A method for installing glass in a door

Re: A method for installing glass in a door

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

Very nice.

You can get tools to make that less scary; search the interweb for "picture frame brad setter." If you have a suitably sized pair of Channellock-type pliers (see picture), you can save the money and use them, with bits of wood to protect the work.

The last project I did involving glass installation in a frame, I used an approach I learned - if I recall correctly - from William Duffield, which involves making shims the thickness of the glass - strips of wood, cereal box cardboard stacked and taped together, whatever's quick and simple - and drilling holes for brass screws in the strips that hold the glass in place. The shims allow all the hole drill/screw driving to be done without the glass. Then remove the strips, install the glass, and put the screws back in place with nothing scarier than a screwdriver near the glass.

Life on the edge...

Mark Hennebury

That's how it's supposed to be.

It means that you have a lot invested and risk loosing it at every step.

That's when you know you are in the game.

Good job Bill!

that's the way to do it

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

As mentioned the pins are friction fit so they can be removed as necessary. Using my set of number drills I chose a pilot hole that provided a snug friction fit. Holes were located and drilled as you describe. I used a sized wood strip to stand in for the glass for dry fitting the battens.

Re: A method for installing glass in a door

William Duffield

Nope, I don't think that method came from me. It sounds like a good method, and I wish I'd thought of it, but I can't remember even doing it myself.

WoodCentral is a valuable community of very helpful people, and I'm very pleased to belong to it, and to help when I can.

My method

Lee Schierer in McKean, PA

I understand your fear of using a hammer on glass to install pins, brads or small nails. I found a much safer way to do this. I use my variously sized Channellock adjustable pliers with a pad under the jaw touching the wood to press the pins/nails/brads into the frame on the inside. I open the jaws so they span the frame and the brad I'm driving and slowly squeeze the handles together. The first time I tried this I was amazed at how easily it worked. You do have to keep the brad perpendicular to the frame when you start pressing and all the way until it is fully inserted.

Lee

Re: A method for installing glass in a door *LINK*

Jim Dillon

Looking very nice. I also am a fan of using small brass pins to fasten the battens to the frame. In fact, when I did my kitchen glass-fronted cabinets, and a china cabinet I used that approach. I think it adds an elegant touch and the brass looks nice against either a light or dark wood. Plus, as you mentioned, the pins can be removed if one ever has to replace the glass, heaven-for-bid. I used a method described by Chris Becksvoort to cut off-set tenons in the surrounding frame. This method, while somewhat fussy, also yields as "waste" the glass-retaining battens. This method was described in FWW #128 Jan/Feb 1998, pg 80 when he built a bookcase. It is also described in the Taunton Press paperback "In the Shaker Style", pg 66.

For the tool junkie who has everything, here is a link to a picture framing/glazier's hammer with a rotating head. Price aside, it actually works quite well to seat those pins.


Picture Framing/Glazier's Hammer

Re: A method for installing glass in a door

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I have that book. I looked up the description. It makes making the place for the glass easy at the expense of a more complicated M&T joint. I will consider it in the future. I am not fond of some of his methods- dovetailing molding for example. Thanks for pointing out the reference.

Re: A method for installing glass in a door

Pete in Holland MI

I like my pin nailer for projects like this. No splitting of the thin piece of wood either.

Why I would never pin nail a glass batten

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Some are missing the fine print of my post. The pins are friction fit into predrilled holes to enable shock-free driving and easy removal if necessary. I would not risk the shock of the pin nailer next to these fragile irreplaceable glass panels. A pin nailer has its place installing small moldings, but not here.