glass polish

glass polish allows you to improve its appearance by increasing transparency, by removing small scratches, and increasing the quality of visibility. There are several types of car glass polishes - universal, abrasive, protective. Many of them have dirt and moisture repellent properties. Therefore, the choice of polish for car glass is always a compromise decision.

And in order to find out for yourself which glass polish will be best, first decide on the goal you want to achieve. It can be: glass cleaning, scratch removal or protection from rain and dirt.

Polish name	Brief description and characteristics	Package volume, ml/mg	The price of one package as of winter 2019/2020, Russian rubles
Doctor Wax Glass Polisher-Stripper	A very effective polish and cleanser. Removes haze from glass and perfectly polishes scratches. The main advantage is low price with excellent performance.	300	400
Glass Gloss	There are two types of glass polishing pastes - base and finish. Used mainly in detailing companies. Perfectly polishes glass, but a significant drawback is the high price.	250	3000
Grass nano-protection NF04	It is more protective. Creates a protective film on the glass surface, including in scratches and scuffs. It has the effect of anti-rain, protects the glass from water, dirt, insects. Has a long-term effect. Can be used at home.	250	600
Sonax ProfiLine Glass Polish	Universal tool for cleaning and polishing the surface of the windshield. Used with grinder. It works well on small scratches, but not on deep damage.	250	1300
Hi Gear	Positioned as a polish, but often used as an anti-rain. It polishes fine scratches during processing well, but old and deep abrasions are beyond its power. It is better to use as a preventive and protective agent against dirt.	236 ml; 473 ml	550 rubles; 800 rub.
Turtle Wax ClearVue Glass Polish	Cleaning and polishing agent. You can process not only glass, but also plastic, including headlights. Has a creamy texture on a non-abrasive base. Removes small scratches, but not deep ones.	500	430
Wilson	Glass polish and diamond cleaner with polish elements. Designed for manual processing, there is a manual sponge included. Shows good efficiency, but has a high price with a small amount of packaging. In addition, it is rarely found on sale.	200 ml; 125 ml.	1000 rubles; 1000 rub.

What are polishes for machine glass

Manufacturers of polishes endow their products not only with the ability to polish the glass surface, but also perform other functions. Therefore, the mentioned funds are divided into the following types:

• Universal. This is the most common and numerous type of polishes. Such products allow you to effectively clean and polish the damaged glass surface. The composition includes both abrasive and cleaning elements. but as practice shows, the more universal, the less effectively it copes. Such car windshield polishes can be used as a prophylactic.
• Abrasive. Such products do not contain cleaning components. Often abrasive polishes are used to remove spider web damage. They can be successfully used for polishing windshields or other car windows. Often they are used to remove old scuffs from working windshield wipers (wipers).
• Protective. Such polishes from scratches are often used as prophylactic agents. namely, they form a thin film on the surface of the glass, which has water and dirt-repellent properties. Thanks to this, the treated glass remains clean for a long time, even when the car is used in the rain and / or off-road. protective polishes are also used to ensure that the rubber bands of the wipers do not freeze to the glass.

All of the above products are based on wax or Teflon. Wax polishes are older and less effective. However, they have an undeniable advantage - a lower price. Conversely, Teflon polishes are a newer and more technologically advanced development that is highly effective in both polishing and protecting glass. Of the shortcomings, only a higher price can be distinguished compared to their wax counterparts.

What to look for when choosing

In addition to the type of cleaner-polish for car windows, several parameters must also be taken into account when choosing. namely:

• State of aggregation. Usually, polishes for glass protection are sold in the form of a paste or gel. However, their viscosity and density may be different. Thicker compounds are suitable for repairing large (deep) abrasions and are usually sufficient for a relatively small treated area. Conversely, more liquid formulations are designed to treat minor abrasions.
• Terms of Use. Most car glass polish pastes can be used simply in the garage, without the use of additional tools. However, there are also professional compositions that work only in tandem with additional equipment. Usually they are used in a car service.
• Grain. The coarser the polish, the deeper scratches it is designed to treat. Conversely, fine-grained compositions are able to treat small damage (fine processing).
• Additional properties. It is desirable that the polish would not only polish the glass surface, but also protect the car windows from moisture, dirt and minor mechanical damage. This will provide better visibility through the glass and improve its appearance.
• Value for money. It is better not to buy frankly cheap car glass polishes, since they are not only ineffective, but, on the contrary, can damage its surface. It is better to purchase a polish from the middle or higher price category.

Rating of the best glass polishes

The list of the best machine glass polishes includes only some of the most popular and effective anti-scratch glass cleaners. The rating was compiled on the basis of reviews found on the Internet and real application tests.

Doctor Wax

Glass polish Doctor Wax Glass Polisher-Stripper effectively cleans cracks and chips and polishes the surface. It can be used to remove the remnants of old polishes, traces of atmospheric precipitation, particles of tar, insects, silicone, as well as scuffs on glass. Made with an abrasive base. Designed to be used in conjunction with a grinder. However, when working, you need to use a soft polishing wheel so as not to damage the glass!

