Ice Storm Causes Near Miss for Beetle/ How Do I Get Ice Off Windows?

We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
right behind my classic Beetle.

Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no harm.
The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches.

I am getting away unscathed.

Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
storm.

I will try and get a digital picture and post it.


What is a good safe way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off
the windshield?

Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass.

Any help will be appreciated!

Jim Ed wrote:
> We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
> right behind my classic Beetle.
>
> Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no harm.
> The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches.
>
> I am getting away unscathed.
>
> Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
> storm.
>
> I will try and get a digital picture and post it.
>
>
> What is a good safe way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off
> the windshield?
>
> Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass.
>
> Any help will be appreciated!


As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a door
seal silicone stick made for that purpose.

Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with spray gun
oil. (Good to -50F!!)
Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands available.

True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is the
only thing that works, and a cabin heater.

A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the door
jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the moisture
and water generated in the attempt will cause even more ice to form....

What about using a hair dryer set on low heat?



On Jan 31, 10:33*am, Jan Andersson >
wrote:
> Jim Ed wrote:
> > We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
> > right behind my classic Beetle.
>
> > Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no harm.
> > The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches.
>
> > I am getting away unscathed.
>
> > Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
> > storm.
>
> > I will try and get a digital picture and post it.
>
> > What is a good safe way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off
> > the windshield?
>
> > Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass.
>
> > Any help will be appreciated!
>
> As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a door
> seal silicone stick made for that purpose.
>
> Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with spray gun
> oil. (Good to -50F!!)
> Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands available.
>
> True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is the
> only thing that works, and a cabin heater.
>
> A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the door
> jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the moisture
> and water generated in the attempt will cause even more ice to form....

that would work, but again you need to finish the job once you start it
and then wipe all the water off, or it will freeze things up again.

Jim Ed wrote:
> What about using a hair dryer set on low heat?
>
>
>
> On Jan 31, 10:33 am, Jan Andersson >
> wrote:
>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>> We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
>>> right behind my classic Beetle.
>>> Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no harm.
>>> The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches.
>>> I am getting away unscathed.
>>> Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
>>> storm.
>>> I will try and get a digital picture and post it.
>>> What is a good safe way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off
>>> the windshield?
>>> Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass.
>>> Any help will be appreciated!
>> As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a door
>> seal silicone stick made for that purpose.
>>
>> Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with spray gun
>> oil. (Good to -50F!!)
>> Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands available.
>>
>> True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is the
>> only thing that works, and a cabin heater.
>>
>> A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the door
>> jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the moisture
>> and water generated in the attempt will cause even more ice to form....
>

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:22:25 -0500, Jan Andersson wrote:

> that would work, but again you need to finish the job once you start it
> and then wipe all the water off, or it will freeze things up again.
>
> Jim Ed wrote:
>> What about using a hair dryer set on low heat?
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 31, 10:33 am, Jan Andersson >
>> wrote:
>>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>>> We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
>>>> right behind my classic Beetle.
>>>> Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no
>>>> harm. The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches. I am
>>>> getting away unscathed.
>>>> Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
>>>> storm.
>>>> I will try and get a digital picture and post it. What is a good safe
>>>> way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off the windshield?
>>>> Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass. Any
>>>> help will be appreciated!
>>> As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a door
>>> seal silicone stick made for that purpose.
>>>
>>> Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with spray
>>> gun oil. (Good to -50F!!)
>>> Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands available.
>>>
>>> True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is
>>> the only thing that works, and a cabin heater.
>>>
>>> A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the
>>> door jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the
>>> moisture and water generated in the attempt will cause even more ice
>>> to form....
>>

just to be clear ... that would be silicone lubricant ... NOT silicone
sealer ! LOL :-D

tricky wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:22:25 -0500, Jan Andersson wrote:
>
>> that would work, but again you need to finish the job once you start it
>> and then wipe all the water off, or it will freeze things up again.
>>
>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>> What about using a hair dryer set on low heat?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 31, 10:33 am, Jan Andersson >
>>> wrote:
>>>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>>>> We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
>>>>> right behind my classic Beetle.
>>>>> Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no
>>>>> harm. The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches. I am
>>>>> getting away unscathed.
>>>>> Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
>>>>> storm.
>>>>> I will try and get a digital picture and post it. What is a good safe
>>>>> way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off the windshield?
>>>>> Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass. Any
>>>>> help will be appreciated!
>>>> As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a door
>>>> seal silicone stick made for that purpose.
>>>>
>>>> Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with spray
>>>> gun oil. (Good to -50F!!)
>>>> Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands available.
>>>>
>>>> True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is
>>>> the only thing that works, and a cabin heater.
>>>>
>>>> A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the
>>>> door jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the
>>>> moisture and water generated in the attempt will cause even more ice
>>>> to form....
>
> just to be clear ... that would be silicone lubricant ... NOT silicone
> sealer ! LOL :-D
>


HAHA! YES!

