Removing Minor Scratches From a Windshield

Introduction

When your car suffers a minor ding or scratch due to a driving hazard, you may want to try taking it out yourself before paying a professional to do it. By doing this, you can save money, as well as time. In fact, just about anyone can fix a minor ding in a windshield with a little time and the right products and tools. You may be tempted to leave the small scratches if they do not seem to affect your vision. However, the more scratches that build up, the greater glare that will be produced from reflecting headlights during night driving. The sun can also cause a blinding glare if there are enough scratches. This can make for dangerous driving conditions, so it is important to fix scratches as they happen.

Glass Revive

One of the first products to use when trying to remove a minor scratch on your windshield is Glass Revive. The Glass Revive system uses a mixture of chemicals and abrasives to repair the scratch. The chemicals work together to relax the glass and remove any dirt or contamination that may have gotten into the scratch. A buffing instrument is then used to work the abrasives into the scratch. The heat of the spinning, mixed with the abrasives, causes the glass to mold back to a smooth surface.

Glass Polish

Glass polish is another option for removing minor scratches on your windshield. Most of the glass polish kits use cerium oxide powder and a buffing wheel. The powder is applied to the scratched surface and then worked into the glass using a low speed buffer. As the oxide powder is worked into the glass, the buffer polishes away the scratch, leaving a smooth surface.

Acrylic Filler

Acrylic filler is more commonly used in professional scratch repair and will require more tools that are not common in typical garages. In this treatment, an acrylic filler is applied to a windshield using a special vacuum seal. This keeps any moisture or air out of the scratch. A UV light is then applied to the area to quickly help the acrylic filler dry. Once the filler dries, there will be no discernible sign of the scratch or crack. This is not a good method for widespread scratching across the windshield. However, it is the most effective for small areas of your windshield that need repairs.

Resources

• Glass Polishing Kit
• Glass Revive Kit