Positive reviews indicate that Doctor Wax Glass Polisher-Stripper is one of the best products in its segment. Some drivers even use this tool to polish individual damaged areas on the paintwork of the car body. After using the glass polish "Doctor Vaks" it is desirable to apply a water-repellent protective compound. An additional advantage is the ubiquity in the sale, as well as an affordable price.

It is sold in a small plastic canister with a volume of 300 ml. The article of packaging for purchase in the online store is DW5673. The price of one such package as of the winter of 2019/2020 is about 400 rubles.

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Glass Gloss

Under the brand name Glass Gloss LP 1976, two types of polishing pastes for machine glass are produced - polishing base and polishing finish. It is used both in garage conditions and by detailing companies. The difference between the base paste and other analogues with cerium oxide is the fact that its base is made of three different types of abrasive particles of different fractions and different materials. This provides a single, versatile and effective abrasive backing. Finishing paste is designed to remove the smallest scuffs and scratches.

It is positioned more as a professional tool, since it is meant to be used with high-quality polishing machines and discs. The reviews noted the high efficiency of the tool. Of the shortcomings, only a very high price with a small amount of packaging can be noted.

So, the base and finishing polishing pastes are sold in the same volume of 250 ml packages. The instructions indicate that one such package is enough to process ten windshields, but experienced craftsmen manage to “stretch” it up to 15 ... 18 cars.

The price of the kit as of the above period is about 3000 Russian rubles.

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Grass

Polishing Grass nano-protection NF 04 is a fairly popular tool among motorists who have polished glass at least once. The tool has a protective property rather than a polishing one. So, the mechanism of its action consists in the formation of a thin protective film on the glass surface, including in places of depressions (scratches, abrasions). All this leads to the restoration of normal visibility through the glass, and also resumes its smoothness, glare and distortion disappear. Designed for use with a grinder.

With the Grass Nano Force glass protection coating, you can process not only machine windshields, but also headlights, side and rear windows, motorcycle helmet glasses, and household glasses. Thanks to the film formed by the polish, the glass gets an anti-rain effect, that is, while driving at speed in the rain, the oncoming air flow blows water down and to the sides. Which in turn increases the life of the rubber wiper blades.

Reviews about nano-coating for Grass glasses are mostly positive. Of the shortcomings, only a small amount of packaging can be noted. So, the product is sold in a 250 ml bottle with a manual spray trigger. The price of one package is about 600 rubles.

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Sonax

Glass polish Sonax ProfiLine Glass Polish is positioned by the manufacturer as a universal product based on non-abrasive materials. Designed to eliminate scuffs and stains on the surface of windshield and other glasses, as well as headlights. Effectively removes dirt from the glass surface. It can be used for both manual and automatic (using a grinding car) polishing, but the latter option is preferable.

Car owners who have used Sonax ProfiLine Glass Polish speak positively about its effectiveness in polishing minor scratches and scuffs. However, you need to work with a microfiber wheel and a grinder. It is practically not suitable for manual processing. it is also noted that polish cannot remove significant glass damage. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting its relatively high price compared to competitors with average performance.

Glass polish "Sonax" is sold in a small plastic bottle with a volume of 250 ml. The article by which you can buy polish in the online store is 273141. The approximate price of one bottle is 1300 rubles.

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Hi Gear

Hi Gear Rain Guard is positioned as a glass protection polish, but in practice it is more used as an anti-rain. namely, it is a protective agent that forms a thin film on the glass surface, which both fills in small scratches and performs protective properties. High Gear polish is recommended for windshield, rear and side windows. It is allowed to process side mirrors and headlights.

The results of using the polish in practice show that the tool is able to eliminate only minor and minor abrasions, respectively, it cannot cope with serious scratches, including old ones. Hi Gear Rain Guard glass polish is best used as a preventive measure to protect the glass surface from moisture and dirt. Of the shortcomings, a relatively high price is also noted.

Sold in two types of packaging. The first is a 236 ml bottle, in which the product is in a liquid transparent form. The article of such a package is HG5644, its price is 550 rubles. The second type of packaging is a bottle with a manual sprayer (trigger) with a volume of 473 ml. The article of the product is HG5649, and the price is 800 rubles.

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Turtle wax

Turtle Wax Clear Vue Glass Polish 53004 is a creamy polishing cleaner. Made on a non-abrasive basis. It can not only effectively remove old and ingrained dirt from it, such as tar, downed insects, poplar fluff or tree sap, but also polish glass and plastic surfaces. Glass Polish Clear Vue effectively polishes small scratches.

This polish can be used on glass, plastic and machine headlight surfaces. It can also be used in everyday life, for example, for cleaning plastic window frames or balconies.

Tests and reviews do not indicate the average effectiveness of Turtle Wax glass polish. Allows you to remove only small scratches, but it is not able to cope with serious damage. When processing the surface, it is advisable to use a grinding machine and a soft grinding wheel. Available in Turtle Wax Clear Vue Glass Polish FG6537 in a 500 ml Hg manual trigger spray bottle. TC60R. The price of one such package is about 430 rubles.

