Windscreen scratch removal?

donp38

A2OC Donor
United-Kingdom
Hi all.

I have a very fine scratch created by my wiper blade!
Anyone have some recommendations for a product to polish out?

Many thanks.
 
Yes, that material (cerium oxide) really does work! I know that from personal experience You don't need to buy a kit. Just buy the powder. It's on Ebay and available in different grades.

David
 
Wow Gents...
You are so correct I am indeed grateful to you.
I have looked for some time for recommendations and I thought to as A2OC...
I took some photos but they are useless, don't show anything.
But to all....you just need the powder, so,e water and a sensible attachement for your drill and indeed I would say within 20mins all is good and I gave the complete screen a buff over for good measure before fitting a new wiper blade.

Truly impressed...

Cheers.
 
Yep is good stuff. I suggested a kit as it would have bits you would need. Obviously if you know what you are doing / have bits already then just the powder is needed. One thing please wear a mask as the dust is very bad for you.
 
Thanks...but too late for that although most of the time is was wet..
Time for a beer to wash things through then!
 
Polishing glass is a b****r of a job. Depending on depth start with ultra fine diamond polishing disc. Then go on to a cerium oxide glass polish. However only use it with a glass polishing pad. Anything else just won’t work. Be careful not to get things too hot, screens delaminate or crack.
 
All I can say is this is game changing.
Great stuff. Have patience and ensure you keep temperature under control.
I made quite a wet pate and had a sprayer handy to keep lubrication.
Honestly. I would say, don't be frightened, take your time and all is super easy.
Thanks again to audifan for the recommendation.
 
My little colour storm has very fine scratches on the windscreen that give it a slight haze that's particularly annoying when driving at night. These are not deep scratches, but very fine ones (over most of the wiper blade area). I've read the threads about using CERIUM OXIDE and doing it myself, but frankly, I am a little nervous of trying to polish the windscreen myself. I'm hoping that someone knows of a place (Milton Keynes area) that might do this. Replacing the windscreen is an option, but I'd rather not open up all of those potential issues and I would lose the original Audi road service decal that's been on it for 18 years!

Any advice on a company that offers windscreen polishing is greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Jerry
 
I used an electric drill with a packet of cerium oxide and some buffing pads both from eBay. Keep it moist and you can't really go wrong. I was a sceptic but you get great results within a fairly short space of time.
 
Glad others are also having success with the Cerium oxide. Key is keeping it wet. Also wear a mask as it is not nice on the lungs.
 
I did a screen a couple of years back with this powder/paste, transformed the screen and a damn sight cheaper than a new screen...and very satisfying to complete the job too. E-bay is the way forward, even if you have to wait a couple of weeks for it to be delivered from China.
 
Hi guys,
I'm assuming this is pretty much the same as restoring headlights, but with a more aggressive compound?

Has anyone had good results with the 'sandpaper' kits or buffing pads, or is it worth spending out on the 'diamond' pads/discs?

Does it not need to followed with a uv protectant, like the headlights do?
 
Hi guys,
I'm assuming this is pretty much the same as restoring headlights, but with a more aggressive compound?

Has anyone had good results with the 'sandpaper' kits or buffing pads, or is it worth spending out on the 'diamond' pads/discs?

Does it not need to followed with a uv protectant, like the headlights do?
Morning Rob,

I've had great results with sand paper and a cutting compound on headlamps. Also had the same results with Barkeepers Friend on a polishing pad using a Clarke orbital polisher.

The diamond pads are quite aggressive unless you go for the 1600 grit and up to 6000 grit but think its an expensive option for what can be achieved with a cutting compound. I use diamond pads myself to achieve a perfect deep gloss finish on freshly cut 30mm granite and also to smooth out fireplace hearths I make out of concrete with various coloured aggregates. These diamond pads are utterly amazing but think its an over-kill for a plastic headlamp that just requires cutting back.

If you have an orbital or DA polished/sander then simply adding a polishing pad to it will work with a liquid cutting compound, a powdered cutting compound or even cream metal polish. Remember to use plenty of water to cool the headlamp and don't hold the polishing pad in the same place, slowly but sure keep the pad moving to avoid any heat build up which can ruin the finish.

Edit: Only just realised that you're actually on about a windscreen, must read the full thread before responding in the future. Now I know were talking about glass opposed the acrylic headlamp lens, then yes I personally think that diamond pads might just work. Project 250 has a mark on the windscreen that I might try to polish out with diamond pads, starting at 1000 grit and moving up to 6000 grit. Might try on a scratched OSS panel first though as it would be a tragedy to obscure the drivers view with a blurred finish. I'll have a go this weekend and report results.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Last edited:
Sorry mate, might have misled a bit - it's the windscreen I need to do - I've done lights a couple of times!

The screen is badly scratched on my A2, but the bit I actually look through isn't too deep, so I'm thinking I could hopefully improve that - but for the limited results I'm expecting, a few quid on some Cerium Oxide is fine, but if I add on £40 for some decent diamond pads, I'm halfway go the cost of just getting a new screen!!!
(£100 excess for a new screen)

I'm just wondering how much the sandpaper will do on glass, compared to a plastic light!!!
 
Sorry mate, might have misled a bit - it's the windscreen I need to do - I've done lights a couple of times!

The screen is badly scratched on my A2, but the bit I actually look through isn't too deep, so I'm thinking I could hopefully improve that - but for the limited results I'm expecting, a few quid on some Cerium Oxide is fine, but if I add on £40 for some decent diamond pads, I'm halfway go the cost of just getting a new screen!!!
(£100 excess for a new screen)

I'm just wondering how much the sandpaper will do on glass, compared to a plastic light!!!
Hi Rob,

I realised my last post was a little out of context, apologies for that. I have since edited my post above.

The diamond pads I use are available on Amazon for £30 delivered (with Prime) and have polished over 20m of 30mm granite edging and also polished 3 concrete fireplace hearths. The 100 - 400 grit are quite worn now but the smoother grits are still spot on. I'll give it a go over the weekend and report results. Happy to lend you the pads over the mail system if you are willing to send them back. Leave it with me to see if these are a good choice first though.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
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