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Glass: Why Glass?

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  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Glass: Why Glass?
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 7:55 AM

Yeah,Glass!

        When you are using resin or just cutting something for a long or circular part, or just using a blade to remove parts from the Sprue. Put Glass on your work surface. Why? Well, Tempered Glass is a great Flat cutting surface. I mentioned Tempered Glass. You remember those Stereo stacks with the Glass doors? That's where mine came from. Thirty years later and it is still scar free, and allowing perfectly square cuts and with the right tools perfectly square builds. They even come on IKEA and SAUDER Brand(WAL-MART) as well as other types of Do-It-Yourself Cabinets! both double and single door.

       It can be Tinted or not, That part doesn't matter. Some had holes for the hinges and a lot just clamped it between a nylon or such gasket. The great part is when you are working on a kit, you are on page twelve, maybe. Where's your instructions? taking up room on the bench that you need to do these steps. So, Put you instructions Under the Glass. This gives you Freedom to work, on top and keeps the Instructions from getting, paint, Glue, or Decal water and Setting solution on them. Plus you don't accidently cut a slot in them.

      If you can't find one of those then invest in a Glass Cutting Board you can find at Kitchen and Culinary stores. The investment is worth it. Right, if you get it from the Culinary store, it will be costly. So look for the stereo stacks at yard sales. You will get a nice Topper and if the cabinet is in fair shape, a place to store your compressor and paints after adding some impromptu shelves.

       The other reason for glass is Resin. This stuff before mixing in the hardener is Sticky and Yuck! So, if you are working on glass, when you are finished just wipe down the whole thing with Lacquer thinner and Viola' you are all clean and pristine again. Plus, if you need to have an absolute  Flat bottom to something, like the Glue Bottle Holder I mentioned in another post, Just take some release agent, rub it on the glass out of your way, Then place the pipe or bottle ring down, Insert the pattern and pour. You will then get a Perfectly flat bottom that pops off easily when set. Make sure to use the release agent though. 

  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by lurch on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 8:19 AM

Thats a great idea. Thanks for the info. Guess I am going garage saling this weekend. 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 10:36 AM

Look for old copiers or scanners.  I have a friend who recycles digital devices, and I asked him to save me the plate glass from some copiers.  I use it as a surface for cutting PE, and as a surface for working with 2-part epoxy putty, for rolling it out and cutting it.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 1:09 PM

Oh Baron!

       I completely forgot about them. Good source there too. I cut my P.E. now on a polished steel ingot I found at a so-called antique store. They thought it was a lamp weight. It is actually a weight used on very old Industrial engraving heads. For depth setting. Haven't even succeeded in scratching it yet!

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 3:04 PM

Nice tip TB!  Maybe I'll go out and get a glass cutting board to replace my little segment of broken jalousie that I have used for over 40 years.  Embarrassed

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 4:46 PM

Real G !

    Hey now! I bet most folks wouldn't know what a Jalousie was much less a Broken One. We had seventeen of them in the house in Florida!

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 5:32 PM

TB,

The jalousie fragment I have is a convenient size - around 4"x5", which is good enough for most tasks.  I suppose a cutting board would be great for sanding vac form kits.  But a lot of people nowadays have never seen a vac kit!  Big Smile

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 6:18 PM

It's always worth asking at your local hardware store (or wherever they cut glass)...particularly if you've got an old 'neighborhood' store rather than one of the 'big box' places...if they've got any 1/4 or 3/8-inch glass 'extra' pieces from custom cuts, or larger panels that were ordered and never picked up. They may be willing to let 'em go at a discount, just to get them out of the way.

That's how I got my 15x15 3/8" 'cutting board,' complete with curved corners and smooth beveled edges, for about $3.00 back in the day.

It never hurts to ask.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by lurch on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 6:39 PM

Ok Tanker what is a jalousie?

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 7:12 PM

Years ago a friend in the pay phone business was closing down and he gave me a stack of glass from pay phone cabinets.  It's what I use on top of all my build surfaces.  Easy to clean paint and glue off off as well as cut on.

 

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 7:14 PM

I'm not TB...but jalousies are louvered slat windows, usually glass. Common in hot areas like FL and I guess maybe TX.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 8:07 PM

Thanks for the explanation Greg!  Yeah they are tough on the knuckles when they are cleaned.  The end brackets are sharp!

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by lurch on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 9:13 AM

Thanks Greg. I wasnt realy sure and my guess was wrong. Now I know.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 9:44 AM

Yeah, jalousie window slats are a good source, too.  My kitchen door was aluminum with jalousies, and when the door finally wore out-the door came apart at its seams-I salvalged the slats for shelving in a wall display cabinet.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 11:39 AM

In My Experience!

            Jalousy windows are neat when the weather is mild. But even closed they were not the best with the horizontal rain that comes with Hurricane type storms. We covered them up completely then. Plus in an air conditioned home they leaked air too much. I haven't seen them but a few times here in Texas!

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 3:22 PM

Jalousies are common here in Hawaii, as we don't really have a winter like you guys do on the mainland - it's "freezing" when the daytime temperature dips all the way down to 70 degrees.  Stick out tongue  But other more weather-tight window designs are becomming common these days over here, and they have fewer, larger panes that are easier to clean.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 4:32 PM

Real G
...fewer, larger panes that are easier to clean.

I remember cleaning those things was a regular royal pain in the south side. Only time I was ever stung by a wasp was doing that job...it had landed (unnoticed) in the bucket I was using, and when I reached down to rinse out my sponge.... Censored

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 5:14 PM

gregbale

 

 
Real G
...fewer, larger panes that are easier to clean.

 

I remember cleaning those things was a regular royal pain in the south side. Only time I was ever stung by a wasp was doing that job...it had landed (unnoticed) in the bucket I was using, and when I reached down to rinse out my sponge.... Censored

 

Yep, a pane in the glass.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 5:58 PM

Real G
Yep, a pane in the glass.

Bow Down Bow Down Bow Down Bow Down

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Thursday, August 11, 2022 7:45 AM

Hi RealG!

          Yeah, I forgot about The "Island State" They did have a few the last time I visited. Not many though. Most were those left from the 40s and 50s.

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Thursday, August 11, 2022 1:37 PM

Tanker-Builder

Hi RealG!

          Yeah, I forgot about The "Island State" They did have a few the last time I visited. Not many though. Most were those left from the 40s and 50s.

 

They were common in the 1960s too, when my house was built.  Actually new construction houses over here regularly had jalousies through the 1970s.  At first, the nicer more upscale homes had the awning type windows.  But residents began to pay more attention to window design after we had hurricane Iwa in 1982.

And yes, we are represented as the 50th star on the US flag.  It was funny when tourists used to ask if US dollars were accecpted here.  We used to jokingly tell them that yes we do, but the state monetary unit was actually puka shells.  And that the rush hour canoe traffic on the Ala Wai Canal was terrible, so they should best avoid the waterway in the early morning and late afternoon during their stay on Waki-Waki Island (Waikiki, which is actually NOT an island).  Stick out tongue

On a flip, we refer to Las Vegas as the "9th Island" as so many locals flock there on a regular basis.  Big Smile  I guess the California Hotel is their city hall, since that's where they usually stay.  Stick out tongue

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, August 14, 2022 11:47 AM

Hey!

 I am going to see if I can find one of the rare photos that survived 1982! It's a photo of a small bay on the back side from Waikiki! The shades of Aqua and Blue in the water were awesome! If I hadn't found the San Joaquin Delta in California, that would,ve been my last stop! Always loved the islands and their folks. Mahalo!

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