Scratches on car windscreen

[Bludall]

I need to get rid of some scratches on the car windscreen. I know you can buy kits to polish out scratches from places like Halfords. Years ago I had a boyfriend who swore that Brasso would polish out all glass scratches but to be honest daren't risk it.
Now I do have a pot of silver polish in the cupboard, the red one with jewellers' rouge in it, would that work at all?
Before you say, the OH was the one who scratched the window! Guess he won't try scraping ice off a car window with a baby knife again any time soon!! D'oh!

[kellys_eye]

The jewelers rouge is the best option - I doubt brasso has the required grittiness although using it won't cause any damage.

Note that scratches will take LOTS of elbow grease to remove.

[Bludall]

Thanks, my OH has just told me he has a fine abrasive powder in the roof that he was using to make a lens for a telescope ages ago. He's going to get a leather pad and use that to polish the scratches out.

[kellys_eye]

Telescope lens grinding power eh? My, that takes me back!

Just be very, very careful that it is the proper polishing compound - mirror grinding powders (carborundum) are normally used to remove glass to form the parabola of the telescope mirror, the grain consistency being akin to the variations of wet/dry paper you can buy (40 grit being coarse down to 800 and higher as the finest) - only the very last compound was used to polish - this was the jewellers rouge. If the container with the compound in is not properly sealed then beware of contamination from larger grit particles. A single grain will just exaggerate all your problems

Consider also that if the scratches are in the line of sight (or the swept area of the wiper blades) are severe enough you could fail the MOT. It might even be worth thinking about having a new screen fitted.

[Bludall]

He has a job on his hands for the weekend He did it so nothing to do with me. Oh the compound is well sealed as he didn't use it.

[kellys_eye]

Did your OH actually make a telescope mirror then?

[Bludall]

He got so far then stopped, can't remember why though, managed to grind the shape though.

[kellys_eye]

I understand the processes involved and fully sympathise with him

He'll return to it....... one day

[Cannyfixit]

Some info http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/REMOV ... _GLASS.htm
Alternativly Heavy brick and fully comp. insurance

[Bludall]

Some info http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/REMOV ... _GLASS.htm
Alternativly Heavy brick and fully comp. insurance

Thanks for that, that's what the OH has in the roof.

[Hitch]

As above, only a major issue if its in the line of sight....or did a big stone fly up and crack it

Depending on what it is, windscreen might be cheap enough, one for my van was £110 fitted.

[Raf]

by hand its a lot of elbow grease but if you have access to a buffer then its a whole lot easier. also remember that the screen is laminated and the scratches are in the laminate and not the actual glass.

start with the finest abrasive and move up.

ive never done a windscreen but do headlights now & then. start with 1000 wet & dry sandpaper.... but you defo need a buffer.

[kellys_eye]

by hand its a lot of elbow grease but if you have access to a buffer then its a whole lot easier. also remember that the screen is laminated and the scratches are in the laminate and not the actual glass.

the laminate is actually a plastic layer sandwiched BETWEEN two layers of glass.

[Raf]

ah right i always thought the glass was sandwiched in between the laminate.... it should be easier to take the scratch out of the glass then.

[Turbo 55]

Hi. all....

I Have purchased a nearly new car in recent weeks which is fantastic as my old car was over 15 years old !

Really annoyingly, there was a small stone caught under the drivers side wiper blade the other day which has now caused a very fine scratch in a arc shape right in my field of vision and is about 40cm in length. Very Annoying!