ATM 7" soda-lime tempered glass, Part Two, the Sequel!

[BRYAN LEENHEER <BLEENHEE@millersqa.com>]

Well, made a tile tool over the weekend, and decided to hog out the first
of the blanks.  Filled the channels in the tiles with candle wax, and
started pushing.  Was using the chordal stroke, and made it about
half-way around the barrel before the blank shattered in my hands.

Shattered.  I was using no pressure, as I was just trying to get the
abrasive evened out on the tool, and the blank went crunch, and fell into
about a hundred different bits.  Some of them were really neat looking
though...wavy and such.  

My speculation on this project is thus...

Tempered glass is a really bad choice for mirror blanks.
Free tempered glass is still a really bad choice for mirror blanks.
Gloves are a must when pushing plate glass; at least until 220 grit.
Next item on the shopping list:  Large polaroid.

Tempered glass might be workable if you have access to a oven in
which you can anneal the blank. (I'm not Richard, and I don't have an
oven of such magnitude.)

Well, I've still got all of my fingers, which is a plus, and I'm grateful that I
didn't have my four year old son helping me yet, although he was in the
room.  

I'm keeping the other blank for now, at least until I can strain check it.   I'll
let you all know how it turns out.

Bryan Leenheer
Holland, Michigan

...Clear, but with a really bright moon; push some glass!...