How to remove scratches from a car windshield
Content
Traffic safety largely depends on how well the driver sees the situation on the road. The windshield should be as smooth and transparent as possible. Most often, scratches on it occur during the operation of the wipers, under which dust and dirt gets, and there may also be other reasons. There are several proven ways you can remove scratches from your windshield at home.
Glass polishing from scratches, when you can do it yourself and when to contact the master
Car windshield polishing can be done by yourself or in a car service. If the scratches appeared due to the work of the wipers, then you can deal with the problem at home. Large scratches and chips on the windshield can only be removed by specialists.
To determine whether a scratch is deep or not, it is enough to slide your fingernail over the glass, if it clings to it, then it is deep.
The reasons for the cloudiness of the windshield and the appearance of small scratches on it:
- the work of the janitors when sand gets under them;
- pebbles falling on the glass while driving;
- improper cleaning of glass from ice;
- improper car wash.
The presence of minor damage to the windshield leads to the following problems:
- visibility deteriorates, so the driver strains his eyes more and from this they get tired faster;
- existing defects distract attention, which negatively affects traffic safety;
- at night, the light from the headlights of oncoming cars is cut unevenly, and this creates discomfort for the driver and passengers;
- the appearance of the car becomes less attractive, especially if the marks from the wipers are clearly visible on the glass.
How to remove scratches from a car windshield
There are several proven methods that allow you to remove minor scratches and cloudiness on the windshield at home. You can cope with the work yourself with the help of available tools.
The windshield is restored by polishing it. The existing options differ from each other only in the material used for this.
To carry out the work you will need:
- grinder or drill with the ability to adjust the speed. It is not recommended to use a grinder, as it works at very high speeds;
- felt circle;
- polishing paste or its folk substitute;
- spray bottle with water;
- marker, with its help problem areas are marked;
- soft rag;
- masking tape. With its help, places that do not need to be polished are protected.
For polishing, you will need simple and affordable materials, tools
Toothpaste
You can try to solve the problem with toothpaste. To do this, you need to take the one that has a whitening effect, since it contains an abrasive. Using modern gel toothpastes to polish your windshield will be ineffective.
The toothpaste is applied to a cotton swab and rubbed into the damaged area in a circular motion. After that, the glass is washed well. This method will only help to deal with very minor damage and abrasions.
Fine sandpaper
If polishing with toothpaste takes a lot of effort and time to achieve the result, then with sandpaper, on the contrary, you can easily overdo it.
To do this, use the finest and softest sandpaper. It is necessary to work carefully. If you press hard on it or drive it in one place for a long time, then there is a risk of new scratches or depressions. This changes the curvature of the glass and will look worse than a small chip.
The process of polishing glass with sandpaper requires a lot of time and effort. To do this, use sandpaper of a fine fraction from 600 to 2500. They begin to work with paper with the largest grain, that is, with the smallest number. Gradually change the sandpaper and reach the finest grain. The paper should be periodically moistened with water.
Emery paper allows you to make a rough treatment, after which the glass is polished with diamond paste or GOI paste is used. The paste also has different grain sizes. They begin to work with coarse-grained, and end up with fine-grained.
Paste GOI
GOI paste contains chromium oxide and is a universal polishing and grinding agent. It can be used to polish metal, plastic and glass. Men who served in the army are well acquainted with her. There it is used for rubbing on badges and buttons.
In domestic conditions, using GOI paste, metal and glass products are polished. When choosing a paste, you should pay attention to the degree of its abrasive. For glass polishing, GOI paste No. 2 and 3 is suitable.
GOI paste is applied not to glass, but to fabric, it must be lint-free. Felt works best. To better fill in scratches, the paste can be melted in a water bath and then applied to the fabric. First, a paste with a coarse grain is applied to the glass, its number will be smaller. Polishing is carried out, after which they take a paste with a higher number, that is, with a smaller grain, and continue to polish the glass.
Car windshield polishes
On sale you can find a variety of options for car windshield polishes. It is necessary to apply such funds only with a rag or cotton pad, you cannot use felt for this.
After applying the composition to the problem area, it is evenly rubbed to avoid abrupt transitions. This is an effective method that allows you to completely remove small scratches, and make deeper ones less noticeable.
Nail polish
Some craftsmen use nail polish for their manicure. For this, only transparent varnish is suitable. It is carefully applied to the scratch and wait until the composition dries. The excess is removed with an eraser or rubber spatula.
This method helps to hide deep defects. The disadvantage is that when exposed to sunlight, the refraction of glass and varnish will be different.
Video: how to polish a windshield
Reviews of motorists
I tried it with GOI paste with felt on a drill, it is clear that the surface of the glass has been removed a little, but at the place of processing the glass loses its former transparency, that is, if the scratch is completely removed, the glass becomes cloudy.
I bought a special glass polishing paste in the store, removed 60 percent, the rest remained. it all depends on the depth of the scratch
I tried to eliminate scratches using GOI paste, I got confused, of course, but partially polished very small scratches, large ones remained. It turns out that GOI paste is of different fractions, i.e. first large, and then fine polish, then the effect will be.
Scratches on glass are removed with rare earth metals, otherwise it is quite difficult
I polished myself, drill, felt, GOI paste, an hour of work. If shallow scratches make sense.
You can cope with minor scratches or cloudiness of the windshield on your own, without contacting the master. Thus, you can not only restore the transparency of the glass, but also save your home budget. You just need to correctly assess the size of the problem, choose a method to eliminate scratches and adhere to the recommendations during its application.
