Cleaning old MB Glass - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-16-2003, 12:35 AM

I've cleaned the glass on my old V126 with clay and a few dozen different glass cleaning products and got it to about the point where it can go no further.
I was wondering what methods the board had use to remove, not dirt, but tiny scratches from years of mistreatment.
What effect will 2000 grain sand paper have on glass?
I'm only really worried about the front windscreen.

Thanks,
Nicholas

Antony · #2 07-16-2003, 10:00 AM

While no expert, I have seen products that are "specially" made just to remove minor surface imperfections.
I think that in some states it may be illegal to polish a windscreen, but I'm not positive.
I've seen the polishing compound and a buffing pad that goes on your drill advertised in J C Whitney's catalog. It was stated to remove/restore just the type of damage you describe (minor stone chips, scratches, etc). Hope this helps.

#3 07-19-2003, 10:58 AM

Thanks, The car is due for a service anyhow, I'll ask my tech.
I just wanted to know that the idea of cleaning it up, as opposed to replacing it wasn't stupid.

Kestas · #4 07-19-2003, 12:06 PM

I've used the JC Whitney glass polishing kit. It's designed to remove fine scratches. I used it to clean up glass that was etched with tree sap. The polishing compound is made of cerium oxide. If you can catch the scratch with a fingernail, it's too deep for the polishing kit.

donbryce · #5 08-06-2003, 01:58 PM

I once polished out a deep scratch in the windshield, almost at the driver's eye level, and it came out - BUT: this left a gouge in the glass surface where the scratch was that looks like you are peering through a ripple! It was way worse than the scratch. So, it's true that this stuff can actually polish out scratches, but there is no way to fix the gentle gouge/ripple left in the surface. I'd try a small amount of buffing then try to fill the scratch with that epoxy stuff the chip fix guys use first. One glass place suggested paste wax will help to fill the scratches too, but I don't know...

BoostnBenz · #6 08-12-2003, 10:10 AM

I never had any luck with the JcW polishing kit. It seemed no matter how softly or how slowly I did it when I was done and pulled it into the sun I could see the exact size of the felt wheel and the pattern I did it in (that windshield had a million mini nicks in it). I would think that 2000grit paper would make clear glass a little translucent. However I use steel wool on really dirty glass like the back window after not being cleaned for years, I would think that it would be around the same grit so I don't know....

Wouldn't paste wax highlight the chips or scratches?

thebern · #7 08-29-2003, 06:39 PM

In the early 80's I worked at Gates Learjet in tucson AZ. The windscreens were about 2 inches thick and made from two pieces laminated together (poly carbonate I think). Though each windscreen was protected during manufacture on the line There were times that they got scratched. Thier were only two people licensed to polish out the damage. They would set up a lined grid about 20 feet in front of the vehicle. As they polished the grid would distort. any way it was interesting to see the way they went about polising getting distortions and then getting the distortions out .Some times this would take more than three days. If too much material was removed the affected windscreen had to be replaced, a minimum of $20,000 up to $55,000 depending on how far down the line the bird was.

thebern