Window Repairs

[Devil505]

I am going to repaint my house but most of my windows need to have the
putty removed & redone as it's all cracked. (the putty that holds each
glass pane in) Can anyone refer me to an online site that will explain
how to do this? (I bought some compound but I'm just making a mess!<G>)
Thanks, Dick

[*Casey*]

Hi,
don't know the website, but there are plenty of HI books out there that will
tell you how.
From experience, the putty must be fairly pliable. Add paint thinner if
necessary, and mix well by rolling it between your hands, and folding the
rope of putty in half each time it lengthens. If you do this ten times, you
have mixed the putty 1000 times! If you get good, you can put it in the
glass rabbet with the knife in one fell swoop, and only need one more pass
to clean everything up. Smooth the putty in one direction only, otherwise it
will pull out. Don't put it on so that it covers the sight line on the
glass. If the rabbet is 3/16 deep, the putty should be no more than that
onto the glass. Don't put linseed oil in the putty, it can mildew, and dry
rock-hard. I use paint thinner, which doesn't slow the drying too much, and
leaves the putty by evaporation. Let it set for a week before you attempt
painting it. It doesn't need priming.
If you're doing a real bang up job, and have removed the sash, and the glass
entirely, strip the wood, sand, and prime the whole thing, especially the
glass rabbet, with thinned primer first, then re-glaze. When the glass is
out, always take the time to "bed" the glass in putty. It really makes a
difference as to how waterproof the window stays, and prevents the glass
from rattling. (condensation on the inside of the glass runs down, and gets
under the putty, causing it to pop out. Bedding the glass, and then careful
painting prevents this.)
Oh, the important thing is to use a clean, flexible 1 1/2 inch putty knife,
that won't stick to the putty.
Enough?
Casey

Devil505 wrote in message <35745404...@idt.net>...

[danh...@millcomm.com]

In <35745404...@idt.net>, Devil505 <devi...@idt.net> writes:
>I am going to repaint my house but most of my windows need to have the
>putty removed & redone as it's all cracked. (the putty that holds each
>glass pane in) Can anyone refer me to an online site that will explain
>how to do this? (I bought some compound but I'm just making a mess!<G>)
>Thanks, Dick

Window glazing is an art. A skilled glazer can do a pane in about ten
seconds. It takes me ten minutes.

One hint, though: After removing the old glazing compound, paint the
exposed wood with shelac or a wood primer (and allow it to dry
completely). This makes the new compound adhere better.

Dan Hicks
Hey!! My advice is free -- take it for what it's worth!
http://www.millcomm.com/~danhicks