Windshield scratches

D

dlw

New member
I have 2 cars that have scratches caused by using windshield wipers called "winter" blades. They have a boots around the wiper bodies to prevent ice build-up. The boots are capped at each end by plastic caps. The plastic caps have scratched both cars on the passenger side where the outside end of the wipers sweep. The cars are driven by my wife and daughter and unfortunately, they failed to notice the problem until too late. I'm steaming mad at the manufacturer of these blades and plan to complain to them, but I'm sure it will do no good. I've tried every kind of rubbing compound, polish, etc etc in my arsenal with no apparent results. My question is, can a pro glass shop do anything to polish these out any? Any other suggestions would also be appreciated! Thanks..
 
I also have scratches on my drivers side window. They look somewhat deep and make my car look bad. Anybody have any suggestions for glass scratch removal?
 
If the glass is truly scratched, then there isn't anything you can do. Essentially, you'll have to "scratch" the glass (i.e., remove glass) in order to remove the scratches. When we remove scratches from paint, we're actually removing enough paint down to the point where the rest of the paint is the same depth as the scratch. The same applies here. Keeping with the paint analogy, we also "fill" scratches in paint with fillers that hide the scratches. But, this doesn't eliminate them and I don't know of a similar product for glass. If anyone can fill/hide these scratches, I would think it would be a pro glass shop.



I'm going on the assumption that these are scratches, since you've used polishes and it hasn't helped. The polishes should have removed any residue, if that's what was there. I would recommend Autoglym glass polish, but I don't think it will help. I can tell you from experience that it won't remove or hide scratches. It will remove any contaminants or residues, but again, your other polishes probably would have done that. In fact, Autoglym glass polish might make it worse -- it did for me. Every microscopic pit and scratch was filled with a white residue from Autoglym, making the scratches and pits appear worse.



I suspect you'll have to replace the windshied. Were these "winter" blades used in the summer? Or, can you try making a claim with the mfg of the blades to get some help in buying the new windshield? Blades shouldn't scratch a windshield.
 
The solution is like this.



Make a phone call to your insurance company, add glass coverage.



*I* can break a windshield with my hand , and "if" it will have happened "most likely from kids at the mall."



No deductable for glass.
 
Windshield scratches can be polished if they aren’t too deep and the glass’s outer surface is just glass with no coating.



Call your local auto glass shops and check if they do windshield polishing. In some areas they do it. In others they don’t bother because local insurance carriers cover broken glass (and anybody who thinks they have a glass problem just makes sure it’s broken :o ).



If you want to try it yourself there are kits available. Restoration suppliers like Eastwood sell them.





PC.
 
Good news. I happen to be a trained glass and plastic restoration tec. Yes your winshield can be polish with a professional winshield or glass products which I happen to do this for a living. I work on a 1967 vette that had severe windshield scratches for 20 years. It took me about four hours till I took it all off. This vette scratches on the winshield look as if someone had sand blasted a half moon on both sides of the front winshield. I would have to find out for you through my supplier who works your area. send me your zip code and city you live in. This type of work requires high speed polishing tools that are design for this type of work. You have to know what you are doing because of the risk of breaking the windshield. I don't suggest just buying a product on the web. This does require training and along with the right products. Autoglym glass polish will NOT remove this scratch.



Feel free to write back
 
I have the deep scratch removal kit and glass polish kit from Eastwood. First off, the cordless drill went through two batteries and about all I did was take off the aquapel(water repellant) using the felt mandrel and rhodite. I then proceeded to try using the PC 7424 and that was a mistake I think it scratched the sheet (sic) out of the glass in DA pattern. I only used the medium(blue pad), then the fine (orange pad) with the PC. These then had to be polished out using the rhodite compound with the felt mandrel. This time I used a Craftsman electric drill that was still within the RPM specs for the polish. I had to reef (read: press down) about as hard as I could and sit on a spot forever just to clear it up to an acceptable level. I did this until the metal around the brushes on the drill housing was too hot to handle. This was on my g/f's '97 Cavalier. The whole reason was to fix 1 really deep scratch from using the wipers with out a blade on the arm(not her fault, P.O. fault) and to fix the sandblasting and wiper haze. IMHO do not waste your time the kit was over $50 and I just about killed both drills. Not to mention the amount of swearing I was doing. If you have the proper tools and the patience then maybe go for it. Glass is alot harder then clear coat. I would get it done by a pro. The full glass coverage is another way to go, possibly cheaper but then you have to worry about leaks and whatever else results from getting new glass. I haven't had a good windshield replacement experience. :sadpace:
 
I had to have the windshield replaced on my car about 4 weeks ago, it cost $245 CAD installed. The dleaer quoted me $900, but I went to an independant shop. My reason for posting this is that in some cases it might be better, as in, cheaper and take less time, to just replace the windshield. Just something to think about.
 
Hi Guys:

Just to let you know that the system I bought is well over $1,000. The polisher has its own unigue polishing pads which are not foam. The machine has over 15,000 RPM. This system requires training by the company. It is also FAA approved do to the fact that it can be used to polish aircraft windows which consist of another type of polish for plastics. I have contact the owner of the company to send me a list of trained tecs of the different states they work from. Porter cable polishers will not do anything to remove scrathes from glass. If any of you are interested in haveing work done to your cars window. Write the city and state you live or were the car is at. Also include your zip code. I will try my best to find someone near to you. I will post names of tecs and the states they work from as I get them. I live in south florida. I hope this infomation can be helpful.



Sincerely,

Eddy
 
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