Any Windshield Installers here?

[Mark42]

Question about installing windshield glass: How thick a bead of windshield adhesive is used to bed down a windshield?

The reason I ask is because I'm getting ready to install the tempered glass windshields in my hard top project. I have left a 1/8 - 3/16 space to bed the glass down into. In other words, if the glass were to rest on 1/8 - 3/16" bead of glass adhesive, it will be flush with the surrounding frame. Is 1/8 - 3/16" too much or too little?

Here is a photo of the windshield frame and the support to bed the glass into. The glass is tempered. Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

From the windshield installs I have watched, that thickness of sealant seems right on target.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

Ayuh,.... Windo-weld comes in 2 forms,... Putty-rope,+ in a chaulking tube...

If you buy it in the chauking tube, you can put it in, at the thickness you Want,...
The putty-rope is At, or slightly thicker than you're talking about... Probably more like 1/4"...

The 3M part # for the stuff in the tube is, Pt.# 51135-08609 Windo-Weld primerless super-fast Urethane...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

Thanks!

I have watched 3 windshield installs on my own cars, but can't remember or tell how thick the adhesive ends up being after the installer pounds/presses the glass down.

Also, the caulk adhesive was always applied from a power caulk gun. Is that because its a thick, heavy bodied adhesive, or just for convenience? I'm wondering if the adhesive will support the weight of the glass or if the glass will squish out the adhesive and make a real mess.

If the caulk will not support the glass, I was thinking of cutting some shims from some 3/8" vinyl tubing. The tube can be sliced into 1/8" rings that can be set along the edge of the caulked area, and pulled out later as the caulk sets. Think that will be necessary and work?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

Also, the caulk adhesive was always applied from a power caulk gun. Is that because its a thick, heavy bodied adhesive, or just for convenience? I'm wondering if the adhesive will support the weight of the glass or if the glass will squish out the adhesive and make a real mess.

I think the answer is both. The stuff is thick and remember, that guy probably installed 15 pieces of glass that day, so a power gun would be money and time well spent!

When it's squished flat, the adhesive I have seen is only about 1/8 to maybe 1/4 inch in thickness. This is after the glass has been pulled and I have seen the remnants on the vehicle. Not too much left on the glass either, so I think I am accurate with my thickness estimate.
I'd get the stuff that the pros use. It can't be over $20 a tube, cause that's what they hit up the insurance companies for, during an install, so I know they are making money.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

I think the answer is both. The stuff is thick and remember, that guy probably installed 15 pieces of glass that day, so a power gun would be money and time well spent!

When it's squished flat, the adhesive I have seen is only about 1/8 to maybe 1/4 inch in thickness. This is after the glass has been pulled and I have seen the remnants on the vehicle. Not too much left on the glass either, so I think I am accurate with my thickness estimate.
I'd get the stuff that the pros use. It can't be over $20 a tube, cause that's what they hit up the insurance companies for, during an install, so I know they are making money.

NAPA is getting me a tube of the 3M windshield adhesive, it's $17 a caulk size tube. I hope it really is "adhesive" and not just caulk, because its the only thing that will be holding the glass in!!!!

I cut a couple of shims out of PVC board just in case I need them to support the glass while the adhesive cures.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

Yes, you will need shims of some kind! Warm up the adheasive room temp or you will not get it out of the tube. Also the adheasive has a shelf life and should you get an old tube you will not get it out of the tube no matter what! They should be date coded somewhere!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

Yes, you will need shims of some kind! Warm up the adheasive room temp or you will not get it out of the tube. Also the adheasive has a shelf life and should you get an old tube you will not get it out of the tube no matter what! They should be date coded somewhere!!

I installed one windshield today. Man, that stuff is thick! Took two hands on the caulk gun. It was so thick it easily supported the 7 lbs piece of glass.

If I had half a brain, I would have put masking tape around the inside of the window so that any ooze wouldn't make a mess. Oh well, nothing a little paint wont hide.

Of course, it took a little more than half a tube to do one window, so now I have to go back and buy another tube. Such is life.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Any Windshield Installers here?

Mark if your using 3m 8609 you are doing it right, Lay a 1/4 inch bead or what ever it takes to flush the window with frame..You just press the pane down let the stuff oze out and dry. Take a ravor knife and trim. 8609 is a extremely strong urethane...I believe the use it on the space shuttle..I know some guy our here in orygun uses it to glue steel plates down on river jet boat's...You know the kind that run in six inche's of water..