Mobile Glass Storage

Sometimes people consider placing their glass storage onto wheels.  It is better to avoid wheels on glass storage for several reasons.

You would need heavy duty wheels to cope with the weight. Glass is 2.5 times as heavy as water, so it does not take much volume to make a really heavy glass case.

Example of mobile glass storage

You do not need to move all your glass at once - a piece at at time is all that is needed. It will be safer, and in the end easier, to build your work bench nearer the glass.

There are risks breakage while moving. The heavy glass store will vibrate the glass within the storage, and any snags or obstructions while moving the glass will increase the risk of breakage.

The structure can become too heavy to move and so defeat the original intention.

Cutting Flashed Glass

Some recommend cutting flashed glass on the clear or non-flashed side. This is based on the idea that the flash is only laminated to the main body of glass. My view is that flashed glass has proved to be very stable over many centuries, and so is firmly a part of the whole sheet.

What is more important is to observe that flashed glass often has a bow. If you place the glass on the bench, you may find that it rocks or sits up from the bench. If you cut the glass on the convex side, that is the side which is not resting on the bench except at the edges, you may find that you break the glass during the scoring, unless you are using the lightest of pressures. It is more certain to get a good break if you score the glass on the concave side - that is where the edges are slightly raised from the bench. So the important element in deciding which side to cut is to score the concave side whether that has the flashed colour or not.

This does not occur with all flashed glasses, and is more important on large sheets than small ones. On the small ones, the curvature is so small as to be immaterial.

Keeping Flashed Glass the Right Side Up

Once you have determined the flashed side on a sheet of glass, mark it with a felt tip or wax marker of some kind so that you will not have to perform this action each time. This should be carried over to each piece as you cut it away from the main piece.

When you have cut a piece from the main sheet, it is easy to turn it over and work on the clear rather than the flashed side. It is essential to know which the flashed side is if you are going to do any etching of any kind. So, as soon as you have cut the piece, mark the flashed side. This will keep you certain that you are working on the flashed side.

Another method to keep track of the flashed side is to mark across the intended score line. After scoring and breaking you will have both pieces of glass marked. All you need to do is make sure you always mark the same side - flashed or clear. Some like to cut on the clear side and some the flashed side. All you have to do is to determine which your practice is.

Distinguishing the Coloured Side of Flashed Glass

On smaller pieces of flashed glass you can determine which the flashed or coloured side is by putting it to the light and viewing it through the edge. If the flash is very thin or you cannot determine which the flashed side is, you can alter the angle a little. If you tip the glass down slightly and the light is coming through the clear side, there will be very little variation in what you see.

If you tip it down and you see the colour very distinctly, then the flash is on the upper side.

Also note that on the left side of the glass you can see the effect of the cutter pressure on the glass.  These little hook like marks are evidence of the stress caused by scoring the glass.  This is the kind of mark you will see on glass that has adequate, but not excessive pressure applied during the scoring.

Now back to the subject of the flash.

On larger pieces this is more difficult, and dangerous to you and the glass, as you risk breakage by holding large sheets horizontally. So you can use your grozers to nip a little glass off the edge. If there is no change in colour of the chipped edge, you have taken glass off the clear side. When you chip off the flash, there will be a little bit of clear showing which the coloured side is. Here are two examples.

Once you have determined which the flashed side is, mark it and all off-cuts with a felt tip or wax marker of some kind so that you will not have to perform this action each time.

Transporting Glass

Store, carry and transport glass as near to vertical as possible.

If you are transporting a number of sheets, place paper between the sheets to avoid scratches and vibration damage or breakage. The glass should be tied tightly together, preferably on a rack.

If you do not have a rack, you can put into the back of your vehicle and put the seat belts around the glass to keep it from flying forward in the event of an emergency stop. Cushion the seat belts from the edges of the glass to avoid cutting the belt with emergency breaking.

Handling Large Sheets of Glass Safely

Preparation
Use proper glass handling gloves.

Wear closed toe shoes, preferably with steel toe caps. This also allows you to set the glass on your toes prior to changing your grip to place the glass in the rack.

Clear the passage ways of all obstructions, whether on the floor or at the walls and door ways before moving any glass.

Carrying

To carry large sheets of glass safely (for yourself and the glass), you need to support it from below as well as the end. One gloved hand goes under the bottom and the other on the side edge. The glass is then carried vertically, with the edges at an angle. This is done in a manner so that the glass is on the side of your body with both palms facing outwards. If there is a trip or other accident, the glass will be tipped away from the body. This sounds awkward, but is safe and easy when you get used to it. It also is the glazing industry standard method of carrying glass.

If the glass is too heavy to lift in this way, use suckers and get others to help.

If the glass breaks while carrying it just let it drop. Trying to catch or save it will lead to a hospital visit.

Always set the glass edges down on a cushioning material. This can be wood, linoleum, carpet, etc.

Handling Large Sheets

PreparationUse proper glass handling gloves.

Wear closed toe shoes, preferably with steel toe caps. This also allows you to set the glass on your toes prior to changing your grip to place the glass in the rack.

Clear the passage ways of all obstructions, whether on the floor or at the walls and door ways before moving any glass.

Lifting from horizontal
The transition between horizontal and vertical is important because the glass sheet can break if it does not have the proper support. However, there is a tried and true method for laying glass down and turning it over.

Rest the glass on the edge of the bench, half on, half sticking off. Support both sides of the sheet. Then pivot it to the horizontal, still resting the middle of the glass on the edge of the bench as your fulcrum. This provides support at the middle during the transition from vertical to the horizontal of the bench top.

CarryingTo carry large sheets of glass safely (for yourself and the glass), you need to support from below as well as the end. One gloved hand goes under the bottom and the other on the side. The glass is then carried vertically, with the edges at an angle. This is done in a manner so that the glass is on the side of your body with both palms are facing outwards. If there is a trip or other accident, the glass will be tipped away from the body. This sounds awkward, but is safe and easy when you get used to it. It also is the glazing industry standard method of carrying glass.

If the glass is too heavy to lift in this way, use suckers and get others to help.

If the glass breaks while carrying it just let it drop. Trying to catch or save it will lead to a hospital visit.

Always set the glass edges down on a cushioning material. This can be wood, linoleum, carpet, etc.

Transporting

Store, carry and transport glass as near to vertical as possible.  You need to be careful when handling glass. In larger sheets it is very weak in a horizontal plane. It is strongest when it is in a vertical plane. (That’s why glass is always supposed to be shipped upright.)

If you are transporting a number of sheets, place paper between the sheets to avoid scratches and vibration damage or breakage. The glass should be tied tightly together, perferably on a rack. If you do not have a rack you can put into your vehicle, you can put the seat belts around the glass to keep it from flying forward in the event of an emergency stop.