Glass polishing???, Need help getting light scratches out of my windshield Options

[ETNRIDER]

I hope this is the correct place to start this topic, I was unsure if it should be here or in the exterior styling forum.

Ok here is the story, I bought my Celica a few months ago and I am still in the process of fixing her up. I have noticed that I have very very light scratches all over my windshield. It looks like it may have sat for a while and then someone hopped in and turned the windshield wipers on with crap all over them or no rubber blades on and put scratches all over the windshield. I know it does not sound like something major but at night and in the rain I can barely see out at all due to the scratches. So here is my question could it be possible to buff them out. A new windshield is about $300 so if I mess the windshield up and can still just get a new one but I want to try and save the windshield I have. Let me know what you all think.

Thanks

[D-Man]

Glass dont scrach as easy as you'd think.

I'd recommend getting a foaming soap; or using something like a degreasing-dishwash soap and applying it, (via rubber side of squeegee) so that it'll get into any scraches that are there; and let it sit for several minitues; that way when you wash it; it'll pull more crap out of any scraches you have.

Then just finish wasing as usual; sponge ect.

You'd be supprised how much that helps. When your finished; polish with RAINX.

now if its still f-ed up after that; i'd think that you need that new windshild.

[Supersprynt]

You need to find a glass polishers. If the scratch doesn't catch your nail when you go over it, it can be fixed. If it catches, I don't think you can polish it out. You can even try toothpaste.

[ETNRIDER]

It doesn't catch my finger nail but in a very few bad spots you can mainly just see them all over the the windsheild.

On the soap idea I will try it tonight when I replace my rear hubs. Will dawn or some kind of dish washing soap be fine?

Thanks

[D-Man]

Yeah, i like the kind with the built in degreaser, but just anything being able to soak-into the groves, then expand when the water hits it. That's what is going to get the grime and stuff out, that's why you wanna let the soap set for several minitues; before you spray the water.

Also; i have heard of RainX making a glass polish; IDK for sure, never used it. But i stand by the RainX brand name. probably should be able to find some at your local auto-store, or wal*mart or something...

This post has been edited by D-Man: Apr 15, 2008 - 1:00 PM

[ETNRIDER]

Yeah, i like the kind with the built in degreaser, but just anything being able to soak-into the groves, then expand when the water hits it. That's what is going to get the grime and stuff out, that's why you wanna let the soap set for several minitues; before you spray the water.

Also; i have heard of RainX making a glass polish; IDK for sure, never used it. But i stand by the RainX brand name. probably should be able to find some at your local auto-store, or wal*mart or something...

Great!! Thanks, I will give it a shot tonight!

I will try and take some before and after pictures if I can.

[Fuzzy]

It doesn't catch my finger nail but in a very few bad spots you can mainly just see them all over the the windsheild.

On the soap idea I will try it tonight when I replace my rear hubs. Will dawn or some kind of dish washing soap be fine?

Thanks

Have you looked at the Auto Geek site for glass polishers?

[ETNRIDER]

No I have not, I will try and see what they have.

[95st-celica]

rainx...rainx....rainx....stop works great...i have to wear glasses which i never do and at night espically when it rains i can barley see....the rain x makes a huge improvement and you barley even need your windsheild wipers....good stuff i highly recomend it

[D-Man]

^he knows^

I keep a bottle in my trunk at all times

Keeps your schett from fogging up; Keeps water off the glass, Cleans & Removes smudges. Great stuff.

RainX wipers; RainX Glass Cleaner; RainX wiper fluid/additive::: So if they make a polish, I'd buy it.

This post has been edited by D-Man: Apr 15, 2008 - 1:22 PM

[ETNRIDER]

^he knows^

I keep a bottle in my trunk at all times

Keeps your schett from fogging up; Keeps water off the glass, Cleans & Removes smudges. Great stuff.

RainX wipers; RainX Glass Cleaner; RainX wiper fluid/additive::: So if they make a polish, I'd buy it.

Cool, I have the RainX wipers so I will check on the polish!

Thank you all for your help!!

[D-Man]

Your welcome.

That'll be $500.

[ETNRIDER]

Your welcome.

That'll be $500.

Checks in the mail!!

[punkuup5150]

i wonder if that stuff will remove the horrible water stains on my glass ive tried everything its really getting on my nerves

[D-Man]

Water Stains?

[Rayme]

Water Stains?

Yea, it looks like drops / water traces shaped stain on the glass.

[ETNRIDER]

Well the soap is sitting on the windshield now, I am going to let it sit for about 30 min then I will let you all know.

Water Stains??? Really??
Try Goo Gone that stuff could take the white out of a tooth!

[ETNRIDER]

The soap did not help, may have made it worst some how.

[95GTCelica]

Unfortunatly I have the same problem and I am pretty broke so a new windshield is out of the question but sometimes when driving into the sun I cant even see. So I gotta do something asap. I ordered a glass polishing kit. http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=...temType=PRODUCT Hopefully it will help. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[ETNRIDER]

Cool! Let us know how the kit works out.

[D-Man]

you must have some bad-ass scratches then.

Could you post a picture?

[ETNRIDER]

you must have some bad-ass scratches then.

Could you post a picture?

Are you talking to me??

I will try and post a pic, but you can't feel them execpt in one small area.

[D-Man]

usualy, that'll get all the grimy stuff out from the inside, and make em' near invisible...

I'll start searching for some glass polish for you...

yeah, bad ass scratches...or bad ass grime inside em~

[Jared95]

I've got some scratches on my hatch glass....they got it with the buffer twice. what to do?

[SteveHall]

Many years ago, my Mum had the same problem with her car, and made the same mistake you did. She had scratches in the glass, which had their fair share of grime in them, and they refracted the sunlight and oncoming traffic headlights into her eyes. The grime helped, because it caught the light that would otherwise have refracted through the scratches. So yeah, cleaning the grime out will allow more light to get refracted into your eyes.
Unfortunatly she never sorted it out properly till the car was sold. But I don't think polishing was tried.

[x_itchy_b_x]

i'm sure you have glass coverage. smash that sucker up

[D-Man]

i'm sure you have glass coverage. smash that sucker up

X2!!

Pay your insurance bill and get to smashin!

Well, this stuff looks solid... I never had this problem before Sorry~

http://www.poly-lite.com/

Uh, i suppose like any fillings, this combined with a solid smoothing technique (buffing for example) would work, but as with any kind of buff work, remember that surface preparation is the key!

So i actualy got you 1 step in the right direction

But stevehall makes a good point; Refraction of the light; kind of like our stock headbeams or Angel Eyes... Sorry~

This post has been edited by D-Man: Apr 17, 2008 - 8:24 AM

[GriffGirl]

don't bust the glass up, if you file a claim it's points against you on your insurance policy. They'll potentially raise your rates, or when you file another claim because you actually had a valid reason to, your rates will go up at that time.

Not to mention that if you smash your own car up to file a claim, it's insurance fraud. They tend to frown on that sort of thing.

[ETNRIDER]

i'm sure you have glass coverage. smash that sucker up

My wife would not let me!!

This post has been edited by ETNRIDER: Apr 17, 2008 - 12:59 PM

[D-Man]

Not to mention that if you smash your own car up to file a claim, it's insurance fraud. They tend to frown on that sort of thing.

Ya know, when i was a little kid and i wanted a happy-meal, my mom would tell me i'd have to keep waiting; "you see, son" she'd say; "Insurance fraud is good money, Not fast money"

6-8 weeks later i'd get my happy-meal

This post has been edited by D-Man: Apr 17, 2008 - 1:00 PM