Window scratch removal products suggestion - Page 2

5toClean · 09-26-07, 07:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnZ3MC

No danger.
Cerium oxide is made to polish telescope lenses and they're made out of glass, just like your windshield. The end result will be a super clear and clean window.

It's pretty well impossible to do the job wrong.
Make a thick slurry of the cerium oxide and a little water. Apply it to the scratched area. Polish with the felt pad in the electric drill.
After 5 min, or when the polish seems to get thin and vanish, wipe with a cloth and look at your results.
Repeat until the scratch is gone.
It's that simple.

Caution: The cerium oxide is very, very, very, mildly radioactive, like the glow in the dark watches of the old days. Keep the spare powder on a shelf in the basement between jobs, not in your front pocket.
-John C.

Hmmmm, Since I work with very large quantities of radioisotope every day it will be easy to test how "Active" this material is. I'll let you know when I get back home from this business trip.

opass · 10-04-07, 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnZ3MC

No danger.
Cerium oxide is made to polish telescope lenses and they're made out of glass, just like your windshield. The end result will be a super clear and clean window.

It's pretty well impossible to do the job wrong.
Make a thick slurry of the cerium oxide and a little water. Apply it to the scratched area. Polish with the felt pad in the electric drill.
After 5 min, or when the polish seems to get thin and vanish, wipe with a cloth and look at your results.
Repeat until the scratch is gone.
It's that simple.

Hello,....just bought a can of Cerium oxide and plannig to remove scratches cause by dirty wiper blade.

Question, What kind of pad should I use with it? Can I use polishing/cutting pad that design for car's paint?

JohnZ3MC · 10-04-07, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by opass

Hello,....just bought a can of Cerium oxide and plannig to remove scratches cause by dirty wiper blade.

Question, What kind of pad should I use with it? Can I use polishing/cutting pad that design for car's paint?

The CO will be perfect for you, the same situation I had to deal with.
I'd go with the same type of dense felt pad that comes with the kits listed earlier because I'm thinking only the heavy felt type can give the kind of 'bite' and strength needed for working with glass. The softer foam ones would just wear out and break apart way too soon.
The felt ones are common so you shouldn't have trouble finding one locally.
-John C.

opass · 10-04-07, 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnZ3MC

The CO will be perfect for you, the same situation I had to deal with.
I'd go with the same type of dense felt pad that comes with the kits listed earlier because I'm thinking only the heavy felt type can give the kind of 'bite' and strength needed for working with glass. The softer foam ones would just wear out and break apart way too soon.
The felt ones are common so you shouldn't have trouble finding one locally.
-John C.

John,

What is CO? Are you refering Country Orange pad?

Can I buy felt pad at Home Depot, Ace....etc.?

JohnZ3MC · 10-05-07, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by opass

John,

What is CO? Are you refering Country Orange pad?

Can I buy felt pad at Home Depot, Ace....etc.?

Sorry, I was getting lazy and did CO instead of 'cerium oxide'.
The pads are circular, like a hockey puck, about 2/5 - 3 inches in diameter and about 2 inches thick. There is a metal shaft for chucking it into an electric drill.
You fellows from the USA are lucky to have really comprehensive tool and accessory shops so I'd head for the polishing section and see what they have to offer.
Probably Home Depot or maybe a big hardware/tool store. We have something called 'House of Tools' here and they have them.
-John C.

johnvdub · 10-05-07, 06:49

Hey John,

I'm ordering the JCWhitney kit like yours and i hope it does the trick ...
Let me know of any other tips.

Thx

JohnZ3MC · 10-05-07, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnvdub

Hey John,

I'm ordering the JCWhitney kit like yours and i hope it does the trick ...
Let me know of any other tips.

Thx

You'll be happy with that kit, it'll do many, many windshields over the years. Future waterspots a problem? No more with that kit.
I guess the two biggest tips I can offer is to not give up too early, and don't let the slurry dry out on the windshield. When it gets nearly dry, stop, inspect your progress, and add more slurry.
Heat builds up when it's dry and you don't want your glass to get really hot.
Let us know how it turns out.
-John C.

5toClean · 10-05-07, 06:36

Ok; I finally did it. When I got home from work today I dug out the Eastwood kit I bought 2 years ago and decided to put it to use. I was still a bit apprehensive and skeptical so i tried it on my Jeep first since I didn't care if I screwed the window up on it. after trying it on the Jeep without ruining the window I decided to go for it.
Alls I can say is WOW, why didn't I do this sooner! I did not have deep scratches to contend with just 21 years of haze and water spots that nothing else I have ever tried would remove but this kit is so effective my windows look like new now.
The only thing that i can offer on the way of advice is this, instead of using my standard drill I used my Milwaukee 3/8" right angle drill. Using the right angle drill allowed me to have better control and it took about an hour to do the rear window, two opera windows and the door windows.
This kit really worked great.

opass · 10-05-07, 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnZ3MC

You'll be happy with that kit, it'll do many, many windshields over the years. Future waterspots a problem? No more with that kit.
I guess the two biggest tips I can offer is to not give up too early, and don't let the slurry dry out on the windshield. When it gets nearly dry, stop, inspect your progress, and add more slurry.
Heat builds up when it's dry and you don't want your glass to get really hot.
Let us know how it turns out.
-John C.

I just did a 6"x6" (TESTING) with a green polish pad and rotary buffer 1600 rpm for about 90 seconds. It reduce a lot of the scratches (80% improve).

If anyone one want to try it, be perpare the big mess from the slurry flying all direction. Cover the paint area if possible. And make sure wash the car with a lot of shampoo after the job.

Will continue the rest next week.

opass · 10-07-07, 08:00

Hello folks,

I finished fix the windshield yesterday. The swirl marks on the glass are GONE.

Did not have the Felft Bob and used the 3" Country Green Polishing pad instead. Just wet the pad for a few minutes and applied the slurry on it. I used the spray bottle with water to make sure the working area won't dry up. It turned out no ill affect. The scratches are gone. Mission completed.

Just make sure you wash the car with a lot of shampoo at least 2 times to flush out all the glass compound out.

Excellent product. Be prepare, it is a messy process. Cover the paint and trim prior.

JohnZ3MC · 10-07-07, 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by opass

Hello folks,

I finished fix the windshield yesterday. The swirl marks on the glass are GONE.

Did not have the Felft Bob and used the 3" Country Green Polishing pad instead. Just wet the pad for a few minutes and applied the slurry on it. I used the spray bottle with water to make sure the working area won't dry up. It turned out no ill affect. The scratches are gone. Mission completed.

Just make sure you wash the car with a lot of shampoo at least 2 times to flush out all the glass compound out.

Excellent product. Be prepare, it is a messy process. Cover the paint and trim prior.

Glad it worked out well for you and thanks for sharing the tip about the green pad, I never would have guessed it worked as well as it did.

-John C.