annealed glass – artistry-in-glass

What is tempered glass? Find out from a glass professional!

by John

Tempered glass is used for shower and patio doors, tabletops, and windows throughout our homes & businesses. But what is tempered glass and how is it made? Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is stronger than annealed glass and also safer – because when broken it forms harmless popcorn fragments. Tempered glass, sometimes called “toughened” glass is made by heating annealed glass to about 1200 °F (650 °C) – a temperature at which it begins to soften. The outer surfaces are then cooled rapidly creating a solid skin of glass surrounding the still hot center. This procedure, … Read more

Can tempered glass be cut? Reliable facts from an expert!

by John

Tempered glass breaks into popcorn fragments

Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than regular annealed glass and is used for shower and patio doors and anywhere in the home where safety is necessary. However, it cannot be cut, notched, or drilled once tempered. Many misleading websites claim that tempered glass can be cut – but this is not true – if you try to cut or drill tempered glass it will explode into pieces. Can tempered glass be cut? NO! The ludicrous idea suggested by such prestigious websites as WikiHow is that you should: “Gain access to a kiln that you can use to … Read more

How to tell if glass is tempered – expert info from a pro!

by John

Chipped corners in annealed and tempered glass

Tempered glass is used for shower and patio doors because it is strong and safe, But, once tempered, glass can’t be cut, polished, or drilled, So, if you want to cut your glass, how do tell if it is tempered? Discover the facts from a glass professional. Very confusing websites give bad advice on how to identify tempered glass and even claim that tempered glass can be cut. We expose these ill-informed and confusing claims with definitive information from a 37-year glass professional. To identify tempered glass look for a logo, view under polarized light, examine the corners & edgework, … Read more

Should glass tabletops be tempered – learn from a scientist!

by John

Patio glass tabletops should always be tempered. Protective glass tabletops may or may not be tempered, & heavy glass tops generally do not need to be tempered

Do Glass Shelves Need To Be Tempered?

by John Wakefield

Clear glass starts out annealed and then can then be tempered to increase its strength and safety characteristics. Glass shelves for normal residential applications do not need to be tempered (but see exceptions below). In commercial applications (retail stores, restaurants, beauty salons, etc, tempering is highly recommended. Table of contents How is annealed glass made? Most architectural glass is manufactured by melting silica sand, soda ash, dolomite, limestone, and sodium sulfate to 1480 degrees C, and then floating it on a pool of molten tin. (this is why it is referred to as “FLOAT” glass and not the old term … Read more