We detail for a large auto dealer, and recently had a vehicle that we processed incorrectly. I beleive we pressure washed and hand washed it on a hot day in the sun, and then failed to dry it off promptly. The water spots on the paint came off well with a light buff, but the spots on the windows remain. We tried all kinds of window cleaners, light compounds etc. Any other idea's to remove sun baked water drops ?
Water Spots
- Thread starter crc1
- Start date
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Detailers clay
Ron Ketcham
Active member
20 years ago, I did the base formulation for the product that is needed.
Couldn't get it past Floyd at the time, but once I moved on to Automotive International, was able to get it done, with the help of our three degreed chemist.
It has the name of Cerious Compound, which has as it's active abrasive, cerioum oxide, the same abrasive that is used to polish eye glasses, etc.
I did the product, at Finish Kare for Swiss Air, and the use on the outer panels of windows, which are "cast Lexan".
Beth is perhaps, still on vacation, but if you contact here for a sample of CeriousCompound, sure she will send you a no charge, and here is how to use it for this concern.
Use a full 4 ply wool pad, with a rotary buffer, set for speed at 1000 to 1200 rpm.
No "da", but a rotary, and a real wool pad.
Apply a small amount to the area you need to work and with slight pressure, buff it with the rotary and pad at the speed specified.
If you seeing it start to dry out, mist it with some water or more product.
Work until the "mineral deposits" that have worked their way into the pores of the glass are one.
Then, put on a polishing pad, (I perfer a geniune lambs wool, but a compounding foam pad will work with a bit more time) and finish up the work.
It works, all you have to do is not get in a hurry and "pay attention" to what is going on.
Beth can be reached at bethb@autoint.com.
Like I said, she may not be back yet, but this process and product has been used by Ford in this situation since the late 90's. They just have not put it in a TSB.
This is the sort of special situations that happen at dealerships.
Best I can do for you.
Grumpy
Couldn't get it past Floyd at the time, but once I moved on to Automotive International, was able to get it done, with the help of our three degreed chemist.
It has the name of Cerious Compound, which has as it's active abrasive, cerioum oxide, the same abrasive that is used to polish eye glasses, etc.
I did the product, at Finish Kare for Swiss Air, and the use on the outer panels of windows, which are "cast Lexan".
Beth is perhaps, still on vacation, but if you contact here for a sample of CeriousCompound, sure she will send you a no charge, and here is how to use it for this concern.
Use a full 4 ply wool pad, with a rotary buffer, set for speed at 1000 to 1200 rpm.
No "da", but a rotary, and a real wool pad.
Apply a small amount to the area you need to work and with slight pressure, buff it with the rotary and pad at the speed specified.
If you seeing it start to dry out, mist it with some water or more product.
Work until the "mineral deposits" that have worked their way into the pores of the glass are one.
Then, put on a polishing pad, (I perfer a geniune lambs wool, but a compounding foam pad will work with a bit more time) and finish up the work.
It works, all you have to do is not get in a hurry and "pay attention" to what is going on.
Beth can be reached at bethb@autoint.com.
Like I said, she may not be back yet, but this process and product has been used by Ford in this situation since the late 90's. They just have not put it in a TSB.
This is the sort of special situations that happen at dealerships.
Best I can do for you.
Grumpy
Concours.John
Auto Detail & Restoration
Ron Ketcham said:
This sounds interesting to try on some of the older vehicles with "character spots" on their glass.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Yes, it is, and it works.
Not sure what you are referring to as to "character" spots on glass, for it does depend on the age of the glass, the vehicle. Older vehicle's glass (pre-late 70's and then again pre-90's) are a different composition that some.
They can be "worked", however, forget about trying to remove "deep scratches" from most of these.
That requires a felt pad, some C.R.Lawaunce cerium oxide paste and be willing to accept failure for your efforts.
Here is something else that I am not trying to take away from the sponsors of the forum, or anyone else, but one thing for you and others to try, if you have that Cerious and the Fast Finish products.
