How To Remove Water Spots on Automotive Glass
Glass polishing is a hot topic on detailing forums across the world wide web, and for good reason; water spots and road film on exterior glass is something we`ve all encountered. If you haven`t experienced it yet, don`t worry, you will eventually. And when you do encounter water spots and staining on the glass of your pride and joy, whether it`s a 1994 Toyota Camry or a 2012 Corvette Centennial Edition, you can always rely on autopia-carcare.com to provide the products and the know-how to restore perfect vision once again.
What are water spots and how are they created?
Water spots are created when drops of water evaporates off the surface of your vehicle. All water contains minerals and that includes iron, calcium, and even salt. Rain water contains all of the above plus pollution. When the drops of water evaporate, these trace elements are left on your vehicle to etch the outline of a drop. Unless these water spots are removed immediately, and the only way you can accomplish that is if you`re camping out with a microscope and to watch the process take place, you need a dedicated glass polish. Like every other aspect of glass and plastic care, Diamondite has you covered.
What is "road film"?
Road film is a build up of dirt, grime, and other contaminants on your vehicle`s exterior surfaces. This could be anything from tree sap, tar, bugs, or even gas or oil that is spilled on the road, mixed with water, and splashed up onto your much loved car or truck. When you wash your vehicle on a regular basis, you avoid having a build up of road film. Road film is not pleasant to look at, especially on glass.
This is what your typical windshield looks on a daily driver that isn`t washed on a regular basis. It has a heavy build up of road film and there is also evidence of water spots.
Diamondite, a car care company that specializes in glass and plastic care products, has a kit designed specifically for what you see above, which is a build up of road film and water spots. The kit I`m referring to is the Diamondite Glasswork System Kit for Machine Application. This kit includes everything you need, except the power tool, to remove water spots and road film on your vehicle`s exterior glass.
What`s inside the box?
The Diamondite Glasswork System Kit for Machine Application includes:
- 3 oz. Glasswork Cleansing Clay
- 4 oz. Glasswork Clay Lubricant
- 4 oz. Glasswork Restorer
- 4 oz. Glasswork Shield
- 4 inch Orange Light Cutting Foam Pad
- 2 3/4 inch backing plate
- Drill adapter
- Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel
Drill, dual action or rotary polisher?
The Diamondite Glasswork System Kit for Machine Application includes a 2 3/4" Hook & Loop Rotary (5/8" thread) Backing Plate. Right out of the box you can use this backing plate with your rotary polisher or a standard household drill with the included drill adapter. If you have a dual action polisher, such as a Porter Cable 7424xp, you can use this backing plate with the optional DA Adapter.
Step 1: Cleaning the glass
The first step is to clean the glass, and for that Diamondite Perfect Vision Glass Cleaner was used. Diamondite Perfect Vision Glass Cleaner is an intense, ammonia-free glass cleaner that cuts through dirt and grime like it`s going out of style. It provides a streak-free finish when used in conjunction with a Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel.
Step 2: Claying the glass
The next step is to clay the glass with the included Diamondite Glasswork Cleansing Clay and Diamondite Clay Lubricant. What makes this clay different than any other clay bar? It`s far more aggressive because glass is much harder than paint. Just like you clay your paint before you polish it, claying your glass is critical before polishing.
Step 3: Polishing
Every step prior to this one is designed to clean and prep the glass for polishing with the included Diamondite Glasswork Restorer. Diamondite Glasswork Restorer features heavy chemical cleaners combined with ultra fine abrasives that are designed to remove water spots and mineral deposits, restoring perfect vision. Diamondite Glasswork Restorer will not scratch or haze glass. The tool of choice for this article was the Flex PE14-2-150 Rotary Polisher.
Now you might ask: "Do I have to use a rotary polisher to achieve optimal results?" And the answer is no. Why did I use a Flex PE14-2-150 for this article? Because it`s the smoothest running rotary polisher available and the fact that it only weighs 5 lbs is an added bonus. You wouldn`t ride a bike to work when you have a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG parked in the same garage, would you? ;)
As mentioned earlier, the kit includes a drill adapter so you can utilize a standard household drill.
Working on a small area at a time, roughly 12" x 12", set the RPM to 1200 RPM on your rotary polisher (or drill) and work the polish in using slow, overlapping passes. As the polish starts to turn clear, turn the polisher off and remove any residue. If you find the polish difficult to remove, you`re working it too long.
Step 4: Adding a layer of protection
After you`ve restored optical clarity to your glass, use the included Diamondite Glasswork Shield to provide a layer of crystal clear polymer protection. Diamondite Glasswork Shield is a spray sealant designed to protect glass by repelling water, oil and other contaminants. Applying a coat of Diamondite Glasswork Shield will also greatly reduce, or even eliminate windshield wiper chatter. Application is simple: Spray on and buff off with a microfiber towel.
Would you look at that?
What would a how-to article be without a 50/50 shot showing off the results? As you can clearly see, the right side of the windshield was polished using the Diamondite Glasswork System Kit for Machine Application while the left side still has a heavy build up of dirt, road grime, road film and water spots.
Diamondite makes restoring perfect vision to your vehicle`s exterior glass quick and easy with the Glasswork System Kit for Machine Application. Both professionals and DIY`ers can use the products included in this kit to their full advantage. Even after polishing the entire windshield for this article, there was still plenty of Glasswork Shield and Glasswork Restorer remaining that several other vehicles in the PBMG parking lot could benefit from the same treatment. Maybe I`ll send them a link to this article and let them do all the work. :)
Diamondite Glasswork System Kit for Machine Application
Diamondite® Glass & Plastic Care Systems
:autopia:
Re: How To Remove Water Spots on Automotive Glass
Thanks for the tutorial, Stig!
Re: How To Remove Water Spots on Automotive Glass
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pats300zx
Great writeup Nick !`m
I think you have him confused with some guy on another forum, Pat. ;)
Re: How To Remove Water Spots on Automotive Glass
wow stig, that 50/50 says it all.
