windshield film

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kfunkapotamus

New member
i recently purchased a 2012 mazda5 (not the sexiest car i know) i went to apply a coat of rain-x to the windshield, but i could not get the glass clean. i tried windex, rain-x glass cleaner, even some wd-40 out of frustration. with this film on the exterior glass i cannot get the rain-x to bond to my windshield. any suggestions?



thanks for the input.
 
If the vinegar doesn't work, try something like our Chrome Polish (years ago we sold it as Chrome and glass Polish). Note this isn't Mag & Aluminum Polish, it's the liquid made for use on chrome surfaces.



Apply with an applicator; let dry, then buff to remove. It'll remove the built up film and leave the windshield clean.



It can be used on the interior glass surfaces as well (I do the inside glass on my cars twice a year), but take care not to get it on the trim.
 
Do not use a metal polish on glass. The only thing in the world that polishes glass is cerium dioxide. If it doesn't contain cerium dioxide, then it's not a glass polish. If you have a torch available, hit the glass with a propane torch, and it should remove any film type products on the glass. We sometimes have to do this if there is Aquapel or something similar on glass before we install Clearplex.
 
JohnKleven said:
Do not use a metal polish on glass. The only thing in the world that polishes glass is cerium dioxide. If it doesn't contain cerium dioxide, then it's not a glass polish...
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I thought the idea was to (safely) polish off the stuff that's on the glass, not polish the glass itself. Since the metal polish/etc. isn't abrasive enough to abrade the glass it just takes off the film...or am I missing something here?





If you have a torch available, hit the glass with a propane torch, and it should remove any film type products on the glass. We sometimes have to do this if there is Aquapel or something similar on glass before we install Clearplex.
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Hm...I'm not sure I want to find out if that's Accumulator-proof or not :nervous:



Seems like it'd be easy to have something go wrong.
 
Alcohol should do the trick as mentioned above. May take several wipe downs but it works for Rain X since I have done this many times. I am curious on the torch method for more permanent coatings John. I can see where this will work without issues on a windshield (not side glass) but just wondering how you go about doing this process? Very interesting for sure!
 
Accumulator said:
I thought the idea was to (safely) polish off the stuff that's on the glass, not polish the glass itself. Since the metal polish/etc. isn't abrasive enough to abrade the glass it just takes off the film...or am I missing something here?



I'm just saying that if you talk to anyone in the world of glass polishing, they would never touch anything BUT Cerium Oxide to polish glass.





Hm...I'm not sure I want to find out if that's Accumulator-proof or not :nervous:



Seems like it'd be easy to have something go wrong.
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It really is not a big deal. Just run the torch quickly, it won't harm anything and don't move at a snails pace and you'll be fine.
 
If Beth gave you a sample of Cerious Compound, use it for this sort of issue.

It's base is cerium oxide, opitical grade.

Works like a champ with a lambs wool pad on glass, as well as paint surfaces.

Don't have a sample, get ahold of Beth at [email protected] for a small sample.

Grumpy
 
JohnKleven said:
It really is not a big deal. Just run the torch quickly, it won't harm anything and don't move at a snails pace and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...



Heh heh, I'm still nervous about the whole idea. Sounds a lot riskier than just using a polish. Which sounds like a lot more work than just leaving it be for now ;)



I generally hate such stuff, but it's actually working out OK on that particular vehicle.
 
I juts cleaned my windshield w/ Klasse AIO this past weekend & it cleared away a lot of crap I didn't realize was there. I kept thinking it was the inside of the windshield that was causing what seemed like vague streaking; turned out it was the outside. The Klasse was mild but obviously cleaned everything off the surface. Plus it didn't take much to do it.
 
Several good options have already been mentioned. My normal method for cleaning up nasty glass is to do a quick clay job then a couple of quick passes with any random compound and my DA, then an IPA wipe down to remove any polishing oils.
 
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