastic sheet.

Have you tried other glass cutting places? Some do cut windshields, most don't though so you have to call around.

As for the side (flat) glass, I'd just take them to a glass place to get them cut or get new ones made. Rear glass (slight curve) will be hard. Most choptops uses lexan rear glass. Some American hotrods uses front windshields cut to shape as the new rear glass.

[RACER H-4]

sand blasting will work, just not with ur avarage compressor and gun, u need to call ur local tool rental place and check out one of theyre towbehind compressors and the gun they roccomend, if u need to strip paint while ur at it it will talke probably 15mins or less

i drilled a hole in a piece of automotive glass with my little pos blaster so it can be done but it takes a very patient hand

if all else fails, tilt the windsheild back, look at my more drawings post in eurolook, even though its a drawing, it gives u an idea as to what it would look like