I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

In article , MrWeld MrWeld@?.?
writes
I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

It's been a requirement for ground level glass to be toughened for a
very long time so I would expect it to be a granular smash. Toughened
should have a BS kite mark on it somewhere and if it does I'd say you
were safe but you will probably want/need to use a centre punch and
hammer in the corner to be able to break it. Be aware however that that
the granules still have sharp edges.

If it turns out not to be toughened then I wouldn't be too worried, I
have smashed out 6mm plain glass from 1.5 x 1m sashes without incident,
just lie them flat over a double tarp, give it a whack then break up the
bigger bits and shovel into a builders' bulk bucket. Thence in the back
of a car to the tip.

Needless to say, hide gloves and eye protection required.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On Wednesday 04 September 2013 21:49 fred wrote in uk.d-i-y:

In article , MrWeld MrWeld@?.?
writes
I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

It's been a requirement for ground level glass to be toughened for a
very long time so I would expect it to be a granular smash.

I would not assume that for an old door.

Needless to say, hide gloves and eye protection required.

Absolutely! Bits do go flying!

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage

Reading this on the web? See:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Usenet

On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:56:25 +0100, MrWeld MrWeld wrote:

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

The simplest and safest way is to use an automatic centre punch such
as :-
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand.../sd3302/p29430

Place the glass on a sheet on the ground and press the centre punch
somewhere near an edge. If it is toughened it will break into many
sharp small pieces, if not it will shatter into long sharp shards.
Either way there are no bits flying around and the sheet contains the
debris.

On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:56:25 +0100, MrWeld wrote:

I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

A fully glazed single door that I was moving to a shed for future use as
part of cloche or something was clumsy enough to catch a bottom corner on a
protruding end of a brick. The impact didn't seem very hard but I was left
holding a frame and the glass was ib a heap on the ground.
Serves it right for not looking where it was going.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On Thu, 5 Sep 2013 07:42:23 +0100, PeterC wrote:

The impact didn't seem very hard but I was left holding a frame and the
glass was ib a heap on the ground.

Funny stuff toughened glass, when it goes it goes but what makes it
go can be very variable. Filming a road accident scene for Casualty
*many* moons ago they required a toughened wind screen to be broken.
They sourced an old car with a toughed screen, stunt boys crashed it,
(screen still in tact), vehicle wranglers come along to break it,
pointy chisel near corner, ball payne hammer gentle tap, no effect,
bigger thump, no effect, swung at it, no effect, swaps to lump
hammer, good thump, no effect, swung at it, no effect, real hefty
whack it goes. Much to the vehicle wranglers relief, they where
starting to get embarrased with the entire crew watching 'em. B-)

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Thu, 05 Sep 2013 08:12:29 +0100 (BST), Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Thu, 5 Sep 2013 07:42:23 +0100, PeterC wrote:

The impact didn't seem very hard but I was left holding a frame and the
glass was ib a heap on the ground.

Funny stuff toughened glass, when it goes it goes but what makes it
go can be very variable. Filming a road accident scene for Casualty
*many* moons ago they required a toughened wind screen to be broken.
They sourced an old car with a toughed screen, stunt boys crashed it,
(screen still in tact), vehicle wranglers come along to break it,
pointy chisel near corner, ball payne hammer gentle tap, no effect,
bigger thump, no effect, swung at it, no effect, swaps to lump
hammer, good thump, no effect, swung at it, no effect, real hefty
whack it goes. Much to the vehicle wranglers relief, they where
starting to get embarrased with the entire crew watching 'em. B-)

On buses: "Emergency exit - use hammer provided to break glass"

Over hammer: "Break glass to get hammer"

On glass over hammer: "Toughened glass"!

Where's the hammer to... - oh, never mind.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On Thursday 05 September 2013 07:42 PeterC wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:56:25 +0100, MrWeld wrote:

I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

A fully glazed single door that I was moving to a shed for future use as
part of cloche or something was clumsy enough to catch a bottom corner on
a protruding end of a brick. The impact didn't seem very hard but I was
left holding a frame and the glass was ib a heap on the ground.
Serves it right for not looking where it was going.

You had toughended glass. My old door predated such regulations. The OP
could have anything.
--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage

Reading this on the web? See:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Usenet

On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:56:25 +0100, MrWeld wrote:

If I hit it in a corner with a hammer, is it likely to break into large
dangerous shards, or lots of relatively safe granules?

It ought to be toughened so small granules, they still have sharp
edges and corners though. You need something sharp, the automatic
center punch is a good starting point, favoured by car tea leaves I
believe. See other post you might have to hit it surprisingly hard,
or not...

Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?

Toughened will have a BS kitemark etched onto it somewhere, probably
near a corner.

Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

Yes, that size of glass double glazed will produce quite a heap of
sugar. Make the lower layer double and tough and you should just be
able to smash the glass, remove the frame then bundle it all up for
the bin/HWRC.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Wednesday 04 September 2013 20:56 wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?

Haha - I have just done the same!

Ali doors can be dismantled if you can find all the screws.

However, I broke it up in the skip before giving the metal to someone who
fancied it. Yes, it was thick glass, not toughended and made some big assed
shards.

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage

Reading this on the web? See:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Usenet

I'd be tempted to just get it carted off so its son elses problem myself.
Double glazed doors can be surprisingly strong.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
MrWeld wrote in message ...
I've got a large old double-glazed patio door stored in a barn. It's
aluminium framed, at least 20 years old, nearly 2 metres square and I
guess weighs more than 60kg.

I'm considering putting it on freecycle, but it's in a very inaccesible
location, so smashing it might be easier. If I hit it in a corner with a
hammer, is it likely to break into large dangerous shards, or lots of
relatively safe granules? Is there an easy way to tell by inspecting it?
Would laying it flat between a couple of layers of heavy plastic sheet
before hitting it help reduce the mess?