Scratches!!!

[KNIFF]

I am wanting to know if there is a way to remove scratches in my windshield.
They are not deep gauges just from my windshield scraper from the winter weather. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

KNIFF.

[glassdoctor]

Where are you?

The scratches could be repairable, but it's difficult to say without seeing them. I have seen ice scrapers really mess up a windshield.

Two biggest questions... how many or how much area is scratched, and are they deep enough to catch your finger nail when you feel them?

If they feel pretty smooth or they just barely hook you fingernail then they can probably be done. Also if the scratches are all over the windshiled, you probably need to replace it or live with it.

What kind of scraper was it?

[DragonFly]

Where are you?

The scratches could be repairable, but it's difficult to say without seeing them. I have seen ice scrapers really mess up a windshield.

Two biggest questions... how many or how much area is scratched, and are they deep enough to catch your finger nail when you feel them?

If they feel pretty smooth or they just barely hook you fingernail then they can probably be done. Also if the scratches are all over the windshiled, you probably need to replace it or live with it.

What kind of scraper was it?

yep i agree, i take out scratches for our distruiber every month. I have about 20 shield in shop now that i'll have to take out tomorrow. But the rule is if you can feel it pretty good with your thumb nail or really any finger nail its most likely to deep. So when you run over it with a thumb nail it "clicks" or catchs its most likely to deep. I can take out quite abit of wiper scratches, just depends on how long its been like that and how deep.

[repare-brise]

Scratch repair accounts for close to 30% of my business, I have used the Glass mechanix system, it's good only for very shallow scratches(if you feel it with a finger nail, go home). I have since made my own system using abrasives borrowed from the fibre-optics and TV industry, works great, but you must be carefull of distortion. As for the glassweld system buy the glass mechanix system and purchace a bag of cerium oxide, and buy a $1000.00 gift for your significant other with the left over money. Thier speil about moleculer redistribution is a fairy tale, they use abrasives just like all the rest. If you want to learn more about my home brew system please e-mail me at yvan@repare-brise.net, as this is not the place to advertise(not that I sell the system) or take away from anyones products, but i can direct you as to where to get the parts to make your own .

Merci

[a1repair]

Greetings KNIFF

We use the Glas-Weld method of scratch removal. It has taken out any scratch that we've been faced with. BUT, it's incredibly labor intensive. And if you don't own a Glass-Weld-System kinda pricy to buy.
If the scraper you used, was the hard rubber, with an aluminum combination, and the scratches are aluminum, then the old cerium oxide & felt wheel combo. can come to the rescue.

[sunshine wr]

As for the glassweld system buy the glass mechanix system and purchace a bag of cerium oxide, and buy a $1000.00 gift for your significant other with the left over money. Thier speil about moleculer redistribution is a fairy tale, they use abrasives just like all the rest.
Merci

Have you used the Glas-Weld system ? And tell me more I like fairy tales.

[repare-brise]

Yes I have, and yes it does remove glass, despite there claims to the contrary. There powder is cerium oxide, an abrasive, and abrasives equal stock removal.
There System works well, but is over-priced for what you get in my opinion.

Merci

[sunshine wr]

There powder is cerium oxide, an abrasive, and abrasives equal stock removal.
Merci

I havn't the cerium oxide powder, is that what GW uses ?

[a1repair]

Greetings sunshine wr

I purchased a Glass-Weld Systems abiut 4 years ago. The compond they use is not cerium-oxide, their compound (when it's not dried out, which happens even in the container they put it in) resembles the consistancy of 'sour cream" and/or a white non-abrasive toothpaste. Interestingly enough I was told, at the demo I went to, by the demonstrator there, that the compound is in fact edible. No hints as to what it is.
The system does work though. EXAMPLE: I took a screwdriver to a piece of flat laminated safety glass, gouged an 8" scratch, and buffed the glass for, what seemed like 100 years & finally it was totally gone without any distortion. You could not see any remants of that gouge I put in the glass. The only problem was I had to go sleep for a week due to "buffing fatigue".

[repare-brise]

A1 sorry to rain on your parade but it is cerium oxide with various propritary carriers(I have a chemist in the family who analised it). The other ingerdiants serve as lubricants, suspension agents, and liquifiers, but water works just as well on a short term basis(mix what you need. Cerium oxide powder is available in many different grits and colours, white being one or them.

http://dedadiamond.en.alibaba.com/offer ... owder.html
http://www.reade.com/Products/Oxides/cerium_oxide.html
http://www.covington-engineering.com/La ... owders.htm
http://www.advancedmaterials.us/58R-0803.htm
http://www.metall.com.cn/re/ce.htm
http://www.glassonweb.com/articles/article/103/

Above are a few links to different manufacturors and suppliers. of special interest is Covington and Glass on web.

Merci