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Wilson

The Japanese manufacturer Willson WS-02042 produces two compositions similar in action - Willson glass polish, as well as Willson glass cleaner with diamond chips and a sponge. The first composition is intended for nominal polishing of the surface of the windshield, rear or side windows. The second is used for cleaning, as well as polishing small scratches and scratches on the glass surface. Polishes are for handmade use only. So, the kit comes with a bottle of liquid, as well as a sponge for manual processing. You need to apply the product on pre-washed glass!

The effectiveness of polishes can be defined as average. drivers who have used Wilson polishes note that often one treatment is not enough, and that the glass must be treated with polish twice or more to achieve an acceptable effect. And given the high price of the product, it received one of the last places in the presented rating. In addition, Wilson glass polish is often difficult to find on sale, only in official representative stores.

A package of Willson glass polish has a volume of 200 ml. The price of the package is about 1000 rubles. The package of cleaner-polish with diamond grit has a volume of 125 ml. Its price is similar.

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If you have had your own experience of using this or that polish, share it in the comments.

DIY glass polish

If for some reason a car enthusiast cannot or does not want to buy a special glass polish, then such a tool can be replaced with an analogue or made by hand.

Paste GOI

To prepare a composition that can cope with the polishing of machine glass, you will need:

• Pasta GOI (State Optical Institute). The number of the paste (1, 2, 3 or 4) depends on the depth of the scratch, respectively, the smaller the number, the more finishing the paste is intended (it has a fine grain). Quantity - 30 ... 40 grams.
• Sunflower oil.
• A candle or other open flame.
• Metal jar.
• Water, cloth, hair dryer.

The algorithm for preparation and processing is as follows:

• Grind the indicated 30 ... 40 grams of GOI paste with a fine grater. The resulting powder is placed in a metal can.
• Add sunflower oil to the same jar. The amount of oil should be just enough to just cover the level of the paste.
• Heat the mixture over a candle or burner.
• Stir the pasta until you get a homogeneous mass. In terms of time, the process usually takes 2-3 minutes.
• Rinse the glass with water and dry with a hair dryer. After that, using soft felt, you can begin the process of polishing with the resulting mixture.

It is indicated that the effect of using such a composition is quite good. However, sometimes the treated area will gleam in the sun. Some drivers, after this treatment, apply a fine abrasive polishing paste to the damaged area.

Cerium oxide

Very often, garage car repairmen use cerium oxide (IV) from scratches on glass, other names are cerium dioxide, cerium dioxide (English name - Cerium Oxide). However, it has many subtleties of use, otherwise you can ruin the glass completely!

The agent is a pale yellow, pink or white refractory powder. It is used in industry and at home, including for polishing glass, ceramics, and cutting stones.

When buying this anti-scratch glass polish, it is important to pay attention to the content of the main ingredient, as well as the size of the fraction. Accordingly, the smaller the fraction, the more fine processing it is intended for. One of the best options would be 70% content of the same and a fraction size of 0,8 microns. As for the proportions for mixing with water, it depends on the depth and size of the treated scratches. So, the deeper the damage, the thicker the solution should be. In general, the consistency should be creamy.

For polishing, it is also important to choose a polishing wheel. For surface polishing, a foam rubber or sheepskin circle is suitable. For deeper processing, it is better to use a felt (felt) circle. The selected circle must be put on a drill with adjustable speed or use a grinder.

also for work you will need a clean rag and a sprinkler with water in order to periodically wet the glass and prevent it from overheating. Before processing, the glass must be thoroughly washed. On the reverse side of the glass, it is desirable to mark the places of damage with a marker. In the process of work, you need to make sure that the glass does not overheat, and control efforts and do not put much pressure on the surface!

Interestingly, although cerium oxide itself transmits light, it strongly absorbs ultraviolet radiation, which can be useful when driving a car with polished glass in bright sunny weather. This will be an additional argument that polishing the windshield is still worth it.

Toothpaste

You can also use toothpaste as a polish. However, only the one that has a whitening effect. A small amount of paste should be applied to a cotton swab, and in a circular motion, rub the paste into the damaged area on the windshield. After that, the glass must be thoroughly rinsed. In most cases, the effectiveness of such a treatment is very weak, in contrast to use on plastic headlights, but if the scuffs on the glass are minor, then it will also work.

A tool that can mask large scratches, and not eliminate them by polishing, can be found not only in the bathroom, but also in a women's cosmetic bag.

Manicure varnish

In this case, only colorless nail polish. It is carefully (usually with a needle) applied to the scratch, after which it is given time to dry. You need to work carefully, so that the varnish gets only to the place of damage! With the help of varnish, you can treat fairly deep scuffs. Excess pieces of varnish can be removed with a stationery eraser or rubber spatula.

The disadvantage of this method is that when light hits the treated area of ​​glass, the angle of refraction of the glass and the dried varnish will be different, so there may be problems with visibility.