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How-To

Use a Steam Box for Window Restoration

To soften glazing and remove the glass from an old window, a homemade steam box is priceless.

By Brian Pontolilo Issue 273 - Feb/Mar 2018

To properly restore a 100-year-old window sash, you have to remove the old glazing putty and glass, strip the frame back to bare wood to make any necessary repairs, prime before reinstalling the glass and glazing, and finally, apply a couple top coats of paint. Each part of the process is tricky in it’s own right. When removing the glass, the key is not to break it. As Ben Brunick shows us in this video, a homemade steam box is a big help.

Read Ben Brunick’s full article, “Restore a Wood Window Sash,” in FHB #273, and check out more exclusive videos from the article shoot:

  • How to Protect a Window Opening During Sash Restoration
  • How to Glaze a Wood Window

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View Comments

  1. user-6954600 | Feb 02, 2018 11:56am | #1

    This is awesome. Save old windows is what I do as well!

  2. mcsawyer | Feb 22, 2018 07:41pm | #2

    Has anyone tried the Speedheater for this type of application instead of a steam box?

  3. user-183982 | Jul 24, 2018 12:39pm | #3

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfIPHpPH2q4&t=32s

  4. rstewar1 | Jul 23, 2020 10:54am | #4

    This does help us using a steam box that we cannot buy or have instructions to build one.

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