I've cut out a number of windshields or rear windows over the years. I am talking about the 60's cars where they are in with butyl tape. It has always been in the summer when it's warm though.

I have a possibility of a tinted back glass for my GP. Do I dare try cutting it out when the temperature is right around freezing/melting point, or should I not take the risk and wait until summer.

I can likely make a deal with him now and go back in a few months to cut it out. The guy who has it really doesn't do that kind of work so I can't ask him to be the one to take the chance!

piano wire or guitar string, heat the end of the wire with propane torch to insert under glass. then heat a section of the wire and draw thru the butyl, pull out the wire and reheat, repeat as necessary.  always good to practice on a windscreen you don't want first.

I've used the piano wire trick too. I also soaked the butyl with varsol to soften it up.

I think you should wait until i can go with you!

I always go from the inside with a Olfa knife.  Use lots of blades.

I'd do it

If you are woried about temp,  take a heat gun along,  that stuff will soften fast.

Rear glass is alot more forgiving than a windshield, but id still try it

as a winshield technitian, think i spelt that wrong, any way butyle is nasty stuff i always tried to cut this stuff when its cold, with the proper pull knife. the reason is that butyle resticks itself when its warm, a way to compensate for this is to do a section and then blow some talck into the cut. temperd glass is durable stuff unlike plate glass. what it does like is pinpoint stress like piano wire cutting into it i will shater not break. when you stick it back in use urathane but make sure to bloke it up until it hardens

customers dont like butyle strings or wd 40 everywhere the talck is much cleaner

I just use a plazma cutter/ torch , and cut the whole back roof section...

  Then take it home, and warm up the glass later?

Carl Stevenson wrote:

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Thanks Dave. Good idea about the heat gun. I may try that. And maybe borrow an angled glass cutout tool as well.

Sorry Ken, I don't know that I can wait!!!

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 I know. you gotta do what you gotta do.

I find butyl a lot easier to cut than urathane,a lot of the time the stuff isn't stuck worth a hoot. I usually use a pull knife from the outside but an Olfa knife on the inside works well. Take someone with you to apply a little pressure to the inside of of the glass as you cut the glass from the butyl. If you don't have help use plastic windshield sticks or some sort of plastic wedges to hold the glass out a bit as you cut ( don't use anything metal or bye bye window ).

Good luck....

i pushed my front window out with one hand =)

 but then again ive lifted a tranny with one arm LMAO