Windshield 1... me 0

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jdgamble

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So based on some threads here, I tried polishing out wiper scratches and swirls from my glass. I used GG Perfecting Cream on a light polishing pad (same as what I used to remove some clear bra installer swirls from my hood... worked great for that). It did almost nothing on the windshield, and I worked it pretty hard.

So the next step up from a product standpoint is GG Fast Correcting Cream. Or I could go with a more aggressive cutting pad. Any opinions here? What should I try next? I don't want to destroy my $1000 windshield, but it's pretty shot out.

On that note, does exterior glass have a coating on it? If so what is it? I've found some vague info online (UV coating?), but googling windshield+coating yields a lot of unrelated topics... like windshield coatings.

Appreciate any help here.


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Glass is much harder than paint. Use your strongest compound and pad and even that might not be enough. They sell special products to polish glass for that reason.
 
Carpro ceriglass and Carpro's glass polishing pads worked well for me.

I also used a rotary polisher.

I don't believe that you will have great sucesss with paint polishes against wiper trails/scratches.

Glass polishing is a lot of physical work with ceriglass. It makes paint polishing feel like a breeze.
 
And if you go the ceriglass route. Start on the passenger side as a test spot. That way if you screw up you will not have to look through your mistake every time you drive:)
 
Ugh, glass polishing is the worst. It’s messy, frustrating to get right, and easy to install pig tail swirls. My $.02 - avoid it.
 
Angus said:
Ugh, glass polishing is the worst. It’s messy, frustrating to get right, and easy to install pig tail swirls. My $.02 - avoid it.
Click to expand...

I've not had much success polishing glass either. Aside from cleaning the glass and getting all the water spots removed I've not been able to touch scratches. I have a GG6 and carpro glass pads and Ceriglass and after 30 mins of buffing the same spot on the passenger side glass (2015 Merc. E350) there was zero difference between it and the unpolished side. Maybe it's more effective with a rotary but I'm giving up on trying to remove scratches.
 
No luck either polishing glass with regular pads and compounds. I basically use the firmest pad I have and the most aggressive compound (Menz FG400) just to get off the film and bonded material so I can create a nice substrate for applying coatings to the glass. I have used Ceriglass and glass pads in the past, and it not only is a huge mess with sling everywhere but also a lot of effort.
 
Yeah I've read the less than positive Ceriglass threads. I don't really want to go that route. But a couple people have said they're had success with normal polishes/pads. Maybe I'll give it one more shot with a stronger combo and call it a day.

On the coating topic... would the coating fill, or would it highlight the scratches?


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In my experience, my windshield coatings have neither enhanced nor hidden any scratches.

(Sent via my mobile device...)
 
jdgamble said:
Yeah I've read the less than positive
Ceriglass threads. I don't really want
to go that route.

But a couple people have said they're
had success with normal polishes/pads.

Maybe I'll give it one more shot with a
stronger combo and call it a day.
Click to expand...
Less than positive? OK; but, without using
products containing Cerium oxide, that are
then coupled with the correct glass polishing
pads, you might as well just go ahead and
call it day—right this very moment—IMO.



Bob
 
Well that saves me 30 mins.

So I just read this one...

DA Glass Correction (scratch removal) with CarPro

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/showthread.php?t=69976

Looks like good results. For the Ceriglass users... how bad is the clean up? It seems unlikely that I will avoid getting some on paint and trim. Will I be able to get the residue off with a good wash? I finally have my paint where I want it.


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Ceriglass clean up is similar to removing fresh compound or polish. Just clean the sling right away and it is no problem. Pressure washer would be optimal to get the sling out of the nooks and crannies. Tape off windshield molding and wiper blades, especially if the blades are the old style blades with multiple contact/mounting points.
 
I used ceriglass on my watch once too. Definitely helped...but I am missing some of the numbers on my dial now...bummer.
 
jdgamble said:
Well that saves me 30 mins.

So I just read this one...

DA Glass Correction (scratch removal) with CarPro

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/showthread.php?t=69976

Looks like good results. For the Ceriglass users... how bad is the clean up? It seems unlikely that I will avoid getting some on paint and trim. Will I be able to get the residue off with a good wash? I finally have my paint where I want it.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
Click to expand...

Tape the surrounding area. Because you need to keep the paste wet, it can get messy (sling). Ceriglass is water based so should clean up relatively easily.
 
I did the back window on my SUV to try and get rid of scratches from the wiper. Some success, but I didn't work it very long. I was overly optimistic about the results. Used Ceriglass and Carpro glass pad. Cleanup wasn't an issue. It was very messy as I kept the compound wet throughout the process so there was sling and dripping. I first hosed it off, then sprayed with waterless cleaner, took a rinseless soaked MF to it (carefully), then hose again, then one final rinseless wash just to be sure. 10 mins max to clean up and no issues with remaining product.
 
Alright I'm in. Thanks for all the feedback. That'll be my next project (when the wife approves the time).


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LEDetailing said:
And if you go the ceriglass route. Start on the passenger side as a test spot. That way if you screw up you will not have to look through your mistake every time you drive:)
Click to expand...

Agree with this. Do a test spot. Haze up an unimportant area (easy), then see if you can get it back to crystal clear. I could not. This will tell you if your glass is conducive to this process. It will also tell you if you really want to invest the time.
 
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