window polishing and scratch removal

[GFD77]

for you guy's out there that do scratch removal and window polishing, how long would would it take to polish the rear glass on a car and what would be the pricepoint?

I have had some customers call me on references and request this work, but I have no idea where to start.

thanks

:eusa_shif

[maxryde]

We get 90.dollars an hour for the first then 30.dollars for each additional 15 min. Oh and one hour minimum. You need to work with a system for a bit before you use it on a customers vehicle! You will need to be proficient with the system prior to attempting a repair and know your limitations. If the damage is severe it is sometimes better to replace. You didn't say what system you are using, that is an issue too. I just added some Janvil products to our scratch system and will post a thread to discuss it later.

[GFD77]

I actually bought the Janvil system myself, silver package for the polisher...
the damage to the rear glass on the customer's BMW seems to be from the tint shop, I guess they placed the tint on the outside of the rear glass, cut out the outline and then put the tint on, however they cut a little to firm and there are cut marks around the exterior rear glass were the outline was made, some places more prominent than others.

:eusa_shif

[sunshine wr]

GFD77, be careful working edge scratches, on glued-in glass it can crack from the heat although tempered glass will take much heat abuse, if it is gasket set the heat can deteriorate the rubber and cause leaks.

[GFD77]

the distance from the edge is about 1 1/2 inches on the sides, then there is one that runs across the glass about 1 foot from the top, it seems like it will take about 2hrs to complete, but I would appreciate your feedback on this type of work, since my customer is asking me about additional work to be performed on other cars, I don't want to lose business but I 'am always geared to customer service even if it means turning down a job that should not be done.

:eusa_shif

[glassdoctor]

I have doen several "tint guy" scratches. The tint guy is the one who calls me.

I have found the IPS products work pretty well on these, but it is tricky to work along the edge without touching the moulding, paint, etc.

When you look at scratch jobs look at the total linear length of the marks. If this rear glass has a mark all the way across the middle plus some around the perimeter it's a big job and will take a lot of time... wild guess would be a couple hours if all goes well.

I have done a couple that had three or four of these razor blade marks along the edge with a total length probably @ two feet. These took less than an hour I think.

In my case I don't charge them a premium... I take my cars to them when I want tint... I just trade them some work of charge maybe $50.

Anywhere else I would charge typical "shop rates"... around $60/hr or so depending on various factors, and what mood I'm in.

[GFD77]

hey doc,

I worked on the rear glass window of a BMW with the Janvil system and it worked pretty well, the only draw back to the actual job was the time, the total linear lenght was about three feet, but some of the scratches were deep, so I explained to the shop owner that I would have to use the more aggressive compound on the deeper scratches, which meant more time and more money so we agreed it he was better off paying for a new rear glass window.... however I was pleased with the Janvil system, and I'm looking forward to doing job's that are not so time consuming.

:eusa_shif

[edevans]

I have the Shatter Proof which appears to be a very robust sytem, although I have not been able to get it hooked up correctly to recycle the water solution.

I have tried using a 7 inch diamond pad on a Makita grinder (6,000 rpm) while running a hose on the scratched area of a test window. The grit used was 400 and it took out some self-inflicted scratches nicely, but the glass still became dangerously hot.

[toab]

Is there many of you guys doing this polishing? I had a guy yesterday ask me If I could get some wiper scratches out of his tractor windshield.I have not invested in this equipment as it looks to labor intensive as well as the fact that a polished out scratch may offer distorted vision thruogh it.Where do you guys say enough is enough..this scratch is too bad to repair and is there really money to be made here??

[GFD77]

Stay away!!

All joking aside it's very labor intensive, and if you can't finish the job within an hour and a half it's not worth it, I did one job and I can tell you I will never do this again, prep work, clean up, everything that goes with it not what I got into the repair business for, I did buy a polisher and I bought the Janvil compound products, right now it's all just a write off, I will use the polisher for waxing my car.

I'm not trying to be negative, but giving you my personal opinion based on my experience.

:eusa_shif