In message , Ian
Stirling writes
john wrote:
Why is perfectly good glass replaced in this age of recycling?

Why can't the panes be separated, cleaned and then re-engineered into a
unit?? No glass cutting or supplies needed (other than the edges).

Because getting the panes off is decidedly non-trivial.
The glue is rather tenacious.
And, you've got to get all traces of it off, or the new pane may fog.

I keep contemplating this route myself. The large window in the lounge
(about 4sqm) is just starting to mist up, and its large size makes it
worth "having a go" at a repair. Anything under 0.5sqm I wouldn't
bother, as new small units aren't too expensive (£40-50 per sqm I
believe).

Plan A is to drop the unit out, drill a couple of holes through the
spacer bars and blow dried compressed air (at very low pressure
obviously!) through the unit, and maybe warm the spacer gently to
attempt to dry out the desiccant. A bit of silicone to bolster the seal
if any weaknesses are visible. Bit of a problem though as Axminster no
longer sell the compressed air drying doodad I was going to use.

Plan B is source some new spacers strips and rebuild, initially
separating the unit by sawing through the old spacer. I agree cleaning
the old spacer adhesive off maybe difficult.


--
steve