Glass Polishing

[phmade]

Does anyone have recommendations for polishing scratches out of glass?  I've seen glass polishing/buffing systems before but I'd like to avoid spending $1500 on a kit.  I'm hoping to use my RO150 with a different pad - any idea on a supplier?  I'm planning to use water / lubricant during the polishing, but I can just use a spray bottle or pump sprayer...

 

[josephgewing]

Google cerium oxide, which is a good posishingagent. you can find info about how to use it.  A festool sander and a felt pad should work well.

 

[rst]

If you can feel the scratch with you nail trying to polish it out will be an excersize in futility.  I work in a commercial glass company and  we have done this...it is only worth the effort for very expensive or antique glass (think exotic windshields or thick glass) installation.  Even with the proper 3M grinding discs (which fit a regular 5/8"-11 grinder, use a ground fault extension close to the grinder, and of course water with just a touch of dishwashing cleaner...acts as a surfactant), the time involved is tremendous and often the surface ends up dished.  [sad]

 

[Holmz]

The same general thing for plastics like plane windows and headlight covers.
There are lee made compounds, just GTS "polishing airplane window".

 

[phmade]

Thanks for the replies.  I ended up purchasing a kit from GTglass.com.  I called and spoke with someone who is very knowledgeable and he was able to guide me in the right direction.  I ended up purchasing an inexpensive kit with the 3m Trizact abrasives.  Luckily the scratches aren't too bad - and they really don't need to be completely removed, only to lessen them.  This is inside of a shower and the glass is actually back-painted so I'm not too worried about dishing it and creating optical distortion. 

I also considered filling the scratches with some sort of resin.  Does anyone have experience with this?  I think that would certainly be easier than grinding down the scratch.  Thoughts?

 

[tjbnwi]

Shower doors are tempered, be very careful.

Tom

 

[jonny round boy]

Shower doors are tempered, be very careful.

Tom

I think from the description that this is glass wall panelling, not the door. But that should also be tempered.

Just curious how the scratches occurred - I can't think of anything that would normally be inside a shower that would scratch the glass...  [eek]

 

[Holmz]

A woman with a diamond ring... [eek]

 

[Cheese]

Good call Holmz...mystery solved. [thumbs up]

 

[Holmz]

Jenson Button will not have to worry about his shower doors now.

 

[tjbnwi]

Shower doors are tempered, be very careful.

Tom

I think from the description that this is glass wall panelling, not the door. But that should also be tempered.

Just curious how the scratches occurred - I can't think of anything that would normally be inside a shower that would scratch the glass...  [eek]

Seeing as there is a shower, I'll assume bathroom. Here that means it must be tempered, door or not.

Tom

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I have a clinet that has an German Shepard that was trained in Germany as a attack dog.  I had to replace the side lights in the front door with 3/8 tempered bc the dog has broke through the glass 13 times.  I was there today and the dog has scratches in the glass about a 1/32 to a 1/16 of an inch deep.  I didnt realize that the dog could scratch the glass that bad.  Its scratch so bad you cant see through it anymore.  I know this doesnt have anything to do with the op just thought it was interesting.

 

[Cheese]

Jenson Button will not have to worry about his shower doors now.

Ya, like he worried about that before the incident. [crying]

 

[Holmz]

... are tempered, ...

Ill-tempered: The result of sneaking up on the "diamond cutter operator" like a scene from Hitchcock movie.

Good tempered: is when the "diamond cutter operator" is in water conservation mode, and invites you in.

 

[tjbnwi]

... are tempered, ...

Ill-tempered: The result of sneaking up on the "diamond cutter operator" like a scene from Hitchcock movie.

Good tempered: is when the "diamond cutter operator" is in water conservation mode, and invites you in.

What's a Hitchcock movie?

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

... are tempered, ...

Ill-tempered: The result of sneaking up on the "diamond cutter operator" like a scene from Hitchcock movie.

Good tempered: is when the "diamond cutter operator" is in water conservation mode, and invites you in.

What's a Hitchcock movie?

(Had that invitation recently, happily accepted)

Tom

 

[rst]

ALL glass installed in a shower appplication MUST be tempered.  Be absolutely sure to keep grinding wet and cool or you will create very expensive aquarium gravel.

 

[phmade]

Thanks for the input; yes, all of this glass is tempered.  I'm hoping to do this on Friday so I'll report back with the outcome.

 

[Holmz]

...

What's a Hitchcock movie?

(Had that invitation recently, happily accepted)

Tom

It was not intended as a double entendre, but it looks like it could have been.

Here is the Hitchcock shower scene I was thinking of.

 

[leakyroof]

I have a clinet that has an German Shepard that was trained in Germany as a attack dog.  I had to replace the side lights in the front door with 3/8 tempered bc the dog has broke through the glass 13 times.  I was there today and the dog has scratches in the glass about a 1/32 to a 1/16 of an inch deep.  I didnt realize that the dog could scratch the glass that bad.  Its scratch so bad you cant see through it anymore.  I know this doesnt have anything to do with the op just thought it was interesting.

  13 TIMES...  13 TIMES....... [scared] [scared] [scared] [scared]