Replies

1. 
   DavidP52 | Sep 03, 2003 11:59pm | #1

   They look nice but oh, boy are they a PITA to keep clean. Everytime someone touches them they've got finger prints all over. Hope you got a maid!!!

1. 
   LarryPile | Sep 04, 2003 05:51am | #3

   Clear glass can be problematic.

   Why not use art glass...available at any stained glass supply for around $12 per square foot, depending on the color and pattern.  You wouldn't have to lead it or anything.

   You can get some beautiful clear glass with hammered, wavy, frosted, mirrored or bubbled effects....and mitigate the fingerprints while you're at it.

   E-mail me if you have questions.  I frequently combine stained glass (leaded or foiled) with my wood furniture, particularly A&C furniture...it's great!

   Good luck!

   lp

1. 
   Taycosmydog | Sep 04, 2003 07:02am | #4

   Hi Larry, just as a cost saving measure you can also buy some fairly good looking plastic films that apply to regular (if safe) or tempered glass that will give you the "look" of expensive texured glass and are easy to keep clean.As the texture is usually on the inside of the doors no-one ever really knows and if they are the kind that peak... lock your medicine cabinet...it'll drive them nuts! just an option.good luck, Larry S.

2. 
   HenryVIII | Sep 04, 2003 05:42am | #2

   I had a spell a couple of years ago of people coming in with their factory - made raised panel cabinet doors who wanted the panel replaced with glass.

   I went to the inside of the door, used a plunge router with an edge guide and took off the inside lip on the frame.  Once I had the panel out, I cut a piece of glass to fit loosely in the space where the panel was.  I cut them so there was about 1/16 in. play all around, to take wood movement into account.

   Once that was done, I used some p.s.a. backed foam tape to keep the glass from rattling around, and put in some 1/4 round to hold the glass into the door.  I had to stain the 1/4 round and part of the frame, but it didn't have to be an exact match since that part was inside the cabinet, not visible with the door closed.

   I thought it looked good, and the customers took them home all smiles.  I haven't heard of any problems with any of the conversions I did.

   I'd think any info you have telling you how to make regular raised panel doors would be adaptable to glass.

   For safety's sake, make sure that large panes close to the floor are tempered glass, especially anywhere little kids are liable to come in contact with them.

   Hope this helps.

3. 
   DougF | Sep 05, 2003 12:25am | #5

   Pete,

   Larry's suggestion can produce some really great looking doors.  A few years ago I built our kitchen in New Mexico using forest green base cabinets, granite counter tops with the uppers in white maple with inset "art" glass.  The complementary coloring and swirls in the glass provide a "mask" to the cabinet interior while providing the warmth and openness of glass.  The cost was certainly more than wood panels but the results are worth every penny and then some.  One caveat: if you go this route, spent the extra money and have someone used to working with stained glass do the actual cutting to size.  This stuff is tricky.

   Doug

1. 
   scooter1 | Sep 05, 2003 04:42am | #6

   This sounds like a fun project.

   I just love cabinets with glass doors. The cabinet doors can be fairly simple, although I would certainly recommend a munten/mullion dividing the space horizontally and perhaps vertically from the top half.

   The actual edge treatment will be fairly simple too, with a plain rabbet or a rail/stile router set(s). There are only 3-5 different designs.

   The fun is actually the glass. While in Chicago a couple of years ago, I visited several Frank Lloyd Wright homes and had the time to sketch out several of his glass ideas. There are also some nice art books with similar designs. I designed my own windows with quarter inch graph paper, and took them to a stained glass shop and selected some nice semi-clear and opaque glass. You want enough semi-clear (wavey) glass to actually let you see (sorta) the stuff inside. Too much color and designs make the pattern too busy. Stay away from Unicorns.

   Mine turned out great! I used 2 inch rails and stiles with a very simple plain rabbet and divided the door with muten/mullions in half down the middle, although I used an inverted "T" in other areas. The glass patterns were a chevron design, a common FLW design in green and red, and of course, lotsa clear random glass panes, another feature of FLW.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934