Tempered glass or not?

[uglystick]

I need to put glass in the 2 doors of a bookcase project I just finished. Each will be about 10"x36" in size (1/8" thick). The plans call for tempered glass which I understand is for safety reasons. The cost is 2x for tempered vs. non. I have small children that will have access to the bookcase.

I'm just wanting confirmation that tempered is the way to go before I spend $50 on glass!

Thanks!

[Ken Massingale]

Sounds like you know the correct answer, Kendall. That's a lot cheaper than plastic surgery, or worse.
ken

[LarryG]

I have small children that will have access to the bookcase.

In that case, I'd say you want tempered. For an adults-only household and were it mine I might say otherwise, but with little ones around I personally wouldn't risk it.

The building code calls for tempered (or laminated safety, or wired) glass within 18" of any door, in any direction. Obviously that would include vision panels in the door itself. I don't know what the requirements are for manufactured furniture but, as I say, I wouldn't take the chance if it were mine.

[Tom Miller]

I'm just wanting confirmation that tempered is the way to go before I spend $50 on glass!

What's your co-pay on an ER visit?

Even if there was no ER visit involved after one of the kids broke it, just think of the evil glare from the missus, thinking about what could have happened. $50 is sounding pretty cheap, isn't it?! (Well, the thought made my blood run cold, anyway....)

Regards,
Tom

[LCHIEN]

have you considered using plexiglas or lexan? Instead of glass?

What does the audience say, are plastics an good alternative esp. where kids may be involved, what are the pros and cons?

[Wood_workur]

I would go with laminated glass- about $1 more expensive per sq foot than tempered, but well worth it. It is extreemly hard to break, and if it ever does, there would not be any glass bits.

[Tom Miller]

What does the audience say, are plastics an good alternative esp. where kids may be involved, what are the pros and cons?

I wonder if you'd start to notice haziness from scratches/swirl marks from cleaning, etc.

Regards,
Tom

[LarryG]

What does the audience say, are plastics an good alternative esp. where kids may be involved, what are the pros and cons?

My long-held position is that plastic is a wonderful material for just enough every purpose except transparent ones. Most varieties scratch too easily, some can turn yellow, and none of them have the perfect, crystal-like clarity of glass.

[uglystick]

Tempered it is

OK, I'm back from the glass shop. Tempered panes have been ordered. Thanks for not laying on any guilt guys! I had not considered plastics at all... maybe next time.

I like the quote from this website on tempered glass strength:

It resists breakage by small missiles traveling approximately twice as fast as missiles which break annealed glass.

With 3 boys at 4, 6, & 10 yrs, we have ALOT of missiles around the house.

[LCHIEN]

My long-held position is that plastic is a wonderful material for just enough every purpose except transparent ones. Most varieties scratch too easily, some can turn yellow, and none of them have the perfect, crystal-like clarity of glass.

I think you can get Lexan AR which is a crystal clear lexan with an abrasion resistant coating, at Lowes and places.
I think it pretty stable w.r.t. turning yellow.
One advantage to plastics is you can cut it on your table saw to size
rather than depending upon a glass shop.

[jziegler]

Thanks Loring,

Good to know about the Lexan AR, I'll be looking for some soon. I have a project that I've been fighting with off and on (mostly off) for months now with terrible plans. I think that the Lexan will be the way to go, fitting the panes on this one might not be fun, and the panes that should be the same size may not be due to correcting problems in workmanship due to bad (and unsafe at times) directions. I'll look for the AR next time I get to a Lowes.

-Jim

[gabedad]

I found an awesome site for tempered glass

http://www.onedayglass.com/

prices are decent and you can't beat the turnaround time

[Bruce Cohen]

Just to clarify some points.

Tempered glass DOES break, except instead of large shards, you end up with small pebble type pieces.

Laminated glass DOES break, except most of the broken parts hold together (think car windshield), chances of getting cut are greatly reduced.

Lexan, when it is thick, 1" or more, is used in banks as bullet proof teller protection panels.

I took the easy out when making a wall hung cabinet with two 25" X 30" windowed doors. I made the piece about 25 years ago and the Lexan is still clear and has not yellowed, even though it does get a short period of direct sun during the late fall (location).

So there you have it, more info than most people want (except for maybe Loring )

Bruce