Deep polishing windscreen glass, help?

[RichB]

Does anyone have any experience of deep polishing glass windscreens on old classics, or for that matter have any good links they could point me to?

The windscreen in my 1958 DB Mk III isn't scratched or damaged so I don't want to replace it but has tiny pit marks all over it - which I suppose you would expect on a 50 year-old glass screen! My approach to restoration, wherever possible, is to renovate rather than renew so I'd like to polish it up as best as possible.

I have some Autoglym glass polish in the garage but I wondered if there was anything more abrasive that I can use, perhaps using a buffing pad on my random polisher to restore it? It didn't really bother me until I drove the car into the low sunshine (remember that ) when I realised how bad it is!

Thanks Rich...

[plasticpig]

Frost do a Glass polishing kit which attaches to a drill. I have got the kit but havent used it. I have seen it used on other cars and it will get out some marks and scratches but chips will need filling first.

[RichB]

plasticpig said:

Frost do a Glass polishing kit which attaches to a drill. I have got the kit but havent used it. I have seen it used on other cars and it will get out some marks and scratches but chips will need filling first.

Thanks, sounds interesting, I don't have any chips or holes so perhaps it's what I need?

[SB - Nigel]

Rich, plastic, be careful not to get a kit that has polish that is too abrasive and using it with a power tool as if you were over enthusiastic you could end up with slight distortions in the windscreen

I'm not sure you'll end up with the improvement you want as a light polish may highlight other defects without much improvement on the pit marks – obviously I could be wrong

I’m sure if you searched you’d find info or professional services available, I’d search for expert advice before starting

I polished the plastic rear screen on my Griff and it made it clearer and cleaner looking but highlighted the light surface scratches more

[RichB]

SB - Nigel said:

I’m sure if you searched you’d find info or professional services available, I’d search for expert advice before starting

Thanks Nigel, I searched Google for a while and didn't find much which is why I asked here. Like you say, I'd be happy to pay a professional if I thought it would work, I suppose I was hoping for advice form someone who had done it or had it done, perhaps most people on P'heads have newer cars? As I said it's not damaged simply showing signs of weathering after 50 years, a bit like me I suppose!

[plasticpig]

RichB said:

SB - Nigel said:

I’m sure if you searched you’d find info or professional services available, I’d search for expert advice before starting

Thanks Nigel, I searched Google for a while and didn't find much which is why I asked here. Like you say, I'd be happy to pay a professional if I thought it would work, I suppose I was hoping for advice form someone who had done it or had it done, perhaps most people on P'heads have newer cars? As I said it's not damaged simply showing signs of weathering after 50 years, a bit like me I suppose!

If you are not in an a hurry I will report back to you with some pictures of before and after when I have had a go with my kit. I will be using it in the next couple of weeks to prepare for the first classic car show of the year.

[SB - Nigel]

(Hi plastic sorry I missed you at the NEC)

If plastic's got pit marks in his windscreen too then it's worth waiting

Rich, t'internet isn't always the best method of research, have a look in classic car mags and weekly/monthly papers and how about giving a classic Aston specialist a ring for advice as it's a straight forward question you have

Excessive polishing or abrasives can do more harm than good, my windsreen surround finish has been worn thro' and I can't polish it up and my windscreen is like sandpaper (Rain-X wont work on it) but if I'm really bothered I can buy a reconned, refurbed surround with new screen but I'm not and just accept it

ETA: there's a bit of older car ownership (and everyday use) on PH and not just plastic and I so give it a few days and if you don't get any more replies try a one and last bump of this thread on Monday

Edited by SB - Nigel on Friday 28th March 22:40

[plasticpig]

SB - Nigel said:

(Hi plastic sorry I missed you at the NEC)

If plastic's got pit marks in his windscreen too then it's worth waiting

Rich, t'internet isn't always the best method of research, have a look in classic car mags and weekly/monthly papers and how about giving a classic Aston specialist a ring for advice as it's a straight forward question you have

Excessive polishing or abrasives can do more harm than good, my windsreen surround finish has been worn thro' and I can't polish it up and my windscreen is like sandpaper (Rain-X wont work on it) but if I'm really bothered I can buy a reconned, refurbed surround with new screen but I'm not and just accept it

ETA: there's a bit of older car ownership (and everyday use) on PH and not just plastic and I so give it a few days and if you don't get any more replies try a one and last bump of this thread on Monday

Edited by SB - Nigel on Friday 28th March 22:40

Hi Nigel. My windscreen has a bit of everything! There are some rough areas which I guess are pitting and plenty of scratches. I reckon its worth a go with the Frost kit on my screen because I can easily get a replacement screen if it goes wrong. I would guess its a diffrent story with something like a AM DB 2/4 although IIRC there is a company in Scotland who can manufacture just about any windscreen it would far more expensive. The main windscreen companies such as Autoglass dont seem intrested in scratch repair perfering to replace the screen. I did howver find this company:
http://www.glaswelduk.com/glaswelduk_scratch_remov...
which may be of assitance to the OP.

[SB - Nigel]

Well done plastic, I did notice the words distortion free so my warning holds for DIY "The Glas Weld - Chicago Glass Distortion Free polishing system has been tested and verified by both the BSi in the UK and SGS in the USA."

For stone chips tho' my advice is to wait for a sunny day and do it yourself for a better job, the kits arte less than £20 - my wife had two chips on her windscreen done by a TV advertising national company under the car's insurance and one of the chips is still clearly visible