Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Removing old glazing putty

Jump to Latest
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
C

CarpenterSFO

· Registered
Joined
·
7,340 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Any magical suggestions about removing old glazing putty? It's sound and hard - no cracks or loose parts - but it's separated just enough from the glass to let water and air in. Not enough of a crack to fill with glazing or caulk.

Special multi-tool blade? Heat gun is barely faster than chisel or scraper alone.

I'm thinking about using the router and track - if I cut a rabbet big enough to get 90% of it the rest (at least the part against the glass) will come out easily.

Trim router and flush bearing bit for the parts up on the ladder.

I've sold them new windows for the rest of the house - these windows are pretty and will be refurbished.

I'll appreciate any advice.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
griz said:
How old is the stuff?

Just had some tested and it came back hot.
Click to expand...
If you mean lead or asbestos, I can deal with that - this house is old, with asbestos siding over the original lap on the back of the house, layer after layer of lead paint, a child inside, and a couple of inquisitive neighbors outside. We've had plastic enclosures, wipedowns, double-bagged waste, the full treatment.

If by "hot" you mean radioactive.... yikes, really?
 
#9 ·
I wish I had some magic for you Bob on this but no such luck.

I have referbed many an old window with hardened putty around here in the Old Town district of Orange, CA. and many was the time I wished I had had a good way other than careful scraping. All the methods seem to have terrific draw-backs to them.

Andy.
 
#10 ·
Worked in a hardware store when I was a teen,did all their window repairs using a glazing iron.
It had two heat coils,similar to the ones in old toasters,at a 90* angle for getting working the corners.Moved along pretty quickly.
Just had to get the timing down so you didn't singe the wood.

Very similar to the upper one in the pic at the top of this link;
http://www.myoldhouseonline.com/for...114602:Topic:781?page=2&commentId=2114602:Comment:21398&x=1#2114602Comment21398

Good luck finding one though,probably not made anymore.
 
#11 ·
CarpenterSFO said:
If you mean lead or asbestos, I can deal with that - this house is old, with asbestos siding over the original lap on the back of the house, layer after layer of lead paint, a child inside, and a couple of inquisitive neighbors outside. We've had plastic enclosures, wipedowns, double-bagged waste, the full treatment.

If by "hot" you mean radioactive.... yikes, really?
Click to expand...
Asbestos.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Caslon said:
Laborious chipping out of the old glazing is sometimes the only way to go.
I've tried a heat gun on 30 year old aluminum window glazing on school building windows, and believe me, it's like trying to soften up granite.
Click to expand...
Heat gun, steam gun, and speedheater IR aren't having much effect, at least in the time I'm willing to spend. I don't want to reduce these windows to raw beginnings, and some of them are fixed, i.e. I can't get them out and to the shop.

So here's what I did:

Mask up, put a flush bit in the router, clamp track or board, and fire away.

Working so far.

and cut away.
 
#17 ·
CarpenterSFO said:
Heat gun, steam gun, and speedheater IR aren't having much effect, at least in the time I'm willing to spend. I don't want to reduce these windows to raw beginnings, and some of them are fixed, i.e. I can't get them out and to the shop.

So here's what I did:

Mask up, put a flush bit in the router, clamp track or board, and fire away.

Working so far.

and cut away.
Click to expand...
Hope you are wearing a GOOD respirator and have any other orifices
covered up...:whistling
 
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
About this Discussion
17 Replies
13 Participants
Last post:
VinylHanger
Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum
posts
3.6M
members
169K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to professional construction and remodeling contractors. Come join the discussion about the industry, trades, safety, projects, finishing, tools, machinery, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Tools & Equipment Business Painting & Finish Work Decks & Fencing