Grinding tempered glass

[Andrew Dwyer]

Soo, I have a small glass shelf in a niche in my bathroom:

 

 

 

I would like to add another further up but the gap is too small, can I grind off a mm or two or will it shatter ??

 

I have some discs that I used on ceramic and they worked well.

 

TIA

 

Andy

[eyecatcher]

Since you have nothing under that shelf why dont you just lower that one.

Why make things complicated

[CGW]

I wouldn't use a disc, the glass is "tempered" no saying how it will react, belt sander "may" work? but risky.

Wear PPE, lots of it 

[VocalNeal]

Where does the extra shelf come from? You have a matching twin? 

 

I think I would take a template to a glass shop and get one made the correct size.

Edited December 16, 2019 by VocalNeal

[Andrew Dwyer]

9 minutes ago, eyecatcher said:

Since you have nothing under that shelf why dont you just lower that one.

Why make things complicated

How would lowering that one help ?

I don’t understand your reasoning .

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

7 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Where does the extra shelf come from? You have a matching twin? 

I bought 2 ( the same ) to go in the niche but the niche tapers slightly and I didn’t think I could grind it so I put it in another bathroom.

 

Now I’m thinking ???? “ wish I had another shelf in that niche “ hence my question , and if it can be done I’ll buy another.

[Andrew Dwyer]

16 minutes ago, CGW said:

I wouldn't use a disc, the glass is "tempered" no saying how it will react, belt sander "may" work? but risky.

Wear PPE, lots of it 

Thanks, I must add that the discs are for polishing and not cutting discs.

[Andrew Dwyer]

“ Toughened “ is probably a better word than “ Tempered “ ????

[worgeordie]

You are not cutting it, so slowly try and sand the extra off,

put some tape on it in case it shatters.

regards Worgeordie

[VocalNeal]

 

It is the surface that holds it all together. You should be able to grind/file the edges. BUT I wouldn't use a grinding disc that cuts up or down onto the surface. I think a belt sand that cuts into an edge would be OK? 

Dremel with a diamond bit? Again cutting along the edge not down onto the surface

 

No direct experience just thinking about the physics.

 

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

“ Toughened “ is probably a better word than “ Tempered “ ????

They are virtually synonymous. The tempering process toughens the glass. ???? 
 

also TSGC does not agree with you ???? 

[eyecatcher]

4 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

How would lowering that one help ?

I don’t understand your reasoning .

 

Had you shown this picture to start, I would not have said that. Not an excuse but I had a terrible day buying bras, after that I wasnt thinking clearly

[Denim]

If you put the second shelf on the tile grout line it might be easier to grind out the grout line than risk damaging the glass.

[bankruatsteve]

You might try placing in at angle and then carefully tapping with a rubber mallet until it goes into position.  That might crunch the tile a bit or break the glass ???? but grinding or trying to cut is not likely to work out well anyway.  

[Andrew Dwyer]

28 minutes ago, eyecatcher said:

Had you shown this picture to start, I would not have said that. Not an excuse but I had a terrible day buying bras, after that I wasnt thinking clearly

Okay, if it’s any consolation once you have decided you need a bra buying them is not too bad, you are over the worst . ????

[Andrew Dwyer]

27 minutes ago, Denim said:

If you put the second shelf on the tile grout line it might be easier to grind out the grout line than risk damaging the glass.

Unfortunately the lower grout line is too low and the higher too high ☹️
Ideally it needs to be half way down the tile as the lower shelf.

[maxpower]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJBZsAewU-A

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Well, just to tidy this thread up I bit the bullet and bought another shelf ( 500 baht ).

I wrapped it in an old sheet with only the end showing, touched on lightly and removed the minimum necessary, it took me a couple of goes but did work.

 

 

As you can see the out of square of the tiling caused the problem.

 

 

I used a regular polishing wheel in a 4” grinder.

 

If it had been a lot to take off I would have probably looked into buying a piece to size.

[mogandave]

Looks great!