How to Replace the Door Glass in Antique Cabinets

Replace glass in antique cabinet doors if they need it.

Replace glass in antique cabinet doors if they need it.

Contemporary woodworkers typically use adhesives to install glass in doors. Old-school woodworkers and cabinetmakers from the past utilized strips of molding held in place by small finish nails to secure glass inside cabinet door frames. The latter method is still used today by some woodworkers, but sticky silicone adhesive is now preferred to secure glass in doors. It keeps the door from rattling. If you have antique cabinets with glass that needs replacing, you can update the doors by removing the old molding, taking out the glass and replacing it using silicone glue.


Remove the door from the antique cabinet by removing the hinges with a screwdriver. Place the door face down on a worktable.


Insert the tip of a putty knife under one of the four pieces of molding around the perimeter of the glass. Insert the knife between the molding and the glass and pry up lightly. Rock the knife back and forth to lift the molding up higher and loosen the small brads holding it to the door. Do all four pieces.


Grasp the molding with your fingers. Wiggle it if you need to and then pull it up and off the door. If it's stubborn and won't come off, insert the tip of a chisel under it and pry it off. If the molding breaks off in pieces, that's OK. Discard it. You will not be using it again.


Tip the door up and push the old glass out from front to back. If it's stuck, tap on it lightly from the front with your fingers until it comes loose and remove it from the door.


Scrape along the inside of the door where the old glass came out. There will be a small shelf where the glass rested on the door. Use a chisel to scrape it clean and smooth for the new piece of glass.


Measure the old piece of glass. Use the measurements to order new glass the same size.


Lay the new glass in the door frame. Clip the tip off of a tube of clear silicone glue. Run a heavy bead of silicone around the perimeter of the glass where it touches the door frame. The bead should be about 3/8 inch in width. Wait 24 hours for the glue to dry.


Hang the door back onto the cabinet with the screwdriver.

Things You Will Need

  • Screwdriver
  • Putty knife
  • Chisel
  • Clear silicone glue


  • It may take a bit of practice, but you can run a perfectly smooth, round bead of silicone that looks nice. But if your bead gets peaks or you get messy with it, wet a fingertip and smooth the bead lightly to shape it.


  • If you get messy with the silicone, don't try to clean it up when it's wet. Wait 24 hours for it to dry and then pull it off with your fingers or scrape it off with a putty knife.
  • If the door has a grid on the front of it, don't remove it. Leave it in place.

Photo Credits

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