Friday, January 30, 2009

Tempered Glass (Crash glass)


The brittle nature of tempered glass causes it to shatter into small oval-shaped pebbles when broken. This eliminates the danger of sharp edges. Due to this property, along with its strength, tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass. Notice the thinner TG, 1/8" is more delicate when shattered. Most stained glass is 1/8" and using 1/8" or 3/16" is easier to mosaic with the same heighth.

Automobiles use a different type of safety glass for the windshield and tempered glass for the back and side windows. Windshields are made from laminated glass, which sandwiches a sheet of plastic between two panels of glass. When the windshield breaks, the glass panels stick to the plastic film, rather than falling away to possibly injure the driver or other passengers.

Tempered glass breaks in a unique way. If any part of the glass fails, the entire panel shatters at once. This distinguishes it from normal glass, which might experience a small crack or localized breakage from an isolated impact.

This makes it perfect for mosaics! Tempered glass comes in colors - clear, green, bronze, and gray. It also comes in different thicknesses. 1/8", 3/16", & 1/4". Car windows is 1/4" thickness where as shower doors are usually 3/16". You can also buy textured tempered glass. This picture is comparing the thickness of 1/8" & 1/4" TG.

There are some online mosaic suppliers that sell tempered glass (tg) but I would look in a phone book for glass companies that manufacture tempered glass. They may have scrap glass you can buy. I did that from a local company and he gave me a discount since it was from a special window a customer didn't buy. You can also try Craig's List.

You can paint under TG, add ribbons, pictures, glitter. The sky is the limit. If you do paint your substrate, I would use a sealer before applying the TG and the glue. Mine turned a green color underneath the glass without the sealer.

Here is a box where I used TG. I painted part of the box with gold acrylic paint & then a clear spray before I glued the TG down.


Frameless Shower Door said...


Estevan Rigoberto said...
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Estevan Rigoberto said...

Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling. You can use these different types of safety glass for back and side windows.

Different Types of Tempered Glass

Allen Perry said...

Thank you for give very good information.
Tempered Glass Sheet

Makson lazia said...

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Commercial Storefronts

Makson lazia said...
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Anonymous said...

I saved all the glass when we replaced our old shower. Can you direct me to a site for instructions and materials needed to make crash glass and install it on various surfaces? Before my husband gets tired of it sitting around.

Anonymous said...

I get tempered glass from local glass-repair shops - I simply call and ask them to save me a box from their next replacement jobs. Most often, they don't even charge for the glass. A gallon-size box goes a long way! I then use glass stain to stain it and have had some pieces ( on rock and stone) outdoors for over 10 years without much fading, and often don't grout at all.

Laura Germain said...

Can someone tell me what type of paint I would use under tempered glass and what sealer pls.