Windscreen scratch removal
Discussion
I have a scratch on the windscreen of my daily car caused by the end of the wiper falling off. It's not deep and can hardly be felt but is visible.
I have tried the vinyl scratch polish that I use on the 'S' rear windscreen but it won't touch it.
Can anyone recommend a DIY scratch removal kit? There seem to be loads on the market but personal recommendation counts for a lot.
Thanks,
Steve
I have tried the vinyl scratch polish that I use on the 'S' rear windscreen but it won't touch it.
Can anyone recommend a DIY scratch removal kit? There seem to be loads on the market but personal recommendation counts for a lot.
Thanks,
Steve
Hi Steve
I remove scratches from windscreens and glass for a living and train people in this art too, in most cases it is not possble to remove a scratch on a diy basis unless you want to devote a day to doing it. I also find that people tend to underestimate the depth of the scratch particularly wiper arcs. Removing a scratch is simply removing glass down to the level of the bottom of the vee. The deeper the scratch the more material removal is required and the greater the chances of lensing if the material removal is not spread evenly over a wide area. The skill is in getting it out without lensing it. You will also have to cope with the heat generated by the process which can crack the screen as well. Most DIY drills or polishers do not have the power to abrade the screen sufficiently to remove enough material to do the job in a reasonable time. You will probably spend about £25 on a kit against £100 to do it profesionally. For deeper scratches there are more aggressive grinding discs which can be used but again unless you are skilled in using them you will ruin the screen. Dont be tempted to use t cut or other such polishes as they will put in their own micro scratches which will make things worse. If you can post a picture of it I would be pleased to comment further.
I remove scratches from windscreens and glass for a living and train people in this art too, in most cases it is not possble to remove a scratch on a diy basis unless you want to devote a day to doing it. I also find that people tend to underestimate the depth of the scratch particularly wiper arcs. Removing a scratch is simply removing glass down to the level of the bottom of the vee. The deeper the scratch the more material removal is required and the greater the chances of lensing if the material removal is not spread evenly over a wide area. The skill is in getting it out without lensing it. You will also have to cope with the heat generated by the process which can crack the screen as well. Most DIY drills or polishers do not have the power to abrade the screen sufficiently to remove enough material to do the job in a reasonable time. You will probably spend about £25 on a kit against £100 to do it profesionally. For deeper scratches there are more aggressive grinding discs which can be used but again unless you are skilled in using them you will ruin the screen. Dont be tempted to use t cut or other such polishes as they will put in their own micro scratches which will make things worse. If you can post a picture of it I would be pleased to comment further.
I used this:
http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-windscreen-tools...
It removed a deep 1 inch graze from the windscreen on my wifes car. I worked on it for about an hour moving 12 to 18 inches out around the mark. After this the scratch was gone but there was some lensing (really distracting when driving). Fortunately(?) the car was scrapped soon after for other reasons.
If the scratch really isn't deep give the kit a go. If it is deep my advice is to get a professional.
When using the kit follow the instuctions and mask/cover any areas that you want to keep clean - the white abrasive in the kit gets everywhere.
Ralph
http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-windscreen-tools...
It removed a deep 1 inch graze from the windscreen on my wifes car. I worked on it for about an hour moving 12 to 18 inches out around the mark. After this the scratch was gone but there was some lensing (really distracting when driving). Fortunately(?) the car was scrapped soon after for other reasons.
If the scratch really isn't deep give the kit a go. If it is deep my advice is to get a professional.
When using the kit follow the instuctions and mask/cover any areas that you want to keep clean - the white abrasive in the kit gets everywhere.
Ralph
difficult to tell from the pictures. one tip to getting good pictures is to put something on the screen to let the camera focus on. Scratches can tend to be like the tracks on a record with each one being of a differing depth so there is no such thing as telling what depth the "scratch" is as the whole mark is made up of multiple arcs
You can easily remove light scuffs and scratches from windscreens,
There are many kits available online.
They are good for light scratches only. Heavy/deep scratches can not be removed from windscreen in a diy kit as they need to be sanded out and then polished. This is fine for household glass but not automotive where vision has to be perfect.
I have used many types and it takes around 10/15 minutes to remove a light scratch around 6inches long.
They are good for scratches from wiper blades and debris caught in wiper blades.
Firstly clean the glass then you use a polishing compound on a felt pad attached to a drill to remove the scratch.
You can not do this by hand. The polish is not just automotive polish for cleaning to has to be glass repair polish/ cerium oxide/ jewellers rough (all the same thing)
Glass repair is quite easy if you take your time and keep the work area clean.
I have repair/ do repair glass so if you have any questions feel free to ask.
There are many kits available online.
They are good for light scratches only. Heavy/deep scratches can not be removed from windscreen in a diy kit as they need to be sanded out and then polished. This is fine for household glass but not automotive where vision has to be perfect.
I have used many types and it takes around 10/15 minutes to remove a light scratch around 6inches long.
They are good for scratches from wiper blades and debris caught in wiper blades.
Firstly clean the glass then you use a polishing compound on a felt pad attached to a drill to remove the scratch.
You can not do this by hand. The polish is not just automotive polish for cleaning to has to be glass repair polish/ cerium oxide/ jewellers rough (all the same thing)
Glass repair is quite easy if you take your time and keep the work area clean.
I have repair/ do repair glass so if you have any questions feel free to ask.
I`ve used micromesh, a very fin grade of wet and dry. It takes a while but gives a very good finish if carried out correctly. I also use it to blend scratches in my 8 spoke wheels if they get damaged by stones etc. Micromesh comes in various grades and is a great way of removing excess material to leave a smooth finish, I used to polish aircraft canopies with the stuff, oh I don`t seell kits on the bay 
Depending on your insurance cover, most will only charge £50 to £75 excess to change the screen without affecting on your NCD.
Although I dont think you can get them to pay out on a scratch, its only a matter of time before you get a chip or crack from the state of the roads in this country, then talk nicely to the engineer.
Although I dont think you can get them to pay out on a scratch, its only a matter of time before you get a chip or crack from the state of the roads in this country, then talk nicely to the engineer.
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