This has been bugging me lately. There are a few big shops around me that offer some packages that "clean" the glass and others that "clean and polish" the glass. These are big, high volume shops. Are they actually taking the time to polish the glass with something like Ceriglass? I had a Mercedes GLK come in yesterday that had a weird film on the inside of the glass that would not come off, I tried Invisible Glass, 3D 50:1 Glass Cleaner, and even some super strong ammonia based glass cleaner and nothing would take it off. I did some research in this forum and others have said that it could be offgassing of the previous dressing, but I was the last one to detail it and used HD Protect.
Glass polishing?
- Thread starter Craig_K
- Start date
Raymoche
New member
Polishing glass to any good effect is not easily attainable.
This is just what I do and you can try it at your own risk...
When there is something that just wont get off with glass cleaner, I go in with a razor blade and scrape the crap out of it. It is not easy to scratch glass with a razor blade, but certainly possible, and I know the tools necessary to remove that scratch if I inflict it...
So If I have a film inside the car, or out, I would try to scrape a small area with a razor blade first to see if its removable.
Alternatively, you can always try to clay the window (I do this with a clay mitt when a job calls for claying...)...
If you tried these things and it didn`t work, discuss with the shop, what is their "polish" they will be using? is it Cerium Oxide? Aluminum Oxide? Can they guarantee that there wouldn`t be noticeable distortion in the glass?
This is just what I do and you can try it at your own risk...
When there is something that just wont get off with glass cleaner, I go in with a razor blade and scrape the crap out of it. It is not easy to scratch glass with a razor blade, but certainly possible, and I know the tools necessary to remove that scratch if I inflict it...
So If I have a film inside the car, or out, I would try to scrape a small area with a razor blade first to see if its removable.
Alternatively, you can always try to clay the window (I do this with a clay mitt when a job calls for claying...)...
If you tried these things and it didn`t work, discuss with the shop, what is their "polish" they will be using? is it Cerium Oxide? Aluminum Oxide? Can they guarantee that there wouldn`t be noticeable distortion in the glass?
RaysWay
Autopia Specialist
I hate to assume....but I would assume a big high volume shop that`s offering a "clean and polish" glass service is going to be using a fine abrasive glass polish like Wolfgang Perfekt Vision Glass Polish to remove hard water spots. I`m now a big fan of polishing glass and using a glass polish makes a huge difference.
If the "Clean and Polish" glass service is over $150, then I would assume they`re using some sort of cerium oxide.
The old formulas and pads were very difficult to use. But the new stuff we have available to us now is amazing and easy to use.
CarPro Ceriglass + CarPro Rayon pads before/after
I wouldn`t tried a test spot on the weird film on the inside of the windshield with a compound.
If the "Clean and Polish" glass service is over $150, then I would assume they`re using some sort of cerium oxide.
The old formulas and pads were very difficult to use. But the new stuff we have available to us now is amazing and easy to use.
CarPro Ceriglass + CarPro Rayon pads before/after
I wouldn`t tried a test spot on the weird film on the inside of the windshield with a compound.
RaysWay
Autopia Specialist
Ya I would guess a fine abrasive glass polish then. You can polish all of the glass really quickly that way. Something like ceriglass would add 1-3 hours, so the pricing wouldn`t make sense.
Kean
New member
I have cerium oxide powder (made into a slurry) which makes a huge mess but is about the only thing that will remove or help soften deeper scratches that I have tried. You can find kits that bundle a felt polishing wheel you can attach to a drill. There is definitely the issue of changing the optical characteristics of the glass however by removing too much material in one spot.
I have a liter bottle of 3M Glass Polishing Compound which is much milder and rather simple to use. It contains some cerium oxide in an emulsion of other components that is ready to use.
My 2010 Challenger has a horrible problem with off-gassing which causes a very stubborn film to develop (noticeably) within just a few days. .....it`s worse during the summer. It is not caused by products in my case but rather the interior materials. This is the first new car I have owned where this off-gassing didn`t dissipate over time. I tried the 3M polish recently on one of the interior windows. It`s not particularly easy to apply in certain areas and care must be taken on other interior surfaces since it tends to stain plastic. It did however help cut through the film faster than I would be able to with just multiple towels and a glass cleaner.
