Scratched glass - any suggestions?

[kinsja]

Hi,
I'm about to rebuild the door window channel runners, however damage has already been done to the drivers side glass.

Any suggestions about getting these out? Would wet / dry 800, then 2000 sanding followed by some sort of DA polishing work?

[porwolf]

IMHO there is no cure for scratched glass. Poly carbonate, yes, that could be polished out. Real glass needs to be replaced.

[IslandHopper]

I have the same issue on both my side windows, unfortunately replacing is the only way to get rid of them. Anything more than the most superficial scratch is too deep to polish out on glass, and yours look rather deep.

[wildthing]

Are these really scratches? What caused them?

[kinsja]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Are these really scratches? What caused them?

Before my ownership - The felt channel wore back to the metal (which had rusted), so basically every time the window was wound up / down it scratched the glass across the rusted channel body.

Since this original post I've actually found some glass polishing kits. They basically contain abrasive pads of rough to fine and polishing compound. As I mentioned i'm taking the glass out anyway to replace the channel, so worth a try.

I will update on progress and if it works.

jk

[Chuck.H]

If you're taking the glass out anyway, why not just get new glass from one of the dismantlers like Parts Heaven? I would think they have planty of glass in stock.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 364k miles

[Porchcar guy]

IIRC all windows are tempered glass and any abrasion or scratch in the glass kills the tempering. That glass is impaired and to be safe, replace it. The result of a new hit ( head etc) will result in a lot of glass shards not chunks as the temper would do. This is my opinion having worked in the optical field for 40 some years.

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Chuck.H

If you're taking the glass out anyway, why not just get new glass from one of the dismantlers like Parts Heaven? I would think they have planty of glass in stock.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 364k miles

For headlights it kind of works, as you cannot really see the optical effects. For windows, I am afraid you will be wasting your time and as another poster mentioned, potentially effecting the safety/rigidity of the glass. You can fill and polish chips for instance, but in order to make those scratches go away, think about how much glass you have to remove and across that big of an area...

[manbridge 74]

I remember people polishing the sand rash out of windshields years ago. Usually distorted the view somewhat when done. I'd find a used piece of glass here.

[docrodg]

Originally Posted by Porchcar guy

IIRC all windows are tempered glass and any abrasion or scratch in the glass kills the tempering. That glass is impaired and to be safe, replace it. The result of a new hit ( head etc) will result in a lot of glass shards not chunks as the temper would do. This is my opinion having worked in the optical field for 40 some years.

It is my experience being in EMS for 20+ years that non-tempered glass will cause some very bad injuries should it break. In an accident you could end up getting some impaled in bad places, not to mention a lot of lacerations and danger to those who try to help you. We take out tempered glass windows all the time to gain access without harm, but nontempered are too dangerous.

[RSBob]

Contact a window glass manufacturer not an auto glass shop and see if they are willing to improve it without weakening or distorting

[gamin]

You will work your a$$ off trying to polish scratches out of glass. Not worth the time and trouble. Buy from a dismantler.

[303462]

A friend on this board told me he removed wiper sweep scratches from his windshield with Colgate white toothpaste. Windshield glass is not tempered so I do not know if the results would be the same on window glass. Have not tried this myself, just passing it along.

[kinsja]

All good comments and all taken onboard. I didn't mention that I'm based in Australia and the likelihood of finding a reasonably priced replacement is very low. The scratches don't seem structural so once I pull the window out I will check again.

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by kinsja

All good comments and all taken onboard. I didn't mention that I'm based in Australia and the likelihood of finding a reasonably priced replacement is very low. The scratches don't seem structural so once I pull the window out I will check again.

Any decent auto glass shop can cut you a new window pretty cheap. The scratches by definition are structural. Check around....

[porwolf]

Could it be that you have some plastic film applied to your window? I could see that that would easily scratch when it rubbs somewhere.

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by porwolf

Could it be that you have some plastic film applied to your window? I could see that that would easily scratch when it rubbs somewhere.

Mine look just like his and have no film on them unfortunately, once upon a time they were ground up and down in the channel with no gasket/felt or whatever left...

[kinsja]

Quote de porwolf

Could it be that you have some plastic film applied to your window? I could see that that would easily scratch when it rubbs somewhere.

Mine look just like his and have no film on them unfortunately, once upon a time they were ground up and down in the channel with no gasket/felt or whatever left...

Yep, that's how mine got that way.