For stubborn putty, tap the putty knife with a hammer lightly—like a mini chisel. Once you remove the bulk, use the hook tool to clean out the rabbet (the L-shaped groove where the glass sits).
Remove any glazing points you find (those tiny metal triangles) with needle-nose pliers. You’ll replace them later. This step separates pros from amateurs. window putty repair
The putty should slope from the glass down to the wood. This sheds water away from the glass. Flat or reverse slopes trap water and guarantee failure. For stubborn putty, tap the putty knife with
For $20 and a few hours, you can extend the life of a historic window by 30 years. That’s a win for your wallet, your home’s character, and the landfill. You’ll replace them later
Press this sausage firmly into the L-shaped corner where the glass meets the wood. Run your thumb or a putty knife along it at a 45-degree angle to create a smooth, beveled slope.
There’s something charming about old wooden windows. But let’s be honest—that charm fades fast when you notice chunks of hard, crumbly white stuff falling out of the frames. That “white stuff” is window glazing putty (or glazing compound), and when it fails, your windows fail.