cutting through glass?

[isaac338]

I'm running a conduit into the house from the garage and the easiest route is through a window. It's an old basement window that's under the deck so it's no loss. Half of it is boarded up with other things running through it.

The trim pieces holding the pane in are near impossible to get out - they've been painted in place a million times, it's an old house. They're just splintering and not separating from the window frame. So, how hard is it to drill a 2" round hole in a pane of glass? It doesn't have to look good as the whole window will be covered in plywood anyways. Can I just use a normal holesaw or will the window shatter?

I'm also not entirely negating the possibility of just smashing the window with a hammer and picking out the pieces, but that just seems so inelegant

Anyone have any ideas?

edit: I just realized it may be possible to go above the window and come through the wall directly above the foundation - I'd only need to extend one small piece of the conduit. I'm still interested in hearing people's ideas, though.

Thanks

 

[Tscott]

I am pretty sure you will not be able to get that size hole into the window, unless you hit it with a hammer. But seriously, Just break the window or go around it as stated above. The heat from any drilling will most likely break the glass. On a side note, Mythbusters tried drilling a hole in glass (like they do in the movies) and it ended with the entire piece shattering.

Tom

 

[isaac338]

Yeah, I figured drilling was hopeless, short of buying a $120 diamond bit that I'll use exactly once

I just got under the deck and while I can't go through the base of the wall (the deck's bolted on right there and I'd have to drill through 6-8" of material), I can probably squeeze by and go through the window frame. Not pretty but better than smashing the window and dealing with broken glass - with my luck I'd end up in the ER. It'll be a tight fit either way. Worst case I end up having to smash the window anyways and I have a 2" hole to plug in the plywood

 

[Lyaec350]

Just bash the glass and use a sheet of plywood w/ some kind of waterproofing and some foam insulation othe other side to plug the entire size of the window.

 

[isaac338]

Seems like the easiest option, really..

On that note, is it kosher to have the conduit terminate a foot or two down from the rafters (ie in the middle of the window) and then have the cable just hang free in the air in the short run from conduit to rafter, or should I buy another elbow and have the conduit go straight up to the rafters? I could also nail a length of 2x4 down from the rafter to the conduit end and staple the cable to it.

This is all at the back of some built-in shelving so it's not a high traffic area at all.

 

[D KRAGER]

It all depends on code where you are, but it would give it a better finished, professional look if it was in conduit. Especially if you sell, home inspectors see things like that.

I'm not all up on electric code, but the 2 x 4 idea should work also, as long as the wire is secured in some way.

 

[bobthecop]

Yeah, I figured drilling was hopeless, short of buying a $120 diamond bit that I'll use exactly once

Yeah, but an excuse to buy a new tool..........nah, get the hammer..

 

[Big A]

Grab the hammer, glass is almost impossible to drill.

If you have a portable sand blaster you can attempt to carve a hole. Use a piece of pipe as a "stencil". Go slow, nibble away at it, or it will get hot and may shatter the glass anyway.

 

[russlaferrera]

Old glass is brittle and doesn't cut as good as new glass. If you break it out you can use a propane torch to loosen the paint and puty. For a replacement pane I would use a piece of sheet metal.

 

[mulepackin]

I would remove the entire sash and window frame. Then frame the opening with 2x6s or whatever fills the void best. Paintable plywood on the outside, and drywall or whatever to fit into your basement finish. As stated check your local code for what type of electrical to run through.