Removing scratches from a windscreen

[catman]

Hi,
I know that in the past, many people said not to try removing scratches due to distortion, but I was wondering whether things have moved on since then.

My Son has only owned his car for a week, but managed to get a small area of scratches when removing bird poo with his washers and wipers.

I came across a company called GlasWeld, who claim to offer distortion-free scratch removal and I was wondering whether anyone had used them, or someone else that they would recommend.

Thanks,

Tim

[Glassman]

No personal experience with Glasweld, but the guy I use for polish-able scratches and scuffs on windscreens and glass is Darran - Surface HQ. Will PM you his number.

[catman]

Hi Glassman,

That's great, thanks for your help!

Tim

[Dogwatch]

catman said:

Hi,
I know that in the past, many people said not to try removing scratches due to distortion, but I was wondering whether things have moved on since then..

Thanks,

Tim

I don’t think it was just possible distortion. Rubbing out the scratch means the glass in the area of the scratch will be thinner than the surrounding area. Wouldn’t perhaps matter for a light scratch but trying to remove something deeper could cause problems.

[catman]

Hi, yes I Understand. If the lighter scratches were removed and the deeper one reduced, I think that he would be ok with that.

Thanks,

Tim

[Chris32345]

If you can get your finger nail on the scratch's then they are very likely too deep
Light scratch like swirls marks on paint type can be

[catman]

I think that most of them are shallow, with one slightly deeper.

[Alfa Pete]

If you want to try a DIY solution , buy some “Jewwellers rouge”. It’s a very fine abrasive powder which you can polish fine scratches out.
As suggested above you do need to be careful that you don’t end up with a flat area causing distortion.

[catman]

Hi, thanks but he won't DIY it, he prefers to leave it to the professionals.

[Skodillac]

Hi all, I have just bought a second hand car which has an annoying wiper scratch mark in my field of vision. It's very shallow, can't get a fingernail in it. I am loathe to have the screen replaced for that.

I just dropped by my local Autoglass who said they don't do scratch removal anymore as it's "illegal". Hmm. OK. Take your word for it.

I am also loathe to try to use a kit or polish myself as I'm a rank amateur and totally ham-fisted in all matters practical.

So does anyone know of a "man" in the central Thames Valley area (Berkshire/South Oxon/North Hants) who might be willing to have a go at this for me please?

Edited by Skodillac on Friday 1st May 10:34

[Glassman]

Skodillac said:

Hi all, I have just bought a second hand car which has an annoying wiper scratch mark in my field of vision. It's very shallow, can't get a fingernail in it. I am loathe to have the screen replaced for that.

I just dropped by my local Autoglass who said they don't do scratch removal anymore as it's "illegal". Hmm. OK. Take your word for it.

I am also loathe to try to use a kit or polish myself as I'm a rank amateur and totally ham-fisted in all matters practical.

So does anyone know of a "man" in the central Thames Valley area (Berkshire/South Oxon/North Hants) who might be willing to have a go at this for me please?

Edited by Skodillac on Friday 1st May 10:34

https://www.glassdoctors.co.uk/

[Skodillac]

Thanks, Glassman. I'll drop them a line.

[ian332isport]

@Glassman - Do you know of anyone in Sussex that can polish very fine wiper scratches from a screen?

Only visible when the sun catches them.

[E-bmw]

ian332isport said:

@Glassman - Do you know of anyone in Sussex that can polish very fine wiper scratches from a screen?

Only visible when the sun catches them.

Your profile says you are in W. Sussex, the place he advised above covers W. Sussex.

[dxg]

Glassman said:

Skodillac said:

Hi all, I have just bought a second hand car which has an annoying wiper scratch mark in my field of vision. It's very shallow, can't get a fingernail in it. I am loathe to have the screen replaced for that.

I just dropped by my local Autoglass who said they don't do scratch removal anymore as it's "illegal". Hmm. OK. Take your word for it.

I am also loathe to try to use a kit or polish myself as I'm a rank amateur and totally ham-fisted in all matters practical.

So does anyone know of a "man" in the central Thames Valley area (Berkshire/South Oxon/North Hants) who might be willing to have a go at this for me please?

Edited by Skodillac on Friday 1st May 10:34

https://www.glassdoctors.co.uk/

I have a bad wiper scratch caused by - off all things - a pine needle that I didn't spot.

They charge £120 - £250 *per arc* for polishing. So, £500 for a screen?

I think I'd just be changing the glass at that point.

[CoolHands]

Probably a car detailer would polish the screen? And the rest of the car for 500 quid!

[Glassman]

Skodillac said:

I just dropped by my local Autoglass who said they don't do scratch removal anymore as it's "illegal". Hmm. OK. Take your word for it.

The person you spoke to was talking bks, and probably ignorant to the facts.

When asked about genuine windscreens most of their employees will also tell you all windscreens are made equal and that the only difference is the badge. It's of course, utter horse st and nowhere near the truth.

Adrian in Reading is now convinced that the windscreen fitted to his 997 without the Porsche emblem is the same part Porsche would have fitted at the factory when the cars were in production. Misinformation is a disease.

[Skodillac]

dxg said:

I have a bad wiper scratch caused by - off all things - a pine needle that I didn't spot.

They charge £120 - £250 *per arc* for polishing. So, £500 for a screen?

I think I'd just be changing the glass at that point.

fking HELL. How much?

I do have two "arcs" of scratches, they are very light but are visible in my line of sight much of the time. One is about 60cm x 5cm, the other about 30cm x 5cm.

Maybe you're right and it's new screen time.

@Glassman, how does one convince an insurance company/Autoglass to install a proper OEM screen? mine is a heated screen so I want to make sure it's done right.

[jfdi]

Skodillac said:

fking HELL. How much?

I do have two "arcs" of scratches, they are very light but are visible in my line of sight much of the time. One is about 60cm x 5cm, the other about 30cm x 5cm.

Maybe you're right and it's new screen time.

@Glassman, how does one convince an insurance company/Autoglass to install a proper OEM screen? mine is a heated screen so I want to make sure it's done right.

I filled out the online form when I had a large chip on my r53 screen and just put "Genuine OEM screen if possible please" in the any other details box. Much to my and the fitters surprise it worked, a genuine screen was supplied. Just a shame about the cheap A pillar trims they fitted as they broke the clips removing the old ones. They lasted about 18 months before the sun turned them milky white.

[Skodillac]

Well I've bought a bottle of cerium oxide polish and some microfibre cloths. I'll have a go by hand on an inconspicuous area of the screen, see if it works. I wonder if my elbow grease levels will be up to it.