ValuGard remarkets the Buff and Shine pad line. We took the pad I refer to as "peach" some may refer to it as "pink", but with a dual action, use the Cerious on a mildly swirled, mild, not deep marring and that pad to do the compounding, no big "pushing hard", etc and work them away.
Do not "wipe off" the residue, but spray the worked area with the Fast Finish and mist the same pad with the Fast Finish and not going above a 3 or 4 on the dial of a Porter Cable dual action (not sure on other units), work the area again until any "dulliness" and "swirl marks" are gone.
Mist the same area again with the Fast Finish and wipe clean with a micro fiber.
If one is doing things right, no big "push down pressure", and the pad is kept clean of any build up--you pretty well got it done.
The Fast Finish will last anywhere from 30 to 90 days to protect the finish, may not be the "deep gloss" shine, but it is there and works. ( I am lazy and old, so seldom do I do more to my vehicles, once they are free of paint defects, other than spray on the Fast Finish and with micro fibers, wipe them down)
Nice thing is that one can go on and use the Fast Finish to dress and protect all the black trim, the chrome etc while using it.
Grumpy
Not sure what you are referring to as to "character" spots on glass, for it does depend on the age of the glass, the vehicle. Older vehicle's glass (pre-late 70's and then again pre-90's) are a different composition that some.
They can be "worked", however, forget about trying to remove "deep scratches" from most of these.
That requires a felt pad, some C.R.Lawaunce cerium oxide paste and be willing to accept failure for your efforts.
Here is something else that I am not trying to take away from the sponsors of the forum, or anyone else, but one thing for you and others to try, if you have that Cerious and the Fast Finish products.
ValuGard remarkets the Buff and Shine pad line. We took the pad I refer to as "peach" some may refer to it as "pink", but with a dual action, use the Cerious on a mildly swirled, mild, not deep marring and that pad to do the compounding, no big "pushing hard", etc and work them away.
Do not "wipe off" the residue, but spray the worked area with the Fast Finish and mist the same pad with the Fast Finish and not going above a 3 or 4 on the dial of a Porter Cable dual action (not sure on other units), work the area again until any "dulliness" and "swirl marks" are gone.
Mist the same area again with the Fast Finish and wipe clean with a micro fiber.
If one is doing things right, no big "push down pressure", and the pad is kept clean of any build up--you pretty well got it done.
The Fast Finish will last anywhere from 30 to 90 days to protect the finish, may not be the "deep gloss" shine, but it is there and works. ( I am lazy and old, so seldom do I do more to my vehicles, once they are free of paint defects, other than spray on the Fast Finish and with micro fibers, wipe them down)
Nice thing is that one can go on and use the Fast Finish to dress and protect all the black trim, the chrome etc while using it.
Grumpy
Concours.John
Auto Detail & Restoration
"character" as refered by some being defects in paint or other items believed to not be able to repair and lived with. Good info. Thanks.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Got it, and as you as a long time professional are aware, some times, nothing other than a trip to the refinish booth is going to make it right.
If you do call, wait until after the 20th as I think she is still on vacation.
Just be nice and tell her I requested that she send you samples of the Cerious and the Fast Finish.
What the heck, it's for free and something new to play with, right?
4 years the end of this month since I retired and I do miss being around that little lady.
Grumpy
If you do call, wait until after the 20th as I think she is still on vacation.
Just be nice and tell her I requested that she send you samples of the Cerious and the Fast Finish.
What the heck, it's for free and something new to play with, right?
4 years the end of this month since I retired and I do miss being around that little lady.
Grumpy
tonipieleanu
New member
Vinegar often works if the spots are not that old and managed to etch the glass.
There some other glass compounds on the market based on cerium oxide, like Sonax Profiline Glass Polish and CarPro CeriGlass (not disrespect to Ron, but these should be more easily available than the AI counter-part).
There some other glass compounds on the market based on cerium oxide, like Sonax Profiline Glass Polish and CarPro CeriGlass (not disrespect to Ron, but these should be more easily available than the AI counter-part).