how to cut/drill tempered glass?

[metaHipster]

so I'm working on retrofitting a taito cab with cp/marquee/etc. (pic of intended direction here

My question regarding glass is due to the fact that the empty cab I bought already has a tempered monitor overlay glass (with taito logo for extra authenticity I want to use this if possible but am considering putting P1/P2/pause/exit btns up above the Control panel in the area in which the glass currenntly exists.

questions:

1) Is this stupid idea?  Should i just put the btns left of the trackball in the wooden control panel?  Or ditch the glass and get plexi?

assuming it's worth a try to retain the glass,
2) Is it easiest to cut 3-4" off the glass and use plywood/mdf for the part where those 4 buttons go?  How does one cut glass?  I've got several power saws but picture it exploding into a big shattered mess.  What type of blade/saw works best?

or

3) Is there a way to keep the glass full-size and drill 1 1/8" holes for the buttons?  If so, how does one drill glass (the spade bit is unlikely to work!)  also would this weaken the glass such that pressing on the buttons will ultimately break it?

Thanks!

[ChadTower]

You can't.  Holes get drilled before the glass is tempered.  Trying to drill a hole in tempered glass will shatter it.

[shardian]

Technically you can't cut or drill it - I found out the hard way. I asked the glass guy at Lowes one day and he said there are methods, but they are expensive and difficult. I doubt he really knew what he was talking about.

Having said that, tempered glass breaks in a really cool manner.I highly recommend you break a piece just for fun!

[metaHipster]

thanks for the straight up answers!  I think I am going to go with option 1 then... Putting the 4 utility buttons left of Trackball seems the simplest given my lack of time plus lets me keep the glass intact.

-Matt

[IA1NY]

Technically you can't cut or drill it - I found out the hard way. I asked the glass guy at Lowes one day and he said there are methods, but they are expensive and difficult. I doubt he really knew what he was talking about.

Shardian,

Incredulously, your Lowe's guy was right.  The only way to cut tempered glass is by using an Abrasive-Jet machine.  It's only a $165,000+ machine that cuts using a super-high-pressure jet of water with an abrasive added.  It'll cut anything with no pressure or heat transfered to the part.  (That's what breaks it.)  He's also right about the cost.  It's typically about $150 her hour to have parts cut.
 I once had a Lowe's guy send me to the nearest grocery store when I asked if they had any jointing biscuits. 
Yeah, it's pretty cool to watch it break.  Try breaking laminated glass sometime.   

Metahipster, I agree with the others: unless you have money to burn, you're better off with your solution.

[shardian]

I am man enough to describe the process I went thru to try and cut tempered glass. Coincidentally, my whole adventure started with - you guessed it - a Lowes employee telling me to buy a glass cutter and go to town.
I tried the glass cutter and nothing was happening and I was getting pissed. I thought for a second, and remembered that my dremel worked real good at cutting on ceramic floor tile. So I started to go to town on that glass. Nothing was happening then BOOM!
And that is why you should always use proper safety equipment such as glasses and gloves.

[ChadTower]

Well, there's your problem!  Cheap knockoff Dremel!

 

(I say that owning a B+D rotary tool rather than a Dremel)

[shardian]

Well, there's your problem!  Cheap knockoff Dremel!

 

(I say that owning a B+D rotary tool rather than a Dremel)

Hehe, I own a real Dremel. My father-in-law got me that POS harbor freight deal for Christmas. I trashed that rotary tool, kept the accessories (it had a decent diamond cutter that I used for floor tile), and of course used the box as a staging ground.

[Daviea]

I've used said waterjets in the past to cut pretty much everything from WOOD to GLASS to METAL.  I've yet to ever see tempered glass shatter under it's use.  Though, running tempered glass under a waterjet is somewhat unusual. :-)  I know that the materials I purchase is way off scale with what most people here order, but I would just order the glass with holes/cuts/temper and let the professionals take care of it for me.  Only downside is that I'd probably be purchasing 200+ pieces at once.  :-)

But to be more direct, I'd definitely stay away from bothering with cutting the glass.  Too much trouble and it will most likely result in shattered glass....which IS kinda of cool to watch as it happens.  I don't know how many times I've grabbed a piece of tempered glass from my garage only to have it explode in my hands.  Love the sound it makes.  Woooo!!

Ok, off topic....I have to comment.  I can't believe how many of you actually deal with Lowe's/HomeDepot employees.  LOL  It reminds me of the old days (when I was deep into electronics) when people would tell their tales of speaking to Radio Shack employees.  Hehe!!  More often that not, the customer knows more about the subject-matter than the establishments employee does.  I make it a point of going out of my way to never ask ANY questions in a place like that.  I'd be better off asking here on the forum before shopping because there are some really bright people on this forum, chock full of good info!!

David Adams
RAM Controls

[shardian]

Ok, off topic....I have to comment.  I can't believe how many of you actually deal with Lowe's/HomeDepot employees.  LOL  It reminds me of the old days (when I was deep into electronics) when people would tell their tales of speaking to Radio Shack employees.  Hehe!!  More often that not, the customer knows more about the subject-matter than the establishments employee does.  I make it a point of going out of my way to never ask ANY questions in a place like that.  I'd be better off asking here on the forum before shopping because there are some really bright people on this forum, chock full of good info!!

A handful are actually knowledgeable people. There are several former carpenters/construction workers at the local stores. The problem I have is that some employees think it is a good idea to pretend they are knowledgeable. That is ANNOYING and potentially DANGEROUS. Auto parts store employees are notorious for this. Never ever ever ever ask an autoparts store employee for advice on ANYTHING.

[fixedpigs]

the trick is always finding the employees that are worth talking to...

sometimes easy...other times a bear...

i had to go through two youngster employees at menard's before we found someone that could show me where the hand reamers were...the third guy new what was going on...

me to the first guy...'where are your reamers hiding at...?'
first guy...'uh...i'm not sure...i think over here...'
*we walk up to the second guy...*
first guy...'hey...do you know where the reamers are...?
second guy...'what's a reamer...?'

classic...

[ChadTower]

first guy...'hey...do you know where the reamers are...?
second guy...'what's a reamer...?'
fixedpigs...'bend over I'll show you'

fixt