chengny
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2012
- Posts
- 4,086
- Reaction score
- 1,008
- Location
- NH
- First Name
- Jerry
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- K3500
- Engine Size
- 350/5.7
I just called my friend Jim at Granite State Glass.
Jim says that the rubber between the vent glass and the steel frame is on the shelf (at any auto glass place). That I kind of figured.
What I didn't expect was that the rubber does not come pre-formed in that U shape. It is a flat strip (the thickness varies with the application) that only takes on that U shape when the glass is pressed into the frame. It is heated and forms a water-tight seal when pressed in. The width is oversized and any excess is trimmed after the bond sets up.
Knowing that I am restoring an old truck, he offered a word of advice:
If you are shooting for a mint condition end result on the vent window, remove the glass frame from the rest of the bracing and bring it (along with the glass) to the shop before you do the final steps. In other words, don't do your final finishing until after the glass is locked into the frame or you'll probably end up doing it over.
The reason is that, the process of jamming the glass into the frame is violent. It almost always results in some scratching and chipping of the frame finish (be it paint or chrome).
Jim says that the rubber between the vent glass and the steel frame is on the shelf (at any auto glass place). That I kind of figured.
What I didn't expect was that the rubber does not come pre-formed in that U shape. It is a flat strip (the thickness varies with the application) that only takes on that U shape when the glass is pressed into the frame. It is heated and forms a water-tight seal when pressed in. The width is oversized and any excess is trimmed after the bond sets up.
Knowing that I am restoring an old truck, he offered a word of advice:
If you are shooting for a mint condition end result on the vent window, remove the glass frame from the rest of the bracing and bring it (along with the glass) to the shop before you do the final steps. In other words, don't do your final finishing until after the glass is locked into the frame or you'll probably end up doing it over.
The reason is that, the process of jamming the glass into the frame is violent. It almost always results in some scratching and chipping of the frame finish (be it paint or chrome).
