Glass
table tops:
(...don't forget we make wood table tops too!)
To see some of
our table designs with glass tops and wood tops, scroll down the page
or see our stainless
steel tables page and glass
coffee table page for even more (in 3D).
| UPDATE:
unfortunately due to unresolved problems with our glass supplier
(quality issues), at the moment we cannot make or supply tables
with any glass in them. This is hopefully a temporary situation,
however we cannot take any orders involving glass at the moment.
we will remove this message when this situation is sorted out.
We can still make tables from wood and stainless steel - please
see our wood
table tops page. |
Our glass table tops are usually made with toughened glass (max 19mm thick) or for a more industrial look, wired security glass. Any clear, coloured or tinted glass can be ordered, the thickness is up to you (8-40mm). We recommend a glass at least 10mm thick for a full size table. The simplest most minimal glass table top we make is still the classic clear toughened safety glass (19mm). Etched glass, misted (sand-blasted) glass and mirrored glass can be ordered too. Just let us know the size of glass table you require, type of glass top you want, and leave the rest to us. We can give you our recommendations and we can discuss the overall table design too. (contact us) You can scroll down the page to see examples of our glass table tops.
(If you cannot see the rotating table above click here to fix this.)
The stainless steel table design above uses a 19mm thick single sheet of toughened safety glass (polished edge) This thickness of glass is exceptionally strong, but is also heavy. Its gives a classic minimalist look, to any table.
Click here for a larger image and more details.
Common glass is mostly silicon dioxide (SiO2). In its pure form, glass is a transparent, relatively strong, hard-wearing, essentially inert, and biologically inactive material which can be formed with very smooth and impervious surfaces. These are very desirable properties for table tops. However common glass is brittle, and if broken will break into sharp shards. But this unwanted property can be entirely changed with the addition of other compounds or a heat treatment, this is how toughened (safety) glass table tops are made (see below).
Types of Glass table tops you can order: (see images at bottom of page)
- toughened glass table tops (any thickness from 6mm-19mm)
- wired security glass table tops (for the cool industrial look)
- tinted glass table tops
- patterned glass table tops
- laminated glass table tops
- mirrored glass table tops
- etched glass table tops
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Toughened glass table tops (Safety glass table tops): (see images at bottom of page)
Toughened glass (safety glass) is made from 'float' glass that has had a heating/cooling process applied to it. (Float glass is normal glass that has been 'floated' on molten tin before cooling, to make it super flat.) This heating/cooling process is applied after the float glass has been cut to size, polished and has had any bevels ground. The process involves heating the float glass until it begins to soften (approx. 625 °C) it is then rapidly cooled to room temperature with air jets. The air jets cool and harden the top and bottom surfaces of the glass first, leaving a slower cooling centre. This variation in cooling leaves the glass under a deliberate internal stress, which leaves the glass very strong (six times stronger than normal glass!). The internal stress of the glass also gives it the property of breaking into tiny pieces when broken. These pieces are small enough that they offer much less risk of injury and also don't have sharp edges (unlike the large sharp shards that occur from breaking normal float glass). It is important to note that the special heating process (called 'annealing') can be applied only after all cutting and processing has been completely finished, as once 'toughened', any attempt to cut or grind the glass will cause it to shatter.
Toughened glass (safety glass) is ideal for table tops as it can withstand the high temperatures associated with cooking pots, and is very strong if sufficiently thick. It is also used as glazing in doors and low level windows (for it's 'safety' properties). Clear toughened glass is a very 'clean' and minimal material, it can hold a beautiful polished edge. Toughened glass can be beveled and comes in any thickness from 4mm-19mm as a normal order. The 19mm thick glass table tops look the best and are very affordable. Thicker pieces up to 24mm can be ordered but these super thick glass table tops are VERY heavy and considerably more expensive as these sizes are produced in much smaller quantities. A toughened glass table top is a design classic, it will always look good and is very affordable. (contact us for a quote)
We can provide toughened glass (safety glass) table tops in the following standard metric thicknesses:
- 5mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 6mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 8mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 10mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 12mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 15mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 19mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 22mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
- 24mm thick glass table tops (toughened safety glass).
