Scratched glass:

[speeder]

Has anyone here ever had any luck polishing out scratches from glass, automotive or otherwise? It's hard to photograph but I attempted a couple of examples. First is on my RV, on some glass that is all but unobtainable to replace, second is on the back window of a minivan:

[speeder]

I should add that I've tried taking a buffer and compound to a windshield w old wiper marks on it w no success in the past. TIA.

[Bigtoe32067]

Wet sand just like paint but spend a lot more time at the 2500 and 3000 level before buffing. It’s worked for me in the past but a lot of work.
Are you wanting to do it because of appearance or visual quality because you can make it look really good but its a lot harder to make it look normal looking through it especially if it’s on a part that’s curved.
Try it on a spot that isn’t so visible first.
Good luck.
Tony

[dad911]

I knew a shop owner that swore by using toothpaste on his display cases, but I never tried it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've used cerium oxide with good results.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I've used cerium oxide with good results.

Thanks. I found this on Amazon, how exactly do you use it? It's a powder? Do you mix it w liquid or just grind the powder in w a polisher or(?)

https://www.amazon.com/Cerium-Oxide-Glass-Polishing-Compound/dp/B009XUAA4Y/ref=asc_df_B009XUAA4Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312219454312&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17582569283441265978&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019376&hvtargid=pla-598719056284&psc=1

[sc_rufctr]

I've been down this road a few times.
... The best you can do is replace the glass but that isn't a realistic option in this case.
I have spent hours polishing glass to remove a scratch and then end up with a distortion that isn't much better than the scratch.

What may be a better option is cleaning the glass with something like this and then living with it.

Auto Glym Glass polish.

[MRM]

Denis, glass polishing is common for residential windows. I don't see why it couldn't be done on motor vehicles too. I've worked with Stillwater Glass and they are fantastic. They should offer glass polishing in the $100 per pane range. White Bear Glass advertises they do glass polishing too. You could try them if Stillwater Glass doesn't work out. Both do warranty work for some of the local window manufacturers. They have special sanders and compounds and experience that might be hard to duplicate on your own.

[serene911]

I have a 40 year career in doing custom artglass. Trying to remove scratches is usually a
losing proposition. If you can feel the scratch with your finger nail you are probably not
going to remove it. As an example I have alot of glass that is custom beveled. The
traditional way of beveling uses 4 wheels. A stone wheel to remove the meat of the glass
to get the desired angle.At that point the edge of the glass has some chatter and is
abraded. The process goes thru other wheels from the stone to cork to a fine wheel with
cerium oxide to do a final polish. Today the initial wheels are flat diamond discs on a platter
to start the process then going thru other discs to remove chatter and re-polish the glass
with the final again using cerium oxide. Most of this equipment is designed to do edge work
not work on the flat surface that is the real issue. There are small kits that claim to remove
scratches but are problematic. You usually spend a bunch of time trying to make it work with
questionable results. You can also end up fogging the glass while doing this which can be more
visible. With the type of work I do I am meticulous about each step to avoid scratches at all
costs. Think of this process as putting a fine edge on a knife blade. very similar.Now transfer
that process to the face of the knife to get an idea of why it usually
doesn't work. Cerium oxide with water and a good buffing wheel is a good place to start,but
don't expect a miracle.

[serene911]

I'm up in the Pacific Northwest, I don't know any commercial glass companies that are out
polishing windows. There is a reason for that. Trying to remove water spotting is very
different that removing scratches. One of the commercial glass companies I work with
is currently rejecting about 25 to 30% of the 3/8 and 1/2 inch tempered glass shower panels
that they get from the manufacturer because of scratch's. Trust me no one is trying to polish out the scratch's. That glass ends up being returned and tossed in a dumpster.

[Evans, Marv]

When they repair a cracked windshield, don't they use some kind of resin? Maybe getting the scratches filled some way with that resin and polished out would be a possibility.

[Bigtoe32067]

Originally Posted by MRM

Denis, glass polishing is common for residential windows. I don't see why it couldn't be done on motor vehicles too. I've worked with Stillwater Glass and they are fantastic. They should offer glass polishing in the $100 per pane range. White Bear Glass advertises they do glass polishing too. You could try them if Stillwater Glass doesn't work out. Both do warranty work for some of the local window manufacturers. They have special sanders and compounds and experience that might be hard to duplicate on your own.

I think the big difference is residential glass is made with flat panes and auto glass has compound curves. If you have to polish auto glasss too much it creates distortion so it might look nice from the outside but looking through it isn’t right.
If it’s deep scratches you’re dealing with, I’d just replace it.
Good luck
Tony

[vash]

Nope. Total fail. I can’t even take care of my glasses

[sc_rufctr]

Looking at Denis's first photo. (the truck) That scratch would benefit greatly from a clean and light polish.

[serene911]

There is a difference between a scratch and a rub mark. Denis you could try
a product made by CRL called Bio Clean. It is a water stain remover product
for glass.I have used it to remove water spotting on shower door glass. It
might be a good place to start.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by speeder

IThanks. I found this on Amazon, how exactly do you use it? It's a powder? Do you mix it w liquid or just grind the powder in w a polisher or(?)

It's a powder that you mix into a liquid paste and then use a drill or small polisher at low speed with a special pad that holds the cerium oxide. You need something with torque so you can press down and keep moving. Those scuff marks should come out. Practice on a used windshield, maybe something out of a wrecking yard.

[cabmandone]

I used a windshield scratch repair kit with pads and cerium oxide paste. I was able to take out windshield wiper scratches.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by serene911

There is a difference between a scratch and a rub mark. Denis you could try
a product made by CRL called Bio Clean. It is a water stain remover product
for glass.I have used it to remove water spotting on shower door glass. It
might be a good place to start.

Unfortunately, the windows in the first photo are scratched deeply enough to feel w fingernails. I wish it was just a rub mark. The wiper marks on the second photo are rub marks that would probably polish out. That glass, of course, is massively unimportant compared to the first one, which is on a vintage motorhome I'm refurbishing. I'd love to replace the glass but it's all but unobtainium.

I really appreciate the input on this thread, though. I've learned a few things about glass.

[bob deluke]

I have glass coverage on my insurance policy. Had 2 Porsche windshields replaced with OEM glass, and a Volvo C70 replaced as well with OEM glass. Insurance paid, no questions asked. Not worth the bother to polish glass, when insurance covers it. I use an small indy company run by a woman who does a fantastic job.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by bob deluke

I have glass coverage on my insurance policy. Had 2 Porsche windshields replaced with OEM glass, and a Volvo C70 replaced as well with OEM glass. Insurance paid, no questions asked. Not worth the bother to polish glass, when insurance covers it. I use an small indy company run by a woman who does a fantastic job.

I have insurance that covers windshields as well. In fact, the motorhome just got a windshield half replaced, about a $2k job. Completely irrelevant to this situation.