windscreen scratches

[markh1]

On one of my cars the windscreen is scratched from where the wipers have dragged fine grit accross the windscreen. On my other car the windscreen has lots of very fine pitting marks which I guess are stone chips.

Has anyone got any suggestions as to removing the scratches or pitting?

Many thanks

[belleair302]

The are no products available to revove scratches or pitting from windscreens. Get it replaced....your insurance will cover the costs all you have to pay is the excess, ie £50 or £ 60!!!

[markh1]

Well one of the cars is a Cerbera, so not exactly something autoglass will carry in stock...

But surely the windscreen has to be 'damaged' not 'worn' to warrant the insurance company replacing it? If not would I not lose my NCB?

[PJ S]

You could give the scratch doctor a try - search ebay for member name or glass polish scratch remover/removal.
Your NCB should be unaffected with a windscreen replacement claim, but check first.

[markh1]

PJ S said:

You could give the scratch doctor a try - search ebay for member name or glass polish scratch remover/removal.
Your NCB should be unaffected with a windscreen replacement claim, but check first.

Thanks for that.

I have found this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Windscreen-Scratch-Repai...

Looks like its worth a try!

[zcacogp]

Funny - look what I posted today!

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

(Same problem, different cause.)

I found this:

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8...

Similar looking, similar price ...

Whereabouts are you based? I'm in East London - Bow. Let me know how you get on ... if you are close, how do you care to share a kit?


Oli.

Edited by zcacogp on Wednesday 12th December 21:38

[dnb]

Insurance companies seldom replace screens that have "worn out". So be careful what you tell them - it got hit by stones, didn't it?

[markh1]

zcacogp said:

Whereabouts are you based? I'm in East London - Bow. Let me know how you get on ... if you are close, how do you care to share a kit?


Oli.

Edited by zcacogp on Wednesday 12th December 21:38

I have about 3 cars to do so I will need at least one kit myself im afraid

[Glassman]

Fine scratches can be polished out using a fine grade powder under a high speed, oscillating (coated) disc.

The polishing process depends on two factors: depth and area which will depend whether or not the scratche(s) is/are economical to remove.

Pitting is (as with excessive scratching) new windscreen time. If, when sunlight hits it, you windscreen looks like you've just been through a sandstorm, it can be a distraction and impair your vision whilst driving.

HTH.

[zcacogp]

markh1 said:

I have about 3 cars to do so I will need at least one kit myself im afraid

Fair enough - best of luck with it, let me know how you get on.

Glassman said:

Fine scratches can be polished out using a fine grade powder under a high speed, oscillating (coated) disc.

The polishing process depends on two factors: depth and area which will depend whether or not the scratche(s) is/are economical to remove.

HTH.

Glassman,

Yes, it did help. A lot. Thanks.

What advice would you give to someone who has a few long, wiggly, not very deep or wide scratches in their windscreen (such as may be caused by an ice scraper)? Is it worth buying one of these kits? Or can I do as good a job with a pad on the end of an electric drill and some T-Cut scratch remover (as has been suggested elsewhere)? Or is it all to difficult and I ought to get the windscreen replaced?

(Out of interest, what sort of powder would you use and why an oscillating and not spinning disc? And what do you mean by a 'coated' disc?)


Oli.

[Glassman]

Oli, the disc is part of a dedicated polishing kit; the powder is a fine, chalk-like product which is used in conjunction with a liquid glass cleaner.

The basic kit is expensive for DIY use (~300 quid).

FYI, the scratches you describe (as long as it isn't a large area) suggest that they can be polished successfully.

My primary business is replacing glass, but to offer an economical alternative, I invested in a kit which has proved to be a useful addition to the services that we offer. As a guide, the average cost of polishing is around 40-quid (charged on a time spent basis).

[markh1]

Glassman said:

Pitting is (as with excessive scratching) new windscreen time. If, when sunlight hits it, you windscreen looks like you've just been through a sandstorm, it can be a distraction and impair your vision whilst driving.

HTH.

Thats a shame as the TVR screen suffers from the pitting. I will try and polish it any way to see if it helps.

[K13 WJD]

i had this with a car before........centre punch.....lump hammer......

phone insurance.

£50 to pay, no effect on NCB, and a nice shiney spanky water-repelling windscreen !!!!

[PJ S]

K13 WJD said:

i had this with a car before........centre punch.....lump hammer......

phone insurance.

£50 to pay, no effect on NCB, and a nice shiney spanky water-repelling windscreen !!!!

"Hello, insurers? Yes, I'd like to report a fraud.
His name? Er K13 WJD
Whaddaya mean you've no policy listed under a Mr. K13 WJD?
I don't know his real name!
Doesn't matter now"
Click. Brrr.........

Looks like you got away with it then.

[K13 WJD]

lol......its not fraud......i was accidently holding the centre punch when my other hand let go of the lump hammer.......then my foot accidently slipped onto the screen, making the small crack huge.....

DOH

[black1]

dnb said:

Insurance companies seldom replace screens that have "worn out". So be careful what you tell them - it got hit by stones, didn't it?

do insurance companies come n check the screen first ?

[Glassman]

black1 said:

dnb said:

Insurance companies seldom replace screens that have "worn out". So be careful what you tell them - it got hit by stones, didn't it?

do insurance companies come n check the screen first ?

No. They trust us, we trust you, you trust us and we bill them.