Windscreen wiper scratches, can you remove them?

[dave_s13]

One of my cars has very superficial scratching across both swept areas of the screen that are likely due to the wipers never being cleaned. It's fine through the day but at night you get a very distracting lens flare type effect that I find really effects visibility.

I've got an orbital polisher and I was going to attack it with that but realise I could make it worse. I'd be grateful if anyone has any experience of getting rid of these scratches, what did you use and how?

Changes the wipers for quality bosch ones btw.

Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 31st October 08:51

[Jazoli]

I've always found the best way to get rid of them is check the level of cover on my policy, then just wait for it to get damaged by a flying stone or hammer.

[BritishRacinGrin]

I asked the same question a while ago and 'Glassman' came along and told me that it is impossible to polish without creating nasty distortions and that a new screen is the way to go. New screen for my car will be less than £150 so I don't think it's worth messing about

[djdestiny]

It is doable but not easy!

Plenty of threads about it on detailing world, this one for example shows you need to be careful and aware of warping the glass

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

[cybersimon]

Jeweller's Rouge. Extremely messy. As other have said you could distort the view through the glass. If the scratches are superficial and you are careful it can be done.

[jdw100]

Jazoli said:

I've always found the best way to get rid of them is check the level of cover on my policy, then just wait for it to get damaged by a flying stone or hammer.

Yes,I've been fortunate twice before when windscreens, that needed replacement, met a flying hammer...sorry I mean rubble off back of lorry on motorway.

[Gingerbread Man]

Caterham had this when I bought it. I did try to polish away, but then the screen cracked which meant a new shiney screen, in a new colour also. Great how it all worked out. Free too.

[Swanny87]

Jazoli said:

I've always found the best way to get rid of them is check the level of cover on my policy, then just wait for it to get damaged by a flying stone or hammer.

Yeah those flying hammers can be a nightmare...

[littleredrooster]

BritishRacinGrin said:

I asked the same question a while ago and 'Glassman' came along and told me that it is impossible to polish without creating nasty distortions and that a new screen is the way to go. New screen for my car will be less than £150 so I don't think it's worth messing about

^ ^ This. I once spent hours polishing a scratch out of a screen with a kit using pumice powder. The scratch disappeared but the resulting optical distortion was awful.

It was almost like having Jasper Carrot's prescription bifocals windscreen!

[dave_s13]

Lol... Hammer solution seems to be favourite then. :-)

I was wary of trying to polish out as I can see how easily you could end up making it worse. There is already a stone chip in the middle of the screen which could be persuaded so get bigger I suppose.......

[dave_s13]

Jazoli said:

I've always found the best way to get rid of them is check the level of cover on my policy, then just wait for it to get damaged by a flying stone or hammer.

£50 excess.... It's very, very tempting to go tailgate some fast moving rubble skips.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Love how everybody is up in arms about all these erroneous whiplash claims but 'just a windscreen' isn't insurance fraud at all, even if it has been 'persuaded' to crack with a hammer..!

Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Friday 31st October 16:28

[Glassman]

Driving into a flying hammer may get you a new screen, but will it be an OEM screen? Will it be fitted correctly? Will the car suffer any damage?

[BritishRacinGrin]

Glassman said:

Driving into a flying hammer may get you a new screen, but will it be an OEM screen? Will it be fitted correctly? Will the car suffer any damage?

Also, personally my windscreen excess has always been fifty quid minimum, seventy five at the moment. I can get a friendly local couple with a little suzuki van to come around and install a new pattern screen for a hundred and fifty quid. No claim and no fraud, and I have used them before so I know they do a good job and the screens they use aren't total crap.

[jdw100]

Glassman said:

Driving into a flying hammer may get you a new screen, but will it be an OEM screen? Will it be fitted correctly? Will the car suffer any damage?

I presume from your name you have a vested interest in this subject...

[BritishRacinGrin]

Yes, Glassman is in the automotive glazing industry- he must be spreading misinformation for his own selfish ends

[anonymous-user]

Glassman said:

Driving into a flying hammer may get you a new screen, but will it be an OEM screen? Will it be fitted correctly? Will the car suffer any damage?

I guess that depends if you fit it...... right?

[BritishRacinGrin]

Thet's just what Glassman is expecting you to think

[Glassman]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Yes, Glassman is in the automotive glazing industry- he must be spreading misinformation for his own selfish ends

Seeing I get paid to post, I thought I'd do my bit against fraud prevention.