glass repair

[james butler]

like an idiot ive managed to get grinding sparks onto some glass that was supposed ot go into my car.
its left black bits kind of semi melted into the glass.
ive managed to pick off most of it but these small etch marks in the glass where they've been.
ive ordered some jewelers rouge to see if that will work but do any of you have tricks of the trade to fix/repair the damage?
or is it new glass time

 

[Screwdriver]

Most people don't seem to realise: the surface is not actually glass. It's plastic.

if you have a lot of damage, you're doomed. One or two odd spots could be glossed over with those crack repair kits and polished back.

Not saying it can't be done, you could probably find a vehicle glass specialist to polish it out for you. Tricky job over a larger area though.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I think you'll find it's new glass time, I'd be very surprised if you can salvage it.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Our window cleaner must swear at me every time he visits, one of our side lounge windows looks fine(unless you are very close) but feels like it has been pebble-dashed.

 

[brightspark]

like an idiot ive managed to get grinding sparks onto some glass that was supposed ot go into my car.
its left black bits kind of semi melted into the glass.
ive managed to pick off most of it but these small etch marks in the glass where they've been.
ive ordered some jewelers rouge to see if that will work but do any of you have tricks of the trade to fix/repair the damage?
or is it new glass time

jewellers rouge is your only chance but I really doubt it . only any good for minor scratches

 

[james butler]

ah that sucks
i will give the rouge a go and see what happens

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@james butler

I was told of a old trick.

Get a 2p coin and rub that over the embedded bits, it may "nick" them out. Then polish with a good glass cleaner.

It worked on a set of ford headlights I got grinding debris imbedded into.

One My early mistakes.

 

[Rig Pig]

The windows that face my drive have the same problem, the only solution is new ones. Thankfully they are ancient and due for change out anyway.

I've promised the wife to be more careful with the new ones.....

 

[500e]

To get metal debris out use a Stanley scraper with a New quality blade run it across screen with the handle resting on glass it will remove the spatter at least

 

[nickk]

I can vouch for the above trick ,it worked ,they're obviously still there but the wiper blades don't wear prematurely & theres no rust stains anywhere.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

i will give the rouge a go and see what happens

If using a drill/DA sander with the abrasive take care not to overheat the area you're working on.

 

[Turbo]

You can machine polish glass using compounds for paintwork like G3 but I've never tried is so do it at your own risk.

 

[graffian]

If you polish it the distorted bit may stand out far worse than a tiny pit?

 

[james butler]

You can machine polish glass using compounds for paintwork like G3 but I've never tried is so do it at your own risk.

to be fair its no big loss if it doesnt work as its scrap as it is if i cant fix it and will be buying new.
i will give it a go and will report back.

 

[james butler]

Won't the distorted bit stand out far worse than a tiny pit?

thats true, i dont mind a pit but getting the metal flakes out first is my goal then try and reduce the visable marks.
its on 2 peices of side glass for the drivers door.

 

[james butler]

i will try and get some pics up too if i remember

 

[graffian]

I used to polish out small rectangles in secondhand glass.
Hit them with 320 on a DA, with the DA rotating, untill I had removed the marks.
Then polish with the white compound I uses for stainless on a calico mop.

 

[delta9]

You can machine polish glass using compounds for paintwork like G3 but I've never tried is so do it at your own risk.

I highly doubt G3 alone would work, but you can mix G3 with Pumice powder, I've removed windscreen wiper marks with it (machine polishing) but very difficult to remove deep scratches.

You can get pumice powder in different grades, so worth a go.

 

[james butler]

i think I'm definitely going to buy new glass
i gave the jewellers rouge a good go and i tried the brasso, both gave me a very shiny piece of glass but alas didn't get the marks out.
in fact i got bits of it a bit hot and the small chips kind of splintered into bigger chips so i will leave it be i think.
it did get most of the other minor marks out though so i proves it does work but not if you can catch your nail in it
they're not easy to spot but if you look close they're little spots in the glass

 

[fizzy]

Solvol autosol is great for polishing glass.
I have ground telescope and laser mirrors in the dim and distant past. Basically starting off with coarse grit and ending with cerium oxide.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/cerium-oxide