Sourcing glass for shelves

[endecotp]

Does anyone have any advice about sourcing small rectangles of glass for use as shelves inside a cabinet?

I’ve found a few online suppliers who will cut to size and polish the edges, but they are surprisingly expensive. They seem more geared up to larger sizes, e.g. table tops, with expensive delivery charges.

Having already made the cabinet, I need glass of an exact size (approx 380 x 100 mm). If I’d realised this was going to be difficult I would have bought the glass first in a standard size and made the cabinet to fit that!

Thanks.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Speak to a few local suppliers.

 

[crank39]

A local glass shop that makes units will gladly give you the glass, they throw bigger off cuts away in the cullet bin, the cost comes in the processing, processed glass isn't cheap relative to the glass itself, not may small companies can afford to invest in the equipment required to process glass though so you might be limited on choice and bite the bullet, @ronniecabers might know someone just depends where you are

 

[foxhole]

Does anyone have any advice about sourcing small rectangles of glass for use as shelves inside a cabinet?

I’ve found a few online suppliers who will cut to size and polish the edges, but they are surprisingly expensive. They seem more geared up to larger sizes, e.g. table tops, with expensive delivery charges.

Having already made the cabinet, I need glass of an exact size (approx 380 x 100 mm). If I’d realised this was going to be difficult I would have bought the glass first in a standard size and made the cabinet to fit that!

Thanks.

There is no standard size.

 

[endecotp]

There is no standard size.

Well there are sizes I could buy on eBay for much cheaper than 383 x 110 mm!

 

[jj4091]

As crank39 says try your local glaziers, ours will supply all sizes with all processes but they don't do it on-site and it is more expenive than just plain glass

 

[ronniecabers]

As commented there is no ' standard size ' . What you are seeing online is someone choosing arbitrary sizes and bulk buying/manufacturing them. You will more than likely pay more for the ' polished edge ' than the cost of the ' base glass ' unfortunately the way it is. Some customers do forego the polished edge if they use toughened glass, as the toughening process normally removes the sharp edge ... yes there may be a dull edge and very small chips but it comes down to the individual budget.
Things to consider though .. how much weight is the shelf taking? .... how/where is the shelf supported? .... does the cabinet have doors?(if not glass has to be toughened or a safety glass and any decent glass company will tell you that ). Personally I'd always recommend toughened as a shelf though

 

[crank39]

Like you say there is no standard size glass size, if I asked you to make me a standard sized cabinet you'd probably there isn't a standard size and you'd want dimensions, same with glass its all made to measure. And as I said the glass is so small and if thats all you wanted then the glass shop would give you that glass for free, its an off cut, the cost though is in the polishing and bevelling, that won't be free

 

[endecotp]

In the end I bought cut-to-size cast acrylic online.

The best eBay price for glass was £96 plus £15 for delivery. I found another online supplier who was only £64. I visited my local glass merchant, whom I’ve used before for picture frame glass, as was told by the lad in the shop it would be about £16 per shelf (i.e. also £64 total) but the boss would need to work it out and he’d contact me the next day - and then I didn’t hear back.

Acrylic, from eBay, was half the price at about £33, and it looks great.

 

[Tetrarch]

Try your local glaziers. I was trying to find two bits of glass 300x135 for our shower niches and the rules insist on safety glass - online the best I could get was £120.

However, this was a 10mm piece of glass and that size and location there was no way that it needed that. So I went to my local glazier and he cut a polished two pieces for me - £16 each

For shelves you could get away with thinner pieces - depends on your risk tolerance

I'm going to violently disagree with endecotp I'm afraid. IMO acrylic always looks terrible - especially end-on

Regards

Tet

 

[endecotp]

Try your local glaziers.

As I said in my reply, my local glaziers couldn't be bothered to get back to me. Presumably they have enough other work on.

 

[endecotp]

I'm going to violently disagree with endecotp I'm afraid. IMO acrylic always looks terrible - especially end-on

Well I’m happy with the result.

 

[Tetrarch]

Credit where it's due - you've done a really nice job

Regards

Tet