Polishing Windscreen Scratch,s

[ed taylor]

Following on from this thread
I thought I would have a go at removing some of the wiper scratch,s from my wifes Car,s windscreen.
I bought 100g of Cerium Oxide and some 75m/m dia felt pads.
Both can be bought off Ebay, either separately or in a kit.
I mixed the Cerium Oxide with water in a small plastic bottle. I mixed it a bit thinner than car polish.
Then with my Porta Cable DA polisher I put the felt pad onto the backing plate.
I masked off all the area,s I did not want the Cerium Oxide to go on. ( I don,t think it will hurt the paint or plastic. But it just makes a mess if it gets flicked every where).
I poured some of the mixture onto the screen.
Then with the DA on speed 4 (too high and the stuff goes all over the place, hence the masking off).
With very heavy presure I went up and down the screen, then side to side. Untill the compound had dried out.
I wiped off the dried powder ( heck it does make a mess).
Then I repeated the procedure.
It is very hard work. Harder than polishing the paint.
This is the second time I have polished the screen with the Cerium Oxide.
The scratch,s are slowly coming out. You can see an improvement. But it
looks like I need to go over it again another day.
If you are thinking of doing this yourself.
It is not an easy job,(phyisicaly hard work) you will not do it by hand alone, some form of machine will be needed, an electric drill would do.( with the apropriate attatchments)
I also suggest you wash the screen first, then when you have done with the polishing, you will need to wash the car, make sure none of the residue block the drain holes by the pollen filter.

[rushy]

Looks like a Rotary would be more use than a DA Ed?

[ed taylor]

Looks like a Rotary would be more use than a DA Ed?

Posibly. It might not be as hard work ?.Thing is it would fling the Cerium Oxide about too. But with a DA if you press too hard then it stops rotating. But still oscillates.
I think I might get myself a Rotary polisher, if only to try the windscreen sctatch removal. I could still use it on detailing too.

[Exclusive BV]

Can I ask How did you get the scratches?

My wifes zafira has a circular scratch caused by a defective wiper.

Would your method get rid or can I try something else?

[ed taylor]

Can I ask How did you get the scratches?

My wifes zafira has a circular scratch caused by a defective wiper.

Would your method get rid or can I try something else?

The scratchs are on the wifes car. She has not had it long. Must have aquired them form the previous owner not putting the washers on at the same time as the wipers.
You could try what I did. But it may take several attempts. I need to "give it another go". On her screen another weekend.

[Exclusive BV]

I am tempted to to try T Cut but I dont know what it will be like on glass.

Basically,
The wipers tangled up in a bad storm one day, (the converse type) and once freed, one of the metal inserts scratched the windscreen so it's quite noticable and I would'nt mind getting rid of it if anyone knows how.

[axelf]

Becarefull when polishing scratches on the windscreen. I used to be a manager at a windscreen comp, and we used to do a lot of polishing windscreens but it all got stopped as the friction on the glass was distorting it......You could nt tell in the day light but on a night it was awfull when headlights were coming towards you.....We had to get rid of all the equipment......

[ed taylor]

Becarefull when polishing scratches on the windscreen. I used to be a manager at a windscreen comp, and we used to do a lot of polishing windscreens but it all got stopped as the friction on the glass was distorting it......You could nt tell in the day light but on a night it was awfull when headlights were coming towards you.....We had to get rid of all the equipment......

Worth bearing in mind. I tried to keep the polisher moving, so as to keep the heat down. I shall be driving the wifes car in the dark later. I will see if there is any "distortion" in the glass.

[ed taylor]

I am tempted to to try T Cut but I dont know what it will be like on glass.

Basically,
The wipers tangled up in a bad storm one day, (the converse type) and once freed, one of the metal inserts scratched the windscreen so it's quite noticable and I would'nt mind getting rid of it if anyone knows how.

I don,t think T cut will touch the marks on glass. You could try an inconspicuous area.

[Super T]

Iv'e seen the yanks using wire wool to get rid of marks in glass!!Have a look on the net!!