I have also used the 3M polish on outside glass with a flat glass polishing pad and my Flex 3401. It does quite well in that role.
I have a liter bottle of 3M Glass Polishing Compound which is much milder and rather simple to use. It contains some cerium oxide in an emulsion of other components that is ready to use.
My 2010 Challenger has a horrible problem with off-gassing which causes a very stubborn film to develop (noticeably) within just a few days. .....it`s worse during the summer. It is not caused by products in my case but rather the interior materials. This is the first new car I have owned where this off-gassing didn`t dissipate over time. I tried the 3M polish recently on one of the interior windows. It`s not particularly easy to apply in certain areas and care must be taken on other interior surfaces since it tends to stain plastic. It did however help cut through the film faster than I would be able to with just multiple towels and a glass cleaner.
I have also used the 3M polish on outside glass with a flat glass polishing pad and my Flex 3401. It does quite well in that role.
Raymoche
New member
I also doubt they do interior window polishing...
I must need another cup of coffee, I was thinking of something much more sever when polishing glass was mentioned. As Ray said, its probably just a fine polish to clean the windows up...
I was more thinking something much more aggressive to take a lot of crazy stuff off the window, including scratches.. which fine polishing probably wont do anything.
I must need another cup of coffee, I was thinking of something much more sever when polishing glass was mentioned. As Ray said, its probably just a fine polish to clean the windows up...
I was more thinking something much more aggressive to take a lot of crazy stuff off the window, including scratches.. which fine polishing probably wont do anything.
rlmccarty2000
Active member
I imagine it is like Vega said, a Wolfgang Perfekt Vision type polish. It is good stuff, especially prior to coating the glass.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Disclaimer noted
That said...Some of today`s autoglass (and even some older stuff like my Jag`s Triplex) is incredibly soft/fragile...more plastic than glass IMO. I`ve marred glass with approaches that are far more gentle than a metal razor blade, so I`d be very, *VERY* careful when starting out. Not saying it`s a bad approach (and I use a razor blade on glass quite frequently myself), just saying you gotta tread lightly until you know it`s gonna go OK.
Yep, and pick an area that won`t drive you nuts if you [mess] it up.
!!YES!! Don`t let anybody use some Mystery Product or undefined process. If some [individual] goes so far as to weaken the glass it could be seriously bad news waiting to happen.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Hey, along these lines...
What`s the *cleanest*/easiest (yet effective) Glass Polish these days?
Like...if you had a Jet Black BMW that was perfectly finished, what would ya use with complete confidence that the job wouldn`t somehow mess up the clearcoat and require re-correction?
What`s the *cleanest*/easiest (yet effective) Glass Polish these days?
Like...if you had a Jet Black BMW that was perfectly finished, what would ya use with complete confidence that the job wouldn`t somehow mess up the clearcoat and require re-correction?
Ronkh
Wax Waster
BMW has the softest windshields known to man kind
Ronkh
Wax Waster
I gotta tackle this...........................
JustJesus
New member
That`s cute Ron!
That can serve as a stepping stone and then you can do mine! I should just get a new windscreen and call it a day. But then, I don`t trust those window installers to do the job right. It took 3 tries (or 4) to get my wife`s old Rav4 to not leak.
Ronkh
Wax Waster
JustJesus
New member
:cheers:
Accumulator
Well-known member
You mean..."softest windshields since early Triplex"
Apparently, the Brits didn`t figure out plastic element in pre-production. Actually, the XJS`s glass has held up fairly well overall, for which I`ll gladly take credit
Ronkh
Wax Waster
You mean..."softest windshields since early Triplex"
Apparently, the Brits didn`t figure out plastic element in pre-production. Actually, the XJS`s glass has held up fairly well overall, for which I`ll gladly take credit
Very common complaint all through the years I owned em. If you look at bmw forums, they say at about 50k, it`s time for new windshield.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ronkh- Huh, never noticed that...but then I only had early M3s and I never kept `em all that long.