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:10:22 -0500, Jan Andersson
> wrote:

>tricky wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:22:25 -0500, Jan Andersson wrote:
>>
>>> that would work, but again you need to finish the job once you start it
>>> and then wipe all the water off, or it will freeze things up again.
>>>
>>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>>> What about using a hair dryer set on low heat?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 31, 10:33 am, Jan Andersson >
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>>>>> We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and fell
>>>>>> right behind my classic Beetle.
>>>>>> Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no
>>>>>> harm. The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches. I am
>>>>>> getting away unscathed.
>>>>>> Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the ice
>>>>>> storm.
>>>>>> I will try and get a digital picture and post it. What is a good safe
>>>>>> way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off the windshield?
>>>>>> Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack the glass. Any
>>>>>> help will be appreciated!
>>>>> As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a door
>>>>> seal silicone stick made for that purpose.
>>>>>
>>>>> Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with spray
>>>>> gun oil. (Good to -50F!!)
>>>>> Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands available.
>>>>>
>>>>> True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is
>>>>> the only thing that works, and a cabin heater.
>>>>>
>>>>> A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the
>>>>> door jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the
>>>>> moisture and water generated in the attempt will cause even more ice
>>>>> to form....
>>
>> just to be clear ... that would be silicone lubricant ... NOT silicone
>> sealer ! LOL :-D
>>
>
>
>HAHA! YES!



Has anyone actually had first hand experience of glass breaking from using
hot water?
--
Michael Cecil
http://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/
1970 VW Beetle "Millennium Sparrow"

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:45:30 -0600, Michael Cecil wrote:

> On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:10:22 -0500, Jan Andersson
> > wrote:
>
>>tricky wrote:
>>> On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:22:25 -0500, Jan Andersson wrote:
>>>
>>>> that would work, but again you need to finish the job once you start
>>>> it and then wipe all the water off, or it will freeze things up
>>>> again.
>>>>
>>>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>>>> What about using a hair dryer set on low heat?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 31, 10:33 am, Jan Andersson >
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> Jim Ed wrote:
>>>>>>> We had an ice storm here and a great big tree limb broke off and
>>>>>>> fell right behind my classic Beetle.
>>>>>>> Although some of the smaller limbs fell onto Beetle, they did no
>>>>>>> harm. The ice that was already on it prevented any scratches. I am
>>>>>>> getting away unscathed.
>>>>>>> Next time, I will park on the other side of the drive before the
>>>>>>> ice storm.
>>>>>>> I will try and get a digital picture and post it. What is a good
>>>>>>> safe way to get the doors unfrozen and to get ice off the
>>>>>>> windshield? Someone said not to use hot water since it might crack
>>>>>>> the glass. Any help will be appreciated!
>>>>>> As a preventative measure, wipe door seals with silicone or use a
>>>>>> door seal silicone stick made for that purpose.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Take door locks apart and clean them well, then lubricate with
>>>>>> spray gun oil. (Good to -50F!!)
>>>>>> Do not use de-icer for door locks, despite countless brands
>>>>>> available.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> True for hot water and glass. Bad idea. For the glass, a scraper is
>>>>>> the only thing that works, and a cabin heater.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A heavy duty plastic bag filled with hot water, pressed against the
>>>>>> door jambs, may help get the seals loose. If it doesn't work, the
>>>>>> moisture and water generated in the attempt will cause even more
>>>>>> ice to form....
>>>
>>> just to be clear ... that would be silicone lubricant ... NOT
>>> silicone sealer ! LOL :-D
>>>
>>>
>>
>>HAHA! YES!
>
>
>
> Has anyone actually had first hand experience of glass breaking from
> using hot water?

I use cold or luke warm/tepid water - not hot. but we dont get much below
freezing here.

never had a problem.

Rich

On Jan 31, 3:45*pm, Michael Cecil > wrote:
>
> Has anyone actually had first hand experience of glass breaking from using
> hot water?
> --
> Michael Cecilhttp://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/
> 1970 VW Beetle "Millennium Sparrow

Yep but it wasn't mine.
Also had a cold water balloon hit a hot windshield and it exploded.

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:33:20 -0800 (PST), Randy >
wrote:

>On Jan 31, 3:45*pm, Michael Cecil > wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone actually had first hand experience of glass breaking from using
>> hot water?
>> --
>> Michael Cecilhttp://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/
>> 1970 VW Beetle "Millennium Sparrow
>
>Yep but it wasn't mine.
>Also had a cold water balloon hit a hot windshield and it exploded.

You were trying to "deheat" the windshield because the heat haze was
annoying?

Anyhow, how do you know it wasn't just the physical impact of the water
balloon that broke the windshield?
--
Michael Cecil
http://home.roadrunner.com/~macecil/
1970 VW Beetle "Millennium Sparrow"