adhering glass to glass

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Author Message Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 629 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 02:50 pm:    I need to adhere colored pieces of glass to bigger sheets of clear glass in a manner that light can shine through both (so, a clear adhesive). Any recommendations for a product? Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 636 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 03:05 pm:    Does this have to be a field process? Could the glass be factory-laminated using clear PVB interlayer? Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 630 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 03:06 pm:    Probably not - it is a very large custom artistic wall with all sorts of smaller pieces of colored glass in an artistic pattern. Think, "interior of upscale restaurant in Vegas" artsy. Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 637 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 03:39 pm:    How does Dale Chihuly join glass in his sculptures? Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1638 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 03:51 pm:    Dave you blew it, while you were on your Florida trip last month you should have taken a side trip to St Pete to visit the Dale Chihuly Museum which offers classes in his glass sculpting methods. http://www.moreanartscenter.org/chihuly/ I am a fan of his work and was once part of the team on the project, back in 2005 when it was proposed as part of a two tower condo project, the condo died, but thankfully the museum was built. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1639 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 03:52 pm:    Robin, talk to your local Dow Sealant rep, they should have a product that meets your needs. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1640 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 03:59 pm:    Dow Corning 999-A is a structural silicone sealant used for butt glazing, color is clear. Richard Gonser AIA CSI CCCA SCIP Senior Member Username: rich_gonser Post Number: 122 Registered: 11-2008 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 04:07 pm:    I think your looking for this. http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/441448O/vhb-tapes-design-guide.pdf?fn=70-0709-3830-6.pdf Richard Gonser AIA CSI CCCA SCIP Senior Member Username: rich_gonser Post Number: 123 Registered: 11-2008 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 04:16 pm:    I got interrupted and sent it prematurely. I they do have a clear version. http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/986695O/3m-vhb-tape-specialty-tapes.pdf?fn=VHB%20Specialty%20Tapes%20TDS%2011-2015. We used a similar tape for art glass at my Church in Chino Hills. Gordon Huether did the windows and used a clear tape. That was over fifteen year ago. Richard Gonser AIA CSI CCCA SCIP Senior Member Username: rich_gonser Post Number: 124 Registered: 11-2008 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 04:17 pm:    too many interruptions... Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: michael_chusid Post Number: 139 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, April 22, 2016 - 02:49 pm:    Need more information. Will the colored pieces be exposed to weather? Sunlight? Abuse from people? Condensation? Are the pieces fractured glass or flat glass? Can they be enclosed between two pieces of clear glass? Can you put into over and heat fuse the glass? Will simple Cyanoacrylate adhesives (AKA superglue) work? Is installation vertical or overhead? If overhead, put the flat glass on bottom and just place the colored pieces loosely on top. What is design life expectancy? Can leading be used? Do edges of colored glass have to be left exposed or can the adhesive be used as a fillet? You can drill holes in the clear glass and use wire or bolts to hold pieces in place. Reflecting on previous discussion of etched glass, the mating surfaces of the glasses can be etched to improve adhesion. (You said light has to come through but did not specify the optical clarity or distortion.) Use high pressure air to hold the colored pieces against the clear sheet. Or drill holes in the clear sheet and use a vacumn to hold small pieces in place. Spin room at high velocity so colored pieces are held against clear glass by centrifugal force. 3M also makes a great clear Scotch tape... Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru Dewayne Dean Senior Member Username: ddean Post Number: 36 Registered: 02-2016 Posted on Friday, April 22, 2016 - 03:12 pm:    or you could use shear force of will Robert E. Woodburn, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: bob_woodburn Post Number: 180 Registered: 11-2010 Posted on Friday, April 22, 2016 - 03:24 pm:    A friend of mine had pieces of a small glass sculpture glued back together with a special glue made just for that purpose. I believe it was a light-catalyzed variety of super glue--activated only by a specific wavelength of light (the light source--a laser, IIRC--came with the adhesive). The sculpture was a small butterfly; its four wings had come off. As you might imagine, a very small dab of glue held each wing. If you're interested, I'll try to find out what was used. Robert E. Woodburn, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: bob_woodburn Post Number: 181 Registered: 11-2010 Posted on Friday, April 22, 2016 - 06:42 pm:    I emailed my friend (an engineer) about the glass sculpture glue, and just received the following reply. He bought the consumer version, took it to a jeweler we know, and had him do the assembly. "This application calls for an industrial grade UV cured glue with a rating of 3500 psi.. A minimum order is typically around $180 plus around $500 for the UV curing light. However, I found a consumer product that meets the specifications and comes in a kit for around $25 available in auto parts stores. I found it in NAPA. It is called RapidFix and includes 10 ml of the glue plus a battery powered curing light. The kit can be ordered on line also. "When gluing the glass, it must be cleaned with a high concentration (99%) ethanol, IPA or mixture. Radio Shack sells a cassette recorder head cleaner that is sufficient. I had some head cleaner at home that worked well. In a pinch you can use Everclear which is 90% ethanol. In addition, there is a problem with colored glass since the color shifts the wavelength of the UV light and may inhibit or prevent curing. Can’t help you here since I have never worked with colored glass." If the colored glass is being adhered to clear, then perhaps the UV light (not a laser) could be administered through the clear substrate. (I think by IPA he means isopropyl alcohol, not India Pale Ale...)