DIY Glass edge polishing solution
 

So I am working on a certain tank ATM & was a little unhappy the way the edges where finish by the glass cutter as they where sanded by a coarse hand belt sander.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...pscba26a63.jpg

I have been trying to find a way to polish out the edges without having to do it by hand & take forever. I just happen to have to go to KMS Tool for another matter & asked my buddy David if he had any ideas.

He took me to what he thought would work & we discussed the best procedure to accomplish my goal. This is similar to what he suggested, I didn't buy this pack but bought 4 individual disc's.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps9c52f0b4.jpg

These disc's have a hook & loop backing & require a backing pad with the same. I used this tool with the backing disk & started with the 400 grit to remove all the rough surface. Then went right up to the 3000 grit just to see what the results would be

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps856705cf.jpg

And this is it..........

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps6be5d27a.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps16073e5c.jpg

This side is 24" long & took about an hour & a half.

Damn man! looks awesome

1.5 hours at a welders rate... Should have ordered glass already polished ;)

Nice job though.

Still cheaper this way :lol:

They charge by the inch

That & now I can do it myself on any glass edge now that I have a system.

Yes about $1 an inch, give or take.

Not to mention its not the easy to haul 3 - 8' pieces of 3/4" glass all the way to the big city & back. I didn't expect the cuts to be so rough on some pieces but when it got delivered it was they way it was & I wasn't about to have the hassles of getting it re cut or polished.

Hense the "should have" and the ;)

They use a very similar system to polish granite countertop edges. Equipment isn't cheap but it sure makes all the difference. Nicely done!

These pads are actually made for granite so I though.......what the hell give it a try. I did try it out on a scape piece of glass before I went anywhere near my big pieces.

If you knew what I paid for these large pieces of glass ( one is starphire ) you might understand plus edge polishing was not an option with the glass supplier.

Do you think you could bevel them using the same method?

Yes deffinately I am giving all edges a nice 1/8" bevel & it looks awesome! I will update with some more pic tomorrow.

As promised here is a shot of a finished edge on one side.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps653c63bf.jpg

Looks good Greg! People will be calling you to buff out their scratches soon enough.

:mrgreen:

Did you free hand it or create a jig worthy of Norm Abram?

OH HELL NO!!!! Personally I don't think it would be a good system to use on a viewing surface. Only reason I did this to the edges to to get rid of the sanded rough surface so that the silicone would bond properly.


All free hand, Ross & who the hell is Norm Abram?:biggrin:

Norm Abram is a "Master Carpenter" that makes a Jig for everything you possibly could make a jig for.
http://www.newyankee.com/

Looks awesome

I think I'm gonna have to buy some of those pads....

And steal my compressor back from my dad :D

OH that dough head!!:lol: Master jig build is more like it IMO:twised:

Looks really good, Alot of time involved

I'm happy my tank was bevel edge and polished at factory including the weir for the over flow:)

Nice work Greg :smile:

I hate sanding ... I lose patience after about 10 mins

I really can't go wrong with having to do this for my own satisfaction considering I only paid a fraction of what I should have.

Thanks budzz :biggrin: I hate painting ( walls that is ) more then sanding.

I used to use diamond polishing pads for sanding and concrete countertops to a glass like finish. I never new they would work on glass but way not its just another form of stone . Nice work !

About how much we're those discs? Do they have the ability to "round" out the edges a little more? Either way, it is a great idea.

The discs where $17.99 for each grit & you could round out the edges more if that is what you want but if its for bonding edges you want them as flat & square as possible. You also need a 4" hook & loop backing disc that is around $40.

Perfect. Much appreciated. Have the tools. Just need dem discs!