Shattering the "center layer" of tempered glass techniques

[JIMTMCDANIELS]

Hi all,

Looking for answers about shattering the center layer of tempered glass where the outer layers stay unbroken please!:

I've seen on youtube a few videos from a tv show and home video where they supposedly took a large rectangular thick piece of tempered glass pane, and taped around the edges with a heavy gaff tape to make the edge safe.
Then hammered a nail on the center of a short side and on center "sandwiched" inner layer of the glass shattering only the center "sandwiched" layer.
The glass outside layers were not shattered but still smooth. The pane was a bit flexible and crunchy sounding.
They proceeded to set the pane horizontally on top of supporting objects, making an interesting coffee table.

In the comments, many people said it was fake and that it was actually 3 panes of glass sandwiched together so only the center pane was shattered....
Although comment said it's real, that they obtain old one pane sliding glass doors from salvage for virtually free and then shatter the center layer using this method....
The main youtube video is called "Time Warp - Tempered Glass" It's a discovery channel tv high speed camera show. In this episode, they shatter the center core only.

I couldn't find Anything else about this on the net.....

1. Is this for real,... anyone done this, can only the center layer be easily shattered this way, yet leaving the outside layers intact?

If this does work, then it brings up the questions:

2. Does the tempered pane have to be a certain minimum thickness for this to work?

3. If the center layer is shattered releasing the tempered-tension, does the glass now behave like non tempered glass?

4. Is it still somewhat stronger than non tempered glass?

5. Does it still qualify as tempered glass for some applications ... concerning building codes if the codes do not disqualify shattered glass?

6. Can the pane then be cut with traditional non tempered glass methods to desired sizes since tension has been released?

7. Since tempered glass is usually discarded since it can't be cut, when it's size is not useable, what outlets/resources might one find virtually free tempered glass that can then have this shattering process applied?

8. I think such a shattered pane of glass if cut to desired size could work well framed, as a wind break panel on a patio/deck or maybe even a shower door or stationary shower wall. Any thoughts on it's practical applications-ideas?

9. Can the nail be placed in successful-alternate positions to have a different effect on the shattering pattern?

Thanks for Any input/experience!

Jim

[glassfireart]

Hey Jim, I actually do part time glazing work and we do storefront buildings and such so i do have some knowledge in this area. I have tried looking for the same thing on the internet with no luck except for the timewarp clip you mentioned. I had a piece of 3/4 inch thick tempered glass left over from a job site, so then i took it to the manufacture and had them laminate a piece of 1/4 inch thick tempered glass, the same size, on each side. So now three pieces of glass with 2 laminate inter-layers, but one of the inter-layers i decided to frost with a 15%....so one piece not completely clear. After this i taped the edge with ducktape and made a small divet with a diamond drill and took a chisel and sledge to that point. Normally it is done with 1/4, 1/4, 1/4 but when i did it with the 3/4 inch piece it gave it an amazing depth. check out the table i made with it!!!!! I also put glass in the legs!! One pic shows light underneath where you can really see the shattered effect.


498154981649817498184981949820

[istandalone24/7]

that is bad ass!

[Greymatter Glass]

wow...

I can see it being done with a laminate....

If you wanted to do it with a single sheet I think it would have to be prepared for it... i.e. a custom tempering process. Normally the glass would be tempered throughout, I think if you could control the heating/cooling through multiple cycles just right you could put the majority of the strain in the inner section of the sheet and leave the outer layers annealed. I know that's sort of what tempering already is, but if you get what I'm saying you'll know what I'm saying :P

[glassfireart]

Pictures do not give this table justice.

[JIMTMCDANIELS]

Looks Great, thank you sir.
Well we'll see if anyone has done it with a single pane..

[ROGUE]

Couldn't the same effect be had if you just shattered a single pane of tempered glass between two other pieces? Seems like a logical solution with a lot more controlled outcome.

edit-Sorry didn't read the second post

[Aymie]

My friend gets this effect with three panes of glass. They are sealed with silicone at the edges, leaving a small opening on each end of the center pane. Then he runs an electrical current trough the enter layer to shatter it.

[Greymatter Glass]

My friend gets this effect with three panes of glass. They are sealed with silicone at the edges, leaving a small opening on each end of the center pane. Then he runs an electrical current trough the enter layer to shatter it.


....


...um...


Sorry Aymie, that may be what someone told you... but uh...they were pulling your leg. Glass* is a strong insulator, you can't run a current through it, not by any "normal" means. I wanna see pics of this before I can even begin to believe it. Since this thread I've been looking into this process, it's just what glassfireart described in his post above. Very cool results, no electricity required.

Maybe you're thinking about Lichtenberg figures? http://www.capturedlightning.com/ I have one of those, they're polished up like glass, but it's plastic.



*soda-lime and most other formulas of glass in their cooled/solid state...

[FredLight]

No reason that it can't be done with three layers. That other shit story is just to lead you further from your solution, I suspect.

I have laminated shattered tempered glass and I have fused shattered tempered between two intact (and not tempered) pieces.

I have been seeing these architectural panels for about 10 years, so many are doing it.

[Aymie]

Maybe he said he shocks is and I took that to mean electricity and he meant it like stress.

[FredLight]

I'm having laughter aftershocks remembering when I tried to cut a piece of glass on a diamond band saw, not knowing it was tempered.

Half-way through, it exploded all over me. The energy released laterally, hitting me in the gut and throwing my hands out to the sides. I was wearing gloves and an apron, so it just startled me.

I laughed for a solid 5 minutes, and burst into laughter randomly for nearly a week after.

[ROGUE]

Maybe he said he shocks is and I took that to mean electricity and he meant it like stress.

I may be way off, but when you said this I was thinking he shatters it and then runs current through it. That gives the electricity erratic pattern as it travels through the shards.

[Bo Diddles]

Can you elaborate? Have you seen this done?

[ROGUE]

Can you elaborate? Have you seen this done?

Yep, you can see it at Spencers gift store on a small scale, but I have seen it done on a massive scale at a kids museam. The glass was over 20 feet high and you could touch it on both sides. Just like on the smaller version, anywhere you touch it will draw the current toward that spot. Beyond the fact that I have seen it I have no idea how it works or know much about it. Some neon guy told me you set up the electrodes in the same way you do a neon sign.

[Greymatter Glass]

Maybe he said he shocks is and I took that to mean electricity and he meant it like stress.

I'm sure that's what they meant... "shock" as in a sharp impact that causes an effect on something.... like when you're cooking and you "shock" something by moving it from a hot stove to ice water.

That aside, I wanna try this some time, I will have to get a hold of the float glass guys I deal with and see if they can laminate glass at their shop, or who does it in town. I am thinking it would be cool with a mirror on the back.

[Aymie]

Sometimes I post things before I have had a full cup of coffee.

[Greymatter Glass]

and by coffee you mean spankings right?

[Aymie]

Oh I wish. Spankings is the morning would likely improve my performance more than coffee. However, sadly, no one is up and around and wanting to discipline me this morning.