Glass and Mirrors - Glass for entertainment center

I want to use glass doors on an entertainment center I'm building, in order to prevent dust from collecting on my DVD collection and home theater equipment. The shelf units will be very tall, and I want to make sure there isn't any glare from the video projector. I assume I'll need tempered, anti-glare glass. I have a few questions:

1. Is glass tempered before or after it's cut to size?
2. How do I go about getting glass of the right dimensions? Where do I get it, and how much should it cost? (The local home improvement store doesn't have much of a selection, in terms of glass.)

You will need to go to a business that specializes in glass,not automobile glass unless it also does other types,but a glass "store".

They will cut the tempered glass to your size.Also consider having them polish off the edges,for some reason I can't think of the actual term for this,and the glass will be heavy so you will likely need them to deliver it etc.

You're going to have to come up with a mounting/framing design etc and if you need holes in the glass etc they should also be able to do it for you.Call ahead and work out details plus get at least a ballpark price so you know what the costs will be.

Wow, aside from auto glass companies, it never even occurred to me that there would be a store that just sells glass--especially in my town. Yet, sure enough, I hopped on Google after reading your suggestion and found at least two places that should be able to get me what I need.

Thanks for all the great information & advice!

To answer you 2 questions. The glass is first cut and then tempered. As spdavid said, go to your local glass shop and they will advise you. Bring some rough dimensions so they can price it. Non glare could be a problem if you want to be able to see through the glass. There is obscure glass that will not reflect but you will not be able to see through it. Dust could be a problem unless you go with framed glass hinged doors.

And there are plenty of hinges and latches available that are just for this. I've seen them in black, nickle, and gold. I painted some for mine and they are holding up fine for the last 2 yrs. No holes required. Take a look in the misc hardware in a Big Box home center or Hardware store. Go to any furniture store and look at the pivoting hinges and latches on most ent centers.

Unless the doors will be massive they can be frameless

BEVELED was what I was trying to remember....

To answer you 2 questions. The glass is first cut and then tempered.

Cool, I was wondering if that was the case.

Non glare could be a problem if you want to be able to see through the glass. There is obscure glass that will not reflect but you will not be able to see through it.

I've bought glass for picture frames from a hobby store before, and they offered a choice between plain clear glass and some type of anti-reflective glass. I'm not sure if it was a coating (like on eyeglasses) or if the glass itself was somehow anti-reflective. The stuff at the hobby store wasn't tempered, but it was only slightly tinted. I'm hoping the glass shop has something like that, only tempered.

Dust could be a problem unless you go with framed glass hinged doors.

Hmm, I was hoping to limit the amount of dust with the doors, but as you hinted, some amount of dust would still get through the gaps. I'll have to check with some friends and family to see how their entertainment centers are designed, and find out how much dust gets through.

And there are plenty of hinges and latches available that are just for this. I've seen them in black, nickle, and gold. I painted some for mine and they are holding up fine for the last 2 yrs. No holes required. Take a look in the misc hardware in a Big Box home center or Hardware store. Go to any furniture store and look at the pivoting hinges and latches on most ent centers.

Unless the doors will be massive they can be frameless

Awesome; I'll have to look into those hinges and latches. Several people I know have this type of hardware, but I'm not sure if theirs are attached through holes in the glass or if they're like yours.

I don't have any set dimensions yet, but the doors will probably be 3-4' tall and around 3' wide.

BEVELED was what I was trying to remember....

Thanks...now I can sound like I know what I'm talking about when I go to the glass store. :D

Thanks for the extra info, guys!

Actually....beveled normally refers to an angled edge on the face of the glass that extends maybe a 1/2" or more, depending on pane size. More decorative than anything else.

Chamfered edges have a very small angle (I guess it could be called a bevel as well) ground to relieve the sharp 90 deg angle of the edge and the face, to prevent cuts and chipping.

I think one term is "smooth ground" for a slightly rounded edge. That leaves sort of a sandblasted curved edge. I think it can be buffed as well to eliminate most of the blasted look.

Anyway..any glass shop will be able to advise you on the correct stuff.

Guess it would depend on framed or not framed.

Also I have seen some pieces with a thin felt or "furry" strip where the door met the frame that acted as a seal but the piece was built to accommodate it.