00111000

I'll explain first, We were given an antique wood/glass display case when one of our friends moved away. Form what I can see most of the glass areas are custom cut and fitted. Last night our dogs smashed into the one side and cracked the glass. It is still being held in place by the framing but is cracked in several places. This is one of my wifes favorite things and I need to get it fixed ASAP.

Now I know nothing about how to get this fixed.What would the best way to go about getting this repaired? Removing the cracked glass does not seem like a good idea to me...I don't want to slice myself up. Can a glass cutter come out and remove it themselves and then measure out the areas for new glass? Thanks in advance.

onetime2

Having someone come out and do it will be ridiculously expensive if you can even find a glass shop that's willing. I would take the glass out myself and bring it down to the glass shop to have them cut a new piece for you. If there are similar sized panes in the case, I would have them make a couple of extras too. The glass is being held in somehow. Probably either by wooden rails or glazing (kind of like putty that's hardened) on one side of the glass (probably the outside). The rails or glazing will need to be removed and the glass taken out. If it's wood that's holding it in, you'll need to be very careful not to scratch up the finish or break it. A putty knife could work depending on how well connected they are to the case. If it's putty, scraping it out with a razor blade or using a Dremel type tool will work. To install the new glass you will either need to replace the wooden trim by tacking it back in or by reglazing the glass. Glaze can be purchased at the glass shop or at any Home Depot or Lowe's store.

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jbrooks544

Whatever you do, wear safety glasses and be careful to not get small glass splinters in your skin.

Like onetime2 said - the backside might have moldings tacked in place holding glass. If so, gently pry off with very small and thin pry bar. You might have to cut paint away from edges first with razor knife.

If glazing compound then remove it to remove glass. Easiest way is to gently use a heat gun to soften it first, be careful not to burn it and have a fire extinguisher handy and no flammables nearby. After glazing compound is removed there will probably be "points" holding glass that you will need to grab and remove with needlenose pliers or putty knife. Points are small, flat triangle pieces of metal pushed into place to hold glass in place while glazing. After all removed then measure and have glass cut, hold in place with points, re-glaze and then prime and paint.

If all of this sounds beyond you then you might bring call glass shops to see if they can remove and re-install glass. You would probably best bring the piece to them. You would paint if nec. Otherwise you would need to find a furniture restorer and bring it to them or find a finish carpenter and/or cabinetmaker (like me) to come to your house and charge you lots and lots of doh.

clavus

Spray some Spray Mount or 3M Spray Glue on the glass and stick a piece of plastic to it - use painters plastic, a chunk of old tarp, whatever.

If/when the glass breaks, it won't be a huge mess.

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00111000

Thanks all, going to attempt a fix this weekend. I'll let you know how it all goes.

clavus - I see you like Blast Tyrant

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glasscutter43

If this an expensive antique, repairing it yourself could greatly devalue it. Just be careful, and make sure it looks the same as when you started. Less the crack, of course

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