Suppliers for plate glass?

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

Two questions:

Can any of you recommend plate glass suppliers?  

Do I need tempered for a light duty shelf (curio cabinet duty) that is 3/16"x30"x15"?


I'm building the Lighted Curio Cabinet in the latest Wood magazine and am suffering a bit of sticker shock; I'm finding prices for two shelves and six door panels running from $450-$600.

[jteneyck]

Two questions:

Can any of you recommend plate glass suppliers?  

Do I need tempered for a light duty shelf (curio cabinet duty) that is 3/16"x30"x15"?


I'm building the Lighted Curio Cabinet in the latest Wood magazine and am suffering a bit of sticker shock; I'm finding prices for two shelves and six door panels running from $450-$600.

You aren't required by law to use tempered or laminated glass for cabinet doors or shelves.  I use my local glass shop for such needs.  I use 1/4" glass for light duty shelves; 3/16" is pretty light for a shelf that long.  Many glass suppliers show load vs. span and glass thickness on their websites and I suggest you check.  I usually specify a polished pencil edge on glass for shelving. 

For cabinet doors I usually use double strength glass because it's strong enough for my needs and it's cheap, but if you go up to 1/4" you'll pretty much never have to worry about them breaking.  I don't get those edges polished, just ground.  Most thicker glass isn't cheap these days, but those prices sound pretty high.  

John

Oh, sorry, try Wolverine Glass  if you don't have a local shop that can do the work.  They were far cheaper for me supplying the tempered glass lites I used in the arched French door project earlier this year. 

John  
     

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

Thanks, John.

Can't find a shopping page there so I sent an email.

[fixtureman]

When I worked remodeling drug stores we just found a local glass company and they mad our shelves and mirrors

[rschissler]

Easiest thing is to go with a local glass supplier.  Hard to believe there aren't any near you.

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

There are a couple. I'm in a fairly rural area, so there isn't a whole lot of anything realty close by!

[Steve N]

I would source that locally, unless it's free S&H, and breakage is on them, not you.

[Cooler]

Standard glass thicknesses:

Single Strength = 2.5mm (.099")

Double strength = 3.2mm (.125")

I used single strength for most picture frames and I think it is fine for small door lights.

Picture windows are done in double strength in most cases.

Here is a weight calculator for glass:  https://www.dullesglassandmirror.com/gla...calculator

A door with several glass panels can get heavy.

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

Thanks, Cooler.

This design has six individual doors, each with its own pane of glass, so individual weight isn't a huge concern.

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

Another question, but this one on sizing the shelves:

The interior width of the carcass is 30 3/8". Should I make the shelves 1/8" shorter or 1/4" shorter? Shelf pins will be completely below the shelves; no "L" shape, so they won't make the interior any narrower.