How can you tell if glass is tempered?

[Googs]

Also, is the tempered aspect only risky when drilling? Is cutting the glass the same as any ole piece of glass? I have no intention of drilling, just cutting.

 

Thanks,

Matt

[wegotjs]

Well I found out the glass was not tempered when It broke under the heat of the halide. I am pretty sure that tempered glass is also hard to cut. I had the local shop cut my tempered.

[Algae]

Do NOT cut tempered yourself!!!!!

 

Tempered (borrowed):

 

"Stand to the side of the tank and look into the side. Place your hand near the glass at the front of the tank. You should not be able to see your hand. When tempered glass is heated, tiny stress fractures are produced on the outside of the glass. The inside of the glass remains intact. This creates a reflection when viewing the tank from an angle.

 

 

Put on pair of polarized sunglasses. Stand to the side of the tank and look across the front of the tempered glass tank. Look for black lines that occur during the heating and cooling procedure. Polarized lenses reduce reflected light and remove the glare from view."

 

Here is a chart that tells if tempered or not.

 

http://alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm

 

I could not get info on an Oceanic and called them. All-Glass-Aqueon has a set of charts you can find by Google.

Disclaimer : I have not verified any of the information and am therefore not responsible for sweeping up shards of broken glass.(laugh)(laugh)

[Googs]

Sweet, thanks for the info. Sweeping? No, that's what the shop vac is for! I've broken a lot of glass in my day. I used to do stained glass as a hobby.

[Barelycuda]

If it is tempered you will not be able to cut it without it shattering. Most tempered glass is cut first then tempered.