Tempered glass prices - what've you seen?

[DanG]

Got a quote for bulk order of glass back yesterday.

I am curious if anyone has seen better prices, and if anyone has used thinner glass than 1/4" (just under 7mm)

56"x26" 1/4-inch tempered glass =$7.30~ sq foot - so an ebay 72 pv-cell panel cover glass would be $69.70 USD before taxes. I think I can do better, but anyone got a glass connection that knows the true value of wholesale tempered?

The single sheet price was $147.00!

Also my order would be just below the next quanity discount threshold - If anyone in the upper midwest is interested in a group purchase sometime in the next 3 months let me know quanities so I can get a true price quote...

[picmacmillan]

why not try the recyclers or the junk yard?...unless you are going into mass production and need the glass to be new and the same size?..just an idea ..pickster

[tcrenshaw]

I get 14 7/8" x 60 1/4" tempered 3/8" thick for $33.00 each. This covers 36 cells per panel.

[marv]

How about free!   Ask any patio door installation company.

 They take out old single pane patio doors and either salvage the alluminum and toss the glass or toss the whole door. The glass is tempered and usually around 24" x 72".

I do a few installations and have about 50 pcs. kicking around.

Also makes good green houses. Any one in the Toronto, Ontario area needs some

let me know, I can hook you up.

Marv

[pyrocasto]

Not until I get older and lucky, and hopefully get my dream house in Canada.

[healerenergy]

What part  of the upper midwest are you in. I am in north east kansas an hour north of kansas city.

[Volvo farmer]

I got mine for free as well. Seriously, go talk to the local glass shops. I got six 28"x76" double pane tempered windows for free because the seal had been compromised and water got inside. I just cut them open with a utility knife and toss out the aluminum spacer. Once I mount the cells, the glass shop puts in a new spacer and shoots the gap between the glass full of butyl. You might have to be patient but I'd bet a busy glass shop throws away dozens of pieces like you are looking for every year. A lot of commercial glass is tempered as well so don't limit yourself to patio doors.

Here's what my panels look like. The glass is bigger than I need but it was free.

[DanG]

tcrenshaw - bingo  6.25 sqft for $33 is $5.30 sqft, and thats for .375"...

The outfit quoting $69 has a pure retail outlook....there is a tempered glass plant 90 minutes away that supplies alot of vendors around me, thats the place I'm going to check out. The next two prices I've gotten were higher than $70 a sheet amd I didnt get replies on .177" thickness...

pyrocasto - I hear you.

picmillan - mass production, I want first same as last for 25 - 30 pieces

marv & volvo farmer - mass production method, frames and trackers blah blah all interchangeable. As it is I'm looking at 300 square feet of surface area before frames and tier spacing. Also planning on moving these cross country probably more then once.

Nothing cooler then a solar farm all w/ identical panels

Now if someone could just find us a dozen or so binned pole-stalk trackers...

healerenergy - only 5 1/2 hours away, and probably will be living 90 minutes east of KC before too long... How far are you from the International Airport?

I will be driving to the Wisconsin tempered glass plant Monday - what I'd really like is front-back all glass w/ volvo farmer's commercial type sealant.

Thanks again - any one else got a in on wholesale tempered glass prices ?

[tcrenshaw]

I would like to find it cheaper and could if I used odd sizes as others have suggested, but I like the exact fit I get and am willing to pay for it.