How are custom windshields made

[neilataylor]

Greets all,

Just a lurker and a hot rod/custom car fan. I don't have one of my own, but I like well built rigs as well as the next guy.

I have seen chopped tops in the past, in shows, on the road, and in pics. I always wonder how somebody gets a windshield to fit in chopped windshield frames. Just thinking about cutting something as simple as a flat windshield (like on a jeep or bronco) makes me bow down in respect to those who do so.

My questions are:
Are these windshields cast with some sort of pattern?
Or are they cut from existing windshields and made to fit?

As I mentioned, this is more of a theoretical questions for me since I don't have a rig of my own just yet. Thanks-

[sunsetdart]

All cars with a chopped top have custom made windshields. The glass guy takes a pattern from the surround and then cuts one to fit.
The other windows in the car are also cut to fit. In some cases where the windshield has a curve to it, the glass guy can do 3 things. Either run a split windshield with a partition down the center like in some of the 40's cars, split the windshield and bevel both sides to match as a seamless one piece windshield or actually get a curved piece of glass the will fit.

[cffisher]

I have seen the builder use the existing windshield just laying it back

[HOTRODPAINT]

Aren't the flat windshields sometimes made from a pattern, and cut from a flat piece of safety glass that most glass companies have in stock?

[rspears]

Aren't the flat windshields sometimes made from a pattern, and cut from a flat piece of safety glass that most glass companies have in stock?

That's how my flat front and back glass were done. I made a pattern from framing mat board, took it to the glass guy and he brought out the glass, cut to size with edges dressed, and installed it in a thick bed of 3M adhesive.