Window glazing

[Tujo]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think I'll try to find some MEK at the store, 'cause this is getting rediculous. I'm getting better - maybe ten minutes to strip a pane now instead of 30. I still broke some glass, but I found out its only $2/pane at the hardware store, so even if I broke every pane it would be cheaper than a single replacement window...

[Tujo]

No luck finding any methyl ethyl ketone - in fact almost every stripper I saw seemed to be some variation of methyl free, but i found something else that was a great aid - a small, sharp chisel. I guess my problem was the tool I was using was way to dull - a good edge seems to be making an incredible difference.

[jade mortimer]

my thinking is, if you have the time and the patience, it is BEST remove all the putty and all the glass and even all the paint...apply a repellant/preservative, oil primer, oil based putty, oil primer (one under, one over the putty) then two coats of paint--oil or latex...if some or most of the putty is cracked, it is a safe bet that it (all the putty) is beyond its life expectancy...

for about $300, a home owner can build a steam box which includes a jiffy clothes steamer (model j4000) and 1" foil faced rigid insulation...you will be amazed at how easy the putty comes out--zip, zip, zip, zip--there, i just removed putty from all four side of the glass! i don't use the steamer as a paint remover, rather, while the sash is in the steambox, the paint bubbles and loosens...once i remove the glass, i put the sash off to the side to let it dry...i then use my heat gun to remove the paint...scraping a wet sash, reagardless of how careful one is, leads to the 'threading' of wood--threads of wood are pulled from the sash damaging the sash...set the glass panes in a bucket of water and 'simple green' overnight (or longer) and the remaining putty will come off easily with a razor...

window restoration is very time consuming and tedious--that's why we get the big bucks for our work! i can hear all my fellow restorers having a chuckle over that one....one 12 over 12 sash set can easily take 20-30 hours depending on size and condition...

if i was independently wealthy, i would like to travel the country hiking and offering FREE window restoration classes...since that is profoundly unlikely, please let me know if you would like further info on the steambox...

as a disclosure, i am a moderator on historic homeworks...irkgirl--who and where are you? i am new here and notice that it is not common for folks to list their email addresses or set up for 'private messages' which makes it difficult to speak with others one on one.....

time to get out to the shop...
....jade

[trail2peace]

I'd like more details on building a steam box and steaming (how long?)
Thank you,
Sherri

[jade mortimer]

if i could figure out how to share a couple of photos here, it would be easier to explain...

i started out building a 48"x48" steambox and have since made a couple of larger ones to accommodate larger sash...the 48"x48" will be plenty big enough for the average sash...this box will be a vertical steamer because i find that the water rolls off the glass and onto the floor of the box rather than sitting on the glass during removal...

materials:
2--1" 4'x 8' rigid insulation foil faced, both sides ($30 each)
2--12' 1"x3" strapping (no need for nice sanded pine) ($8-$10 total)
2--2 1/4 screws1--hand full of 1 1/2" screws ($ minimal)
2--6" pieces of 1x1 scrap
1--tube of high temperature silicone (available at most hardware or wood/pellet stove stores) ($5)
1--jiffy j-4000 clothes steamer ($175--$275) do research on-line

tools:
straight edge
japanese saw
one (or two) helping hand(s)
screw gun
measuring device (otherwise known as a tape measure)
clamps 14 inches or larger--optional

+cut one sheet of insulation in half (using the straight edge and japanese saw), making 2-48"x48" pieces

+cut four pieces 12" x 48"

+with your helper, hold one 48x48 piece and apply a continuous bead of silicone along one foiled edge

+to the siliconed 48x48, press one 12x48 piece allowing the silicone to ooze out (you will now have an 'L' shaped design) the outside of the 48" piece to the opposite end of the 12" piece should measure 13"

+apply silicone to the inside of the second 48x48 piece and press that into the 'L' shaped piece...you should now have a 'U' shaped design measuring 14" across the narrow end

+apply silicone to the top edges of both 48" pieces and install another 12" piece pressing it together for the oozing....you can clamp of hold for a minute or so...

+flip the box over, apply silicone to inside edges of 48"x48" and install the third piece of 12"x48" piece

+the last 12"x48 piece will be your door...about 6" down from the top of this piece, install 2 pieces of the 6" 1x1 directly opposite one another on each side of the panel then screw (2-2 1/4")through the 1x wood, through the insulation and into the other 1x wood--this will act as your handle

+ your door will be a friction fit

+at the rear of the box, about an inch from the bottom, make a hole just large enough for the steamer hose

+at the bottom of the box and furthest to the rear, make a few holes for the water to drain out

+apply the 1x3 strapping to reinforce the box--cut four 48" pieces and five (yes five, not four!) pieces of 15 1/2" pieces

+screw the pieces of wood together AROUND the box not INTO the box...the extra piece of 1x strapping is doubled up to another on the bottom of the box in order to tilt the box so the water will run to the back

+inside the box you may want to lay a couple 1x cleats on the floor to allow the steam to penetrate all surfaces of the sash...separate the sash with scraps of 1x...

+the steamer comes with a hose with a wand on the end...you can break the wand off or painstakingly remove it for future use...

it is adviseable to get yourself a pair of THERMAL gloves and even a face shield...when the door is removed from the steamer, the escaping steam is VERY HOT and can burn skin if you are not careful and alert.

make sure your cuts are as straight as possible for a snug fit......

i typically put two sash in at a time...once the steam is being produced, steam the sash for about 30 minutes...i then take out one sash, strip as much putty as possible--there is a working time of about 15 minutes...if the sash needs more time in the sauna, stick it back in and work on the other one......

this operation is not suggested for use in your home as it produces a LOT of steam...

i have a few steam boxes, one with hinges and closure clasps, one on rollers, one that has my name on it, etc...after you try this steamer method, you will learn what works best for you and make changes accordingly...SAFETY FIRST--the steam has temperatures upwards of 200 degrees!!

once someone tells me how to upload photos, i think the plans will sound much easier....

feel free to ask questions and let us know how it works for you....

...jade