Wired glass table tops (also called security glass): (see images at bottom of page)
Wired glass has a wire mesh (usually about 10mm spacing) sandwiched in the middle of two thinner float glass sheets. It gives a very modern industrial look to the table.
Warning: Should the glass crack or break, the wire holds the glass together, however, wired glass is generally not considered a safety glass as the glass still breaks with sharp edges. Wired glass is available as clear, patterned or obscured types too.
Tinted glass table tops: (see images at bottom of page)
Tinted glass is made of molten glass mixed with a prescribed quantity of coloured tint agent. Tints available are bronze, blue, green, grey, dark grey, and ocean blue, red, black etc. Tinted and coloured glass is very unusual, and so takes extra time to source and therefore may add time to your table order. It is also more expensive than clear toughened glass.
Patterned
(obscured) glass table tops: (see
images at bottom of page)
Made from float glass, this type has a design rolled onto
one side during manufacture. Patterned glass is available in a range
of coloured tints as well as clear. Subject to availability a variety
of pattern designs are available. See the images below for a better
idea of these. When constructing our table tops the patterned side
is usually orientated to the underside so that cleaning is easy and
the top is flat. Patterned (obscured) glass is a thinner (6-9mm) material
than toughened glass, so if your looking for a substantial and thick
glass table top, you should opt for unpatterned toughened glass.
Laminated glass table tops:
Laminated glass is made up of a sandwich of two or more sheets of glass (or plastic) bonded together by a flexible, normally transparent material. If the glass is cracked or broken, the flexible material holds the glass fragments in place. The glass used can be any of the other basic types (float, toughened, wired etc.) but they still retain their original breaking properties. This is a special glass that requires more notice than usual to order. If you have ever walked on a glass floor in a lift or high-rise building you would have been walking on laminated glass. Laminated glass can be unbelievably strong and so (unfortunately) it's very expensive, also you can never really hide the laminations in the polished edge. Laminated glass can be made in almost any thickness though (up to 40mm or more!) and it won't break to dangerous shards, as it holds its shape, due to the laminations of different materials. (It's what bullet proof glass is made of!)
Mirrored glass table tops:
The mirrored table tops are usually made from glass 6-19mm thick, and silvered on one side. Mirrored glass table tops are usually made from toughened safety glass.
Etched glass table tops (sand blasted):
This can be toughened (safety) glass up to 19mm thick and can be a uniform smooth texture or patterned/embossed with logos/shapes/borders etc. (using templates to protect the glass during the sand-blasting process).
The design below uses a 12mm thick, toughened glass top (polished edge). It has a central beam of hardwood that support the stainless steel legs. To see more details of this table click here. Also see our stainless steel tables page and coffee table page for even more tables. (in 3D)
Examples of the glass table tops and types of glass available:
these images are not enlargeable links
these images are not enlargeable links
Any of these glass types can
be used for a table top. You can have your glass table top with beveled edges too. If you would like a glass table top let us know. We usually have at least
one table for sale 'as is' for you to see in person.
Our glass table tops are made to sit very slightly proud of the stainless steel table frame (table base)
by about 1 mm, this keeps the design clean, modern and minimal. The glass table tops are placed on small clear soft pads that support the glass while not scratching it. For designs that use a toughened glass table top as part of the supporting structure, the stainless steel legs are bonded chemically to the glass (see examples of this on our glass coffee tables page and stainless steel tables page). This chemical bond is actually stronger than the glass itself.
Contact us for your own bespoke stainless steel table with glass top. We can make anything!!!
A
list of contemporary items we produce:
(click a link in the list to see more
information or examples of our work)
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