Hello: I have a new entry door whose glass was scratched in two places, each approximately 2″ long. You can feel the scratch with your fingernail.–Of course no one takes the blame for the scratches.
Question: Any suggestions as to how to eliminate/minimize the scraches. I talked to several glass shops and none are even willing to look at the scratches. I believe they all would rather replace the glass.
The door is a factory prefinished mahogany door and the trim would be destroyed if we had to replace the glass.
Thanks
Cloudbuster
Replies
Home Depot sells a frosted window film that would allow light through but hide the scratches, if you don't mind losing the clear glass view. Also available in stained glass look. I've used it in my bathroom and it really looks good.
Just FYI- You won 't be able to 'polish' out the scratches.
Being as this is a door glass panel it will be tempered. This means odds on it will shatter if you try and polish out the scratches, this why they won't try to fix it. But if your feeling brave, get some glass polishing compound and have ago!
Cerium oxide will remove the scratches, and being tempered doesn't matter.
You can polish to the point of distortion.
Most door glass scratches are a result of diamond rings.
http://www.ipsglass.com/glass-polishing-kits.htm
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/glass.htm
Or if you want to spend the big bucks and start another side business:
http://window-cleaning-supply.com/detail.aspx?ID=1330
If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail, don't waste your time trying to polish it out.
If amateur telescope makers can polish mirrors to a curve then you can polish out any depth of scratch. It may not be optically the same as the rest of the window but hey, that wavy feature you see when looking through the window is a sign that the glass is really old and it makes it worth more.
To anyone who wants to try polishing out scratches in glass- hey, knock yourself out!
I'd say get a glass polishing kit and have at it. You won't need to completely polish the scratch out, just smooth it enough that it's not as noticable.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Try a professional autobody paint store in your area. Body shops buff glass all the time. It's common to get nicks in side windows fro grinding, welding ,etc. Sometimes windshields have to be buffed out.
"Never pick a fight with an old man. If he can't beat you he will just kill you." Steinbeck
I tried to polish scratched glass once and wound up with a much larger, and far more obvious "frosted" patch. I probably didn't rub it long enough with the proper sized grit, but my arm gave out long before the scratch was completely polished. I'd suggest practicing on a piece of glass first before taking any abrasive pad to the window in the front door of my house.
Cloud,
I was having lunch in a major metro area. At this deli was a fellow polishing out some scatched graffitti in the store front glass.
He seemed pretty well all set up for the job. It did leave the glass optically different.
Harry
Check out the options at an auto parts place. There are preparations that will fill the scratches and minimize their appearance.
Scratched Glass
I would be hesistant to try alot of this DIY stuff on the glass you are talking about; it may not be a bad idea to get an old piece of glass from a recycle center and practice these techniques on that glass first.
I see you have a business.
Care to explain your methods and products?
Yeah, I notice his website doesn't care to explain anything. Just "magic occurs, and then you pay me". No hint as to how long the treatment lasts, etc.
glass scratches
could it be done with the same stuff they use to repair windshield chips?
No one knows, because his site doesn't tell you. Could be beeswax rubbed into the scratches.