Community Forums

bigbertha72 · 04-02-2015, 09:57 PM

I going have my glass guy cut me some glass to replace my sliding windows up front that were broken. I managed to get the frames out but they didn't have any glass in them. I was able to flex the frames enough to get the frame out of the track. But how do I go about putting it back in? Should I take the back bar of the frame off and slide the glass in once I have the frame back in the track? That's the only idea I have, any suggestions? This is for my 72 superior.

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BFlinn181 · 04-03-2015, 10:48 AM

First, I hope you're having tempered safety glass cut to fit.

Usually the window frame is sized to allow the sliding part to be pushed up into the track high enough to allow bottom to clear the lower fixed frame. There might be an insert in the upper track that must be removed first to allow removal of the window that after the sliding part is inserted gets slide into place and refastened.

09 harley · 04-07-2015, 10:10 PM

Don't buy tempered glass and then try to cut it. It needs to be cut first and then it can be polished on the edges and tempered. Tempered glass will shatter if you try to cut it. You should be able to reinstall the slider without dismantling the window. Take a good look at it and if it doesn't look possible to you then take a picture and ask your local RV dealer to explain the process to you. Looks like a great project. Will be nice to see it take on a new life.
I'm not sure what the regulations are but usually windshields are tempered but the other windows are single or preferably double strength glass. I will have to look into that question.

Mr_D · 04-07-2015, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 09 harley

Don't buy tempered glass and then try to cut it. It needs to be cut first and then it can be polished on the edges and tempered. Tempered glass will shatter if you try to cut it. You should be able to reinstall the slider without dismantling the window. Take a good look at it and if it doesn't look possible to you then take a picture and ask your local RV dealer to explain the process to you. Looks like a great project. Will be nice to see it take on a new life.
I'm not sure what the regulations are but usually windshields are tempered but the other windows are single or preferably double strength glass. I will have to look into that question.

Windshields are safety glass and not tempered. They have a sandwich of at least three layers, two glass and a plastic in between.

BFlinn181 · 04-08-2015, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Windshields are safety glass and not tempered. They have a sandwich of at least three layers, two glass and a plastic in between.

While true of windshields, side and back glass is usually tempered glass. Tempered glass is made by cutting, then put in an oven. After heating, it is cooled quickly by fans. The surface of the glass is cooled faster than the interior, so the surface is under compression and the interior is under tension. When broken, the glass breaks into small nuggets with few sharp edges. Because the edges of the glass also cool quickly, the edges are usually ground away until this weaker glass is removed. Tempered glass is typically 5-10 X as strong as untempered glass.

When I said, "I hope you're having tempered safety glass cut to fit." I meant that a qualified shop would cut and temper the glass for the frames the OP showed in the photos. This is not a DIY project, but installing the glass, once cut, can be.