Generally, you cannot edge tempered glass after it has gone through the tempering process.
Why Altering Tempered Glass is Difficult
Tempering is a process that involves heating glass to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling it. This creates tension in the inner layer and compression in the outer layers, making the glass much stronger and safer than regular annealed glass. However, this process also fundamentally changes the glass's structure.
Attempting to cut, drill, or significantly alter tempered glass after tempering will disrupt the carefully balanced stresses within the glass, causing it to shatter into many small, relatively harmless pieces.
The Specific Exception
While post-tempering alteration is largely impossible, the provided reference highlights a very limited exception:
- Reference Information: Post-tempering, the size, shape, and dimensions of glass applications cannot be altered. The only exception could be if a tempered glass piece is slightly too large—by up to a 1/4-inch. In such a case, we might be able to remove up to 1/8-inch per edge.
This indicates that under very specific circumstances, a minimal amount of material might be carefully removed from the edge of a tempered glass piece if it is only slightly oversized. This is a highly specialized process and not a standard 'edging' or shaping procedure like those done on annealed glass.
Key Takeaway
For practical purposes, all cutting, shaping, and significant edging of glass must be completed before the glass is tempered. If you need specific dimensions or edge profiles, ensure these are specified and finished on the glass in its annealed state before it undergoes the tempering process.
| Action on Tempered Glass | Feasibility |
|---|---|
| Cutting | Not Possible (will shatter) |
| Drilling | Not Possible (will shatter) |
| Significant Edging | Not Possible (will shatter) |
| Minimal Edge Removal | Possibly, under very specific conditions |
Understanding this limitation is crucial when planning projects involving tempered glass, such as shower doors, table tops, or safety glass panels.
