Has anyone ever tried to polish a lexan windshield?

[Plavan]

I'm just curious of anyone has ever tried to polish a lexan windshield. Mine looks sandblasted, but I refuse to buy another at the moment. I may go back to glass just because I'm pissed I spent all that money and it did not last over 2 limited race seasons.

Any success with polishing? What did you use?

[jsveb]

We use something at work. Can't remember the name though. I will see if I can dig it out tomorrow.

Jesper

[Kevin Stewart]

look at some of the novus stuff, also do use anything but had do you have a mar resistant piece, if you buff it have layers it you will burn through one, ask me how i know, Kevin

[Skytrooper]

There is a product calle PLEXUS. We use it on the lexan windows of our helicopter fleet (we have for years). Spray it on, rub it in with an old cotton tee shirt and then wipe off with another clean cotton tee shirt and your window will look better than new. It also removes that hazy, cloudly film that gets on them over time.

I just googled it. You can buy it at a lot of places.

[byndbad914]

Chad - I have used aforementioned Plexus in the past with circle track cars and we had good results - the polishing is a PITA if the window is really pitted, but frankly the cost of the polishing kits are cheap enough I say give it a whir... way cheaper than a new windshield.

BTW, I run a stock windshield in my car I am sure you can now guess why, tho' I know if I W2W the car they would probably require switching over. My rear window is lexan to save weight, cheaper too cuz it is flat and easy to cut out than glass, but I don't need to see that well out of it

I dunno about you but one track day after a fresh coat of paint and my car will be chipped like crazy - the stock glass just stands up to that so much better.

Another side note, I just bought another rear window as a backup from a fellow racer out here and the material he used has a super thin coating of glass on both sides so it really resists the fine scratches you can get with even a T-shirt or similar cotton... in case you decide to buy a new one maybe ask about that. I haven't used it yet so no feedback personally but the other guy said it works great.

[TimT]

Plexus works well.


And next time buy some tear offs.... they work well

[MotoSook]

Who makes tear offs for a large windshield?

Anyone put some kind of film on it that's more permanent? Or may a film for the rear and side windows? Does the ClearBra stuff work for rear and side to prevent scratching?

[J P Stein]

I use Novus products with radial buffer & foam pad. Just like buffing out paint. My windshield is a dark color and down low so I don't look thru it.....but it shines up very nicely. It would be worth a shot an a clear window.

[TimT]

Who makes tear offs for a large windshield?

The peeps who supply the windows..

Spektr? Race Glass?

I cant keep track of some of the suppliers LOL

[Tom W]

I use the plexus spray all the time for routine cleaning (it works great for removing the rubber). I use the Novus 1/2/3 stuff for annual repair to try to reduce the dings.

[chapo]

Chad, call Ray Stephens, he uses something on Bill M's windshield to make it last. BTW, Spektr windows are junk. I spent $180 on a "lightweight formed" rear window that came flat and looked no better than if I cut it out of a $20 piece of plexi from Home Depot.

[CRNT918]

I use 3M Imperial Hand Glaze on my motorcycle windshields and faceshield. It makes a big difference, but you'll never get them perfect.

[ted]

I had a local detailer polish my plexi windows with a high speed buffer and some light polish.
Worked great.
Then I had him do the fogged headlight covers on our Passat.
They came out very nice too, it was that or a new $600 set of Passat headlight covers.
His tip keep the headlight covers from drying/burning with a coat of wd40.

[Cory M]

Originally Posted by tom w

i use the plexus spray all the time for routine cleaning (it works great for removing the rubber). I use the novus 1/2/3 stuff for annual repair to try to reduce the dings.

+1

[vmax]

Originally Posted by Souk

Who makes tear offs for a large windshield?

Anyone put some kind of film on it that's more permanent? Or may a film for the rear and side windows? Does the ClearBra stuff work for rear and side to prevent scratching?

Windshield tear offs.
http://www.tearoffs.com/

[cgarr]

Originally Posted by vmax

Windshield tear offs.
http://www.tearoffs.com/

Work well in bead blasters too:

[Plavan]

I tried using plastic polish while using the "Powerball" on my electric drill. No luck. I think I need something a little more abrasive (but fine) to take care of the tiny pits etc. Any more ideas? or am I fighting and uphill battle.
I have used Plexus before, but I do not see it as being able to help my windshied. Its great for non sandblasted "smooth" lexan.

[Tom W]

The Novus stuff is designed to remove slight surface scratches and pits. It does a good job. Plexus is a nice daily cleaner and polish, but think of it as Windex for your polycarbonate windows.

You can't just "sand" off the surface of the polycarbonate to remove pits and big scratches. The surface is treated for scratch resistance. Remove the surface and you remove the coating that protects it and you are left with a window that's worse off than when you started. The pits in the window are going to stay, it's a question of if you can make it so they are not objectionable or distracting.

[PatrickB]

Chad~

Years ago, I used to use a foam pad polisher (high speed) on an air powered drill on my airplane glass. This was essentially Lexan. I can't remember the exact product number, but it was a 3M type of mild abrasive polishing compound. It would restore the glass to new condition. Sometimes if you had a deeper scratch, use a 1500-1800 grit wet sand paper with a block or flat pad behind it. You have to be careful though, as if too much is taken down you may have a bit of visual distortion after it's polished out. Go to your local auto body supply store, and tell them what your doing. They can help you out with this!

We never used windex or any other type of glass cleaner. ONLY water, or mild soap & water. Windex scratches the plastic.

[jsveb]

Hi

We use the same product as others has suggested, Plexus. It is not a real polish, but more like Rain-x. It is however in our experience a much better product than anything else I have come across, and I think you should give it a try.

When it comes to real polishing we use a product called Slipol (coarse) and slipoline (fine)

Best of luck

Jesper