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Need Help Removing Overflow
- Thread starter Sherri
- Start date
So it's a glass overflow, not plastic?
If so, I'd guess your best bet would be to slice all the accessible seams, then very carefully bend/peel that glass apart at the remaining seam. It won't come apart easily, and you could easily crack the overflow glass in the process, but (assuming the actual tank glass is thicker) I'd feel pretty safe in assuming that the overflow you'd be prying out would break long before the tank itself.
If you try, just wear some really heavy gloves and be very very careful of your hands.
If so, I'd guess your best bet would be to slice all the accessible seams, then very carefully bend/peel that glass apart at the remaining seam. It won't come apart easily, and you could easily crack the overflow glass in the process, but (assuming the actual tank glass is thicker) I'd feel pretty safe in assuming that the overflow you'd be prying out would break long before the tank itself.
If you try, just wear some really heavy gloves and be very very careful of your hands.
jbishop
CIA Agent / Constable
I love it. Broke some windows yesterday. (They were in a dumpster)
Leroy
Pres. NE Matchcover Club
To play it safe call a glass company and see if they'll send a glass tech with experience that has the tool similar to what I used to cut into silicone. It was a very crude but effective home made tool which was a 12" conduit pipe or longer or shorter to preference of space and I hammered the end of the pipe just enough to insert a utility blade half way in then hammer the end of the pipe to secure the blade in place. Score and cut into the silicone lightly and with patience till the blade has cut through. It was the best method we used to remove glass shower enclosures and store front glass that was siliconed to tile, brick, wood or glass on glass.
delta
Impatient Reefer
You could try a few solvents. Fingernail polish remover should help soften the silicone as well as acetone. But they will also damage any plastic/acrylic they come in contact with. You also need to be careful not to get any on any silicone you won't be removing.
But thee best way to see is to cut off a piece of the silicone your trying to remove and see how the solvent work on them.
Obviously you would want to take any precationary measures recomended by each solvents manufacturer
But thee best way to see is to cut off a piece of the silicone your trying to remove and see how the solvent work on them.
Obviously you would want to take any precationary measures recomended by each solvents manufacturer
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Jennifer
Moody and emotional slob
Sherri I imagine the overflow is made out of 4 pieces of glass, maybe you could remove 1 piece at a time. Use good sharp (new) razor blades to slowly cut through the silicone. You will have to make many passes down each seam and along the bottom. After you have made a few passes with the knife along all the seams of that 1 piece. Pull (gentle pressure) the piece of glass slowly and very very carefully away from the other pieces. While working your way from the top down cut the remaining silicone in the seams. Work both sides at the same time. Cut the bottom seam all the way through last. Repeat for the other 3 sides.
Cheetos
7 Gallon Cube
Guitar string is not strong enough as they tend to break easily. Piano wire is what you need to do the job. In my profession we sometimes cut auto glass out with piano wire. The glass is bonded to the body with urethane which is much tougher to cut through than silicone. I have a whole roll of piano wire if you need some!
OP
OP
Sherri
Non-member
The piano wire is a good idea but my husband thinks it would be too thick. Jennifer -- my husband and I have been doing it together -- we have been trying to get it out in one piece without breaking the glass. Also -- the outside is molded plastic so getting the seams apart one-by-one is not possible as you cannot get to the outside of the seams. We were wondering if heating it would make the silicone more elastic. Not an easy one -- may have to call the company...
delta
Impatient Reefer
Any way to get a close up picture. I have taken many many things apart that were surposedly permantly glued together. Sometimes it is just when you are about to give up that you say let me just try this and voila it comes apart.
I would advice against heating the acetone or fingernail polish was the only way I would think would be safe to soften the silicone. Have you cut away all the silicone that is exposed?
Have you tried the guitar string along the seem? instead of feeding it through the seam? I woul start by cut at each corner to give you a guide for the Guitar string then once you have the Guitar string in each corner giude wrap it around small dowel so you can grip it, then slowly saw back and forth.
I would sart on the short ends then the long. It may take some time be very patient. If you get frustrated go do something else and come back.
I would advice against heating the acetone or fingernail polish was the only way I would think would be safe to soften the silicone. Have you cut away all the silicone that is exposed?
Have you tried the guitar string along the seem? instead of feeding it through the seam? I woul start by cut at each corner to give you a guide for the Guitar string then once you have the Guitar string in each corner giude wrap it around small dowel so you can grip it, then slowly saw back and forth.
I would sart on the short ends then the long. It may take some time be very patient. If you get frustrated go do something else and come back.
Cheetos
7 Gallon Cube
Piano wire is very thin and strong. What size guitar string have you tried?
