Windshield Scratches-Glas-Weld Distortion Free System

[CPR]

John, you are 100% right, that company is in the same town as me. I spoke with them around a year ago for a scratch removal system. They were too busy dealing with people who ripped them off to help me out.

[Richard]

Scratch removal is time consuming compared to WS repair, I only do the occasional job here and there, I charge by the job usualy $50, it keeps my good customers happy, and helps me get my foot in the door to new dealers. I buy the discs from Glass Technologies, it's called Scratch Magic.

[repare-brise]

John, First most all systems can be distortion free, it's more an opperator problem then an abrasive/system problem. All systems remove glass(even those who say they dont) it's a fact when you abrade a surface, you remove material. The powder, or paste that they use is cerium oxide, this mineral is available in many grades, most systems use all about the same grade(the scratch hog's white polishing discs are a 3M(568xa serie,s) product that is a cerium oxide impregnated disc). Most also use a felt disc to do the final polishing, of varying sizes and thicknesses. The polishing only(cerium oxide and grinder) systems, vary greatly in price, size, and use, the basic systems such as those mentioned above(ips, GW, GM, ren sys), are all about the same in performance and use. One polish only system that goes beond the other's(in price and performance) is the SPS system. It's different in that it recurculates the cerium/water slurry, keeping it contained to the system(much less messy. The sps system is well adapted to flat glass, but for curved auto glass it is not the best. Ceruim oxide creates heat, and on a microscopic level redistributes the glass(read melts), as well as abrading part of it away. Deep scratches are very long to remove(an realy not feasable) with a cerium only system. Ips sells a kit with abrasive discs to get these deeper scratches before switching to the cerium to polish. GT uses the 3M (268xa & 568xa) trizacs discs to abrade the glass before polishing. These systems forcably remove glass, and can cause distortion in the hands of the inexperianced(get training then practice), but are much faster(about 15-20 min per foot), but inversly can cause more dammage(the need for practice again). I have used most of these systems, or technologies(any one want a couple thousand 3M discs let me know), in the goal of satisfying a need in the market. I find the need is there, but the technologies presently on the market fall slightly short of the mark when it comes to profitability.<snip> My goal was to be able to handle most wiper scratches(if it,s too deep we don't touch it, a distortion is worse than a scratch) in under an hour(we charge $90 per hour), but I have found an even larger market, side and rear glass. Windshields are cheap, but the other glass in a car can be very expensive. This is where our market is growing, scratches caused by foreign objects on the rubber on the side glass(see most early neons for a good example) and rear window wiper scratches on mini vans and suv's. Dealers will have these fixed once you can offer them a reasonably priced(for you and them) and efficient finished product. We charge a flat base rate of $90 (10-60mins) then additional depending how much we go over the 1 hour mark(rare). One of my franchisee's billed $450 for 5 scratches that took 4 hours to do (from arival to departure, these 5 repairs saved the dealer $4250 in glass(scratches were caused by an employee on a flat rate pay scale removing window stickers with a nicked razor blade during PDI), needless to say the dealer is pleased.

All this to say chose your system then learn all you can(practice) before venturing onto customers glass. Price yourself so that it's interesting for you and the customer, and have fun. Dont just look at price when deciding on a system, get referals from the seller, and evaluate there performance with good questions. When you have decided get factory training(it will save you more time and money than it costs) and plan on lots of practice.

Have fun

[Lee]

Originally Posted by repare-brise

First most all systems can be distortion free, All systems remove glass(even those who say they don't) it's a fact when you abrade a surface, you remove material. Ceruim oxide creates heat, and on a microscopic level redistributes the glass(read melts), as well as abrading part of it away. Have fun

If most systems can be distortion free and all systems remove glass. How can any system be distortion free? If you remove material you change the refractive qualities of the glass, causing distortion. Glass starts to bend when heated to 1,100 degrees I seriously doubt that a cerium oxide slurry would get that hot and if it did the laminate in the w/s would burn and the glass would crack. The only system that can rearrange molecules is on the USS Enterprise, but its in space dock getting refitted. Have Fun

Main Entry: re·fract
Pronunciation: ri-'frakt
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Latin refractus, past participle of refringere to break open, break up, from re- + frangere to break —more at BREAK
Date: 1612
1 a : to subject (as a ray of light) to refraction b : to alter or distort as if by refraction <to refract that familiar world through the mind and heart of a romantic… woman —Anton Myrer>
2 : to determine the refracting power of

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[John62]

Hi Lee,

We've seen the IPS and RenovatoR Systems scratch removal system working, they both remove damages from glass without distortion. These systems have been tested, they showed the tetsts to us and we were free to read all the details. Looks good.
And the prices are fair -much better than GTGlass, Glas.Weld etc.

[Lee]

http://www.scratchremovers.co.uk/system.html

The equipment used, called 'The Renovator', combines the speed of a
high torque sander-type drill, a specially developed dimpled pad and a
non toxic compound as the medium to create movement and flow of
the molecules of glass to refill the void caused by the scratch. During
the process, the void fills from the bottom, so the width of the
scratch remains the same until the last seconds of the process,
whereas the depth has changed from a damage you can 'catch your
nail in' - to a slight graze on the surface.

http://www.scratchremovers.co.uk/bsi_report.html

According to all of the test reports it really works. They can move molecules!
If you believe its true get one and let us know how it works. It only leaves a slight graze on the surface( If it does this how can it remove scratches and be distortion free?).

[John62]

Scratchremovers.co.uk?
Come on, that is part of Glas.Weld UK Ltd. the place where people are lied at.
Their mavericks!

Ever seen www.glassrenovator.com ? That looks better, no experience with them though.

The best system is IPS, Stuart, Florida or RenovatoR Systems.
Forget the others, its all crap.
Go direct with real people, try
www.ipsglass.com www.renovatorsystems.com

[John62]

By the way; that so called system they work with at scratchremovers.co.uk is NOT tested at all. They lie. The system they use is from Glas.Weld

It is only the ORIGINAL system, as made by IPS, that has been tested, these tests date some years back now, but the original product will indeed remove scratches from glass without distortion.
Glas.Weld attemted to copy that IPS system.
IPS cancelled the agreement with Glas.Weld one year ago.
That so called Glas.Weld system is only a cheap attempted copy of the original IPS system.

Again; what Glas.Weld claims about the tests is a lie.
Again; Never trust Glas.Weld, their mavericks.

[Lee]

We've seen the IPS and RenovatoR Systems (quote)
Below is from IPP site.

Perfected in 1989 after seven years of research and sold internationally since 1991, our product is the only ANSI (American National Standard Institute) and BSI (British Standard Institute) certified, documentation backed, distortion-free scratch removal system for glass, as tested for Glas-Weld Systems, Inc. Innovative Polishing Systems' reputation for quality scratch removal products, superior service and technical consulting has made us a cost effective leader in glass and plastics restoration. Serving the aviation, marine, construction, flat glass, automotive, aquarium, building maintenance and window cleaning industries, our products are used to remove scratches from: (AS TESTED FOR GLAS-WELD)
John
If you think Glas-Weld lies why do you trust the others? As Yvan has said, its the operator of the system that can cause the least distortion not the system. Do you really believe that abrading a glass will move molecules? I mean no disrespect here but I think you should really look hard at this before jumping in to it. I have been using cerium oxide and a felt wheel for years. It takes forever to polish out a scratch with them. The newer systems probably work faster but they do the same thing, remove glass. Good Luck

[GlassStarz]

I took a look at Janvils site anyone with experience in that system? seems like a pretty good deal for the price