window shattering tool

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Ferzerp

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,438
107
106
This. Harder to break. Like an egg shell or submarine hull, the water pressure on the convex side of the window is reinforcing it and dampening any shock to the glass.

This wouldn't hold true at all. Being able to distribute weight, does not give magical ability to actually gain sthrength. It should require slightly less effort to break it under high stress as it is a brittle material and does not become more strong under stress.

Let me try to turn this in to an easier thing for you to visualize.

Imagine a window, in air. Let us scratch that window, rather deeply, what happens? Nothing.

Now let us put a window under extreme amounts of force on one side. Let us deeply scratch that window now? What happens? Are you asserting that having the window under extreme force is actually a *benefit* to not breaking here?
 

Bartman39

Elite Member | For Sale/Trade
Jul 4, 2000
8,867
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This wouldn't hold true at all. Being able to distribute weight, does not give magical ability to actually gain sthrength. It should require slightly less effort to break it under high stress as it is a brittle material and does not become more strong under stress.

Let me try to turn this in to an easier thing for you to visualize.

Imagine a window, in air. Let us scratch that window, rather deeply, what happens? Nothing.

Now let us put a window under extreme amounts of force on one side. Let us deeply scratch that window now? What happens? Are you asserting that having the window under extreme force is actually a *benefit* to not breaking here?

You and Exdeath are talking about two different things and you are both right... Your saying "scratch" the window which affects the surface tension of the tempered glass, while Exdeath is saying the force being spread out and an impact of something that is not "scratching" the surface... You are correct from your aspect while he is right from his being pressure... Notice he is saying "shock" not scratch...;)

BTW my earlier post about using a piece of spark plug ceramic material would be with the glass "in air" with no pressure on it other than its own which is surface tension which is the reason safety glass is so strong add more tension it gets stronger till either an imperfection or lines of force exceed its material design characteristics... (or possibly sound waves as automotive glass is not designed to withstand harmonics to much of a degree)
 
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Ferzerp

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,438
107
106
It would be easier to break, the greater the pressure differential between sides. My claim is breaking it would be easier. Not my fault he didn't pick the method that would best take advantage of the forces at play! :D

You weaken something under massive stress where it can no longer support that stress, and it will break!
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
I used to have a buddy that worked in the Ford glass plant in the Rouge complex. They had these little carbide marbles that had outward dimples they would throw at tempered glass to shatter it so as to make it easier to scrap. It was amazing how lightly you could throw these things against a window and shatter it.
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
It would be easier to break, the greater the pressure differential between sides. My claim is breaking it would be easier. Not my fault he didn't pick the method that would best take advantage of the forces at play! :D

You weaken something under massive stress where it can no longer support that stress, and it will break!

I didn't choose the method :p Just going along with the thread. Banging your soft worn down keys against the window isn't going to do much. In that scenario using a light soft object you are simply using blunt force to "bend" the glass to the point of shattering as you would with a fist, and that will be much harder if not impossible with water pressure on the outside.

Your best bet with minimal tools is sticking something in the edge seal and prying edge on as if you were trying to force the window down its tracks; tempered glass is extremely vulnerable at its edges. Tempered glass can bend quite a bit, but the slightest nick at the edge releases everything instantly. Though automotive glass has thick rolled edges to protect the glass for that very reason; furniture with ground and polished edges is much more susceptible to shatter.

Scratching the surface isn't sufficient; plenty of scratched up kid abused dining room tables, computer desks, coffee tables, desk mats and even hard rolling office chair mats that live through years of abuse, impacts, point loads, and daily surface scratches. But nick the edge during a move and BOOM.

Spring loaded center punch works great. You should be carrying one of these in your car anyway for people who hit your car in parking lots and don't have insurance and don't leave notes.
 
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Bartman39

Elite Member | For Sale/Trade
Jul 4, 2000
8,867
51
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Spring loaded center punch works great. You should be carrying one of these in your car anyway for people who hit your car in parking lots and don't leave notes.
:eek::eek::\

Sad part is most often they just drive off so you have no idea who it was...:thumbsdown:
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
I have a tomahawk in the trunk for this. After being in an accident I thought about the fact I would feel helpless if I witnessed one and had to wait for emergency vehicles.
A pry bar would probably be a better idea though.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,418
5,019
136
Scratching chipping etc I would agree. Read the flow above and see we are talking about breaking it with an elbow.