Removing Windshield Scratches
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2010
by Jack Landry
http://www.leadgenix.com
Windshield blemishes are not that difficult to repair if you take the time to learn how to do it, acquire the appropriate tools and stay patient. It is a very easy task once you get the hang of doing it in the proper manner.
Whether your car was struck by a piece of ice or something unexpected fell from the sky, sustaining a scratch to your windshield is not an enjoyable experience. Aside from ruining the look of your car, scratches in certain places on the window can interfere with your driving vision.
Unfortunately, the blemish won't go away, and this seemingly small problem can become an even bigger, more expensive problem. There are three different ways to get rid of this mark.
The first thing to do is rub the scratch with your fingernail. A surface blemish feels smooth when you rub your fingernail over the surface.
On the other hand, if the blemish catches your nail, it's too deep and can't be repaired. In this case, you'll need to replace the entire window.
Purchase a do-it-yourself window repair kit. You don't need to hire a professional to fix a minor window scrape.
Instead, visit your local auto repair shop and buy a glass repair kit. Step one is to clean the windshield.
Using soap and water or a crystal cleaner to thoroughly clean the surface and remove all traces of dirt and debris. Rinse the glass and allow it to dry completely before attempting to fix the blemish.
Apply a crystal rubbing compound directly on the scratched area. All window repair kits come with a rubbing compound that resembles toothpaste.
Spray water on the mark and compound. After spraying the area with water, use a soft cloth and rub in the solution.
Be gentle. Windshields are fragile, and too much pressure can damage the surface.
Allow the compound to dry for about 30 minutes. Afterward, clean and rinse the window, then dry with a cloth.
Repeat these steps every six months. Glass repair kits provide a temporary solution because window marks eventually return, it's best to reapply the compound every six months.
The second way is use distilled water. It is best when repairing window scratches because it does not contain contaminants like chemicals and grit.
The distilled water removes the abraded crystal and maintains the coolness of the windshield. Cover your paintwork so it doesn't get damaged or splattered.
Then, proceed to clean your glass very carefully, using distilled water. Use a soft cloth and clean in gentle, circular motions.
Make a dam on the windshield using tape. Stick one side of the duct tape on the window.
Get another strip of tape, roughly the same size as the first, and then stick both pieces of tape together. Do the same thing over, but horizontally.
This ensures that you make the best use of your water and you don't spill it everywhere. Get a polishing disk and then connect it to the buffing machine.
Start the pump and make sure you adjust it so that it is in proper working order. Then gently buff the damaged area for the necessary amount of time.
You can repeat this again with a different disk if the need arises. Once you are done, there should be no apparent ripples or damage in your window.
Remove the duct-tape dam, and clean the windshield and all of the tools you used.
The final way to repair your windshield is to apply masking tape around the mark to protect the surrounding glass. You should leave 4 inches of space between the tape and the scrape on all sides.
Rub a thick layer of the glass-polishing compound over the blemish area with a rag. Make sure the compound is covering the entire scratch and the glass within the tape.
Attach a polishing head to the power buffer and run it over the polishing compound. Keep the head flat and the drill speed under 600 rpm.
Wipe off the compound with a cloth and clean the windshield with water to check if the scratch is gone. Apply more compounds and buff the glass again until the window is smooth and clear.
Jack R. Landry is a certified technician and has been repairing broken and cracked windshields since the 80s. He has written hundreds of articles about auto glass repair Utah. Contact Info: Jack R. Landry JackRLandry@gmail.com http://www.DiamondGlass.com
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