Scratches in windshield, repair or replace?

[gogriz91]

My windshield has scratches on it from the windshield wipers that apparently were pretty useless except for leaving small yet noticable scratches. Is there any sort of chemical treatment or buffing that could remove them or would I be better off just eating a new windshield?

[bobc]

Try this link:

http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=windshield

There's kind of a rule of thumb about removing windshield scratches. If you can rub your fingernail across the scratch and not catch on it, you should be able to buff it out. If your fingernail catches, it's probably too deep to remove without distorting the glass.

When you buff the windshield be sure to keep the buffer moving, so you don't build up heat and also you don't distort a spot on the windshield. I've used the eastwood kit and it does a good job of removing scratches.

Hint: When I mix up the powder, I use a lot less water than the instructions state.

Good luck!

Bob

[gogriz91]

Thanks for the advice and the link.

[mlc240z]

Bobc,

i'm worried about night vision with these kits.

have you noticed swirling or hazyness driving at night after cleaning up the scratches?

how about extra glare in the daytime?

[MikeW]

There are actually two kits from Eastwood. The product that removes deep scratches (those you can feel with your fingernail) uses different grades of an abrasive disk. If you end up needing this there will likely be some distortion in the glass. The other product uses a powder that is mixed with water to a "gravy" consistency along with a felt wheel. When used properly this will clear up all of the haze, water marks, etc., leaving clear glass. While it's possible to use either of these with an electric drill I found that a variable speed angle grinder works much better.

[bobc]

Bart,

30 years ago (whoops, there's that age thing!) when I had my first Z, I used rubbing compound to buff my back glass and it did exactly what you're talking about. At night, under a streetlight the whole back glass looked terrible.

I only tell you this story, to say I was a bit hesitant to use anything on my current cars, but since this appears to be the same thing the pros use and I had scratches (in a Miata) at the time, I figured what the heck, I'd try it and if it didn't work, I'd just get a new windshield. It worked great and since then I've used it on several other cars with absolutely no star bursts or swirl marks. Just really clear glass. As stated, I followed the directions carefully and didn't get the results I was looking for, so I gradually added more and more paste until the mixture looked more like toothpaste than runny and it worked much better.

Just saw Mike's post. He's right, go with the light scratch kit and use an angle grinder or buffer if you can. I've done it with a drill and it's hard to hold.

Good luck

Bob

[mlc240z]

Bob,

sounds like that's the way to go.

thanks for the info.

[hls30.com]

Yep, Mike is dead on!

A couple more suggestions:

keep a spray bottle of water handy to keep the paste damp

if you work the entire windshield, you can get out rock abrasions, hard water stains, and pretty much what ever gets stuck on glass.

If you are polishing the windshield on the car, remove the wiper blades before you start- they will pick up the abrasive and can put haze back in the glass the next time it rains!

Thoroughly clean and dry the glass several times before you put them back on. The left over glass grindings and abraisive are not what you want left on the shiney parts of your car!

I wash the car even after cleaning the glass, the abraisive slury occasionally gets thrown by the felt wheel.

Will

[a7dz]

To lessen the chance of distortion always buff in strait lines 90 degrees to each other. Never in circles. Start with an up and down motion then go across then 45 degrees in both directions then back to up and down. Biggest thing is don't be in a hurry and mix the compound to close to tooth paste. Buff the complete surface not just the damaged spots. Bob is right also keep the water near by as was stated above to keep the buffed surface just damp. Works well just takes time and energy.

[gogriz91]

Outstanding, thanks for all the info.

[bobc]

Forgot one thing...COVER PAINTED AREAS AROUND YOUR WORK AREA!!! It's really hard not to throw the paste all over the place. You learn how not to do it, but even after you learn, you will occassionally get the wrong angle or too much paste on the felt pad and it can goe everywhere quick. Just tape around windshield gasket and put either newspaper or towels around the work area (hood, roof, fenders, etc).

After you're done, washing the car to make sure you got all the paste/powder off is a really good idea too.

[gogriz91]

Thanks for the heads up bobc, another project for a three day weekend on deck.