Windshield polishing success

[Mike R.]

After consulting this forum I decided to polish my windshield instead of purchasing a repro. My windshield had wiper tracks on one side.

I purchased 3" 3M Trizact disks from dkhardware.com and used them with a large Milwaukee polisher. It took a while but the wiper track eventually polished out. The process is like any polishing job, you start with course grits and proceed to finer and finer grits. Don't be afraid to use the course disks to start. You simply won't get scratches out without them.

The windshield still isn't perfect, it has sand pits and some delamination but it is original and in pretty good shape. The true test will be driving into the sunset....but that is still a way off...

[Edward J.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

After consulting this forum I decided to polish my windshield instead of purchasing a repro. My windshield had wiper tracks on one side.

I purchased 3" 3M Trizact disks from dkhardware.com and used them with a large Milwaukee polisher. It took a while but the wiper track eventually polished out. The process is like any polishing job, you start with course grits and proceed to finer and finer grits. Don't be afraid to use the course disks to start. You simply won't get scratches out without them.

The windshield still isn't perfect, it has sand pits and some delamination but it is original and in pretty good shape. The true test will be driving into the sunset....but that is still a way off...

Mike, I am looking to do the same with my 63 conv. windshield, was the polisher you brought just a typical polisher for the paint? Was the 3M trizact a kit? or what grits did you use? it would be great to give a little more detail. This is a great topic and will have alot usefulness to our hobby.

[Terry B.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

Hi Mike,

Even though you think your windshield isn't perfect, I think you are miles, money and points ahead by using the original windshield. I wish I had that option.

[Terry M.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

Mike, I am looking to do the same with my 63 conv. windshield, was the polisher you brought just a typical polisher for the paint? Was the 3M trizact a kit? or what grits did you use? it would be great to give a little more detail. This is a great topic and will have alot usefulness to our hobby.

Ed,
Crank up the search engine here. One member bought a kit to do the glass on his 1963. He posted before and after pictures. As I remember the kit he purchased (not 3M) was IMO expensive, but included a sanding/polishing machine as well as a variety of grits of sanding paper and polish. The after results were very impressive, and he was able to save his original glass.

[Edward J.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

Terry, I remember reading the post on the windsheild polishing system, I thought it was a bit expensive for a one time use, as there must be a better way using the cerium oxide and the sanding disc.s with something like a orbital sander them polishing after.

[Bill C.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

I went online to look at it - ran somewhere north of $1200

[Dan D.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

I remember there was talk of someone buying it and passing it around to other members, with everyone contributing some $. Not sure it ever got off the ground though. -Dan-

[William W.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

Hi Mike :
I just finished having my original wiper damaged windsheild polished by a professional glass scratch remover here in Southern California. The damage was severe on one side and light on the other. The results are much better than I expected. All the sratches are gone with only the minor pitting remaining. The process took over 3 hours and was more complex than I anticipated. Heat build up and distoration were the main concerns and you could tell experience played heavly in this guys success . The restorer used a heat gun and slowly worked across the windsheild. It cost me a couple hundred but keeping my orignal glass and seeing the results was worth it in my opinon.

[Mike R.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

I started out with a kit but it did not have course enough disks (or enough disks). I used a pink disk to get the wiper track out. Then blue, orange and white disks to finish. Mark the defect on the underside with a felt pen and try to stay close to the defect as each grit must overlap the previous one and you don't want to have a huge area to polish with the final grits. The glass needs to be kept wet, I used a squirt bottle. My polisher is a normal polisher for paint.

Mike, I am looking to do the same with my 63 conv. windshield, was the polisher you brought just a typical polisher for the paint? Was the 3M trizact a kit? or what grits did you use? it would be great to give a little more detail. This is a great topic and will have alot usefulness to our hobby.

[Mike R.]

Re: Windshield polishing success

I can assure you that I did not spend $1200, more like $60 The disks are under $2 and the pad was about $12. For a wiper track type scratch. I would buy 5 of each disk. I am not sure how many I used but they are cheap enough that it makes sense to buy plenty and not pay shipping twice. Go to

http://www.dkhardware.com/search.aspx?search=trizact

I went online to look at it - ran somewhere north of $1200