06-17-2017, 10:24 AM
I'm sorry I don't get more time for computing these days. I'm spending long days in the shop.
I was able to get pyroceram from my local glass shop with no trouble. Most of the time it is used for fireplace doors, which makes it common here.
The price was the same for one 2"x10" platen or three, since that was the smallest piece they could get. I think I gave $10/piece, which included cutting to 2" wide pieces. Seems I've seen 2"x10" pieces for $30, so I feel like I got a couple freebies when locally sourced. I'm sure I can get whatever y'all need if your local shop isn't as forthcoming.
I put a piece on my Wilmont, which has a shorter platen than TW-90s. I cut the glass to length with a diamond blade on an angle grinder. The cut wasn't great, but pyroceram doesn't shatter like normal tempered glass. Silicon carbide and ceramic belts will grind the glass, so rounding the leading edge is easy.
The main advantages of glass are its hardness and its smoothness. It wears much longer than steel, so the platen stays flat. There's less friction, which generates much less heat.
I never have to use the platen on a 1x42 hard enough to make any difference whatsoever, but I'd never use a 2x72 without glass.
The thing that's hardest on platens would be grinding spines, where you have concentrated pressure on a small area. If you don't have to do that on a regular basis, I wouldn't bother with glass.
Many people do use high temp JB Weld, but my platens never come close to getting too warm for Acra-Glass or regular JB.
I was able to get pyroceram from my local glass shop with no trouble. Most of the time it is used for fireplace doors, which makes it common here.
The price was the same for one 2"x10" platen or three, since that was the smallest piece they could get. I think I gave $10/piece, which included cutting to 2" wide pieces. Seems I've seen 2"x10" pieces for $30, so I feel like I got a couple freebies when locally sourced. I'm sure I can get whatever y'all need if your local shop isn't as forthcoming.
I put a piece on my Wilmont, which has a shorter platen than TW-90s. I cut the glass to length with a diamond blade on an angle grinder. The cut wasn't great, but pyroceram doesn't shatter like normal tempered glass. Silicon carbide and ceramic belts will grind the glass, so rounding the leading edge is easy.
The main advantages of glass are its hardness and its smoothness. It wears much longer than steel, so the platen stays flat. There's less friction, which generates much less heat.
I never have to use the platen on a 1x42 hard enough to make any difference whatsoever, but I'd never use a 2x72 without glass.
The thing that's hardest on platens would be grinding spines, where you have concentrated pressure on a small area. If you don't have to do that on a regular basis, I wouldn't bother with glass.
Many people do use high temp JB Weld, but my platens never come close to getting too warm for Acra-Glass or regular JB.