I finished installing one of the new glass panels into the metal frame. I drilled out the original rivets to disassemble. I noticed that the side of the original glass was missing most of the glazing, the bottom still had most of the original glazing intact. I had to clean up some rusted areas on the metal pieces and then primed and painted them. I used 1/8" medium steel pop rivets to reassemble the frame. I also installed new plastic spacers. Now to the hard part, getting the glass seated into the metal pieces using the glazing strips. A small piece of paper came with the glazing strips, " use petrol rub to vulcanize the glazing strip " so I rubbed both sides of the glazing strips with vasoline and then went to the store. When I came back I tried assembling the glass into the metal pieces using the strips. No go. The strips were too thick but I could tell that they had softened up a little from the vasoline. I sprayed them down with 3 in 1 penetrating oil. That did the trick, I was then able to attach the bottom metal piece using the softened glazing strip. I have some rubber backed carpet squares covering my workbench. I also put down an old piece of carpet and then placed the glass panel upside down on my work bench. I was then able to hammer the metal piece down onto the glass, using a small plastic headed hammer. The side piece did not want to cooperate. The glazing strip was sheared off from the force of me trying to hammer the metal piece onto the front side of the glass. Probably due to the curve. The upper half of the glazing strip, furthest away from the corner is where the strip was ruined. I tried another piece, same thing. I remember what Anthony said about inner tubes and noticed that I had saved one of the old rubber bands from the inside of my wire wheels. I cut a piece of this rubber to match the damaged portion of the glazing material. I removed the damaged glazing material and installed a piece of rubber which I had sprayed down with penetrating oil. On the 1st try, the side metal piece seated down onto the glass. It was a very good, snug fit and felt right as I was hammering it on. Based on my experience, it would appear that using a piece of inner tube or wire wheel rubber spoke protector is the best material to use for the assembly process. I guess it isn't as " sticky " as the glazing material, but since it doesn't get as deformed when you install it, it probably does a better job filling the space between the glass and the metal pieces. On the other window, I will use the glazing strip that I already have on the bottom but use a piece of rubber on the side. Thanks to Anthony's tip to use a piece of rubber, and John's tip to use oil to soften the glazing strips, I got the job done.
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