Polishing - scratch on screen and general bodywork/wheels

[ukbiggles]

Hi all

I have a scratch on my windscreen caused by a loose metal clip on the wiper arm, and have advised that it would probably polish out. It makes me think about getting a polishing buff/kit that would do for this scratch, the bodywork generally and those all important alloys.

Anyone got recommendations on what to consider purchasing and what to avoid?

Thanks

Gord

[Princejohny]

Hey Gord,
You could theoretically polish out any scratch with the correct abrasives and enough patience. You might notice something even more annoying when it rains later though. The polishing will leave a low spot in the windscreen that the wiper may miss. Typically in an arc just where you want to look through!


Johny

[Staggering About]

I've heard that "Jeweller's Rough" is the stuff to use but I've never had to try it.
If you have a low spot use RainX. I hardly ever have to use my wipers. 35mph upwatds the water just rolls off.

[Duncan Skye]

Dear Gord,

I've got exactly the same problem on my windscreen, from a PO. So off I went to Screwfix and bought their glass polishing kit (30347) for £22.

Following their instructions exactly, I found it hard work and slow going. Everything you need is in the kit, but you do need a mains powered electric drill because you'll soon empty the batteries on your cordless.

I found that polishing did reduce the deeper scratches but I had to be careful that localised heat build up wouldn't affect the glass and cause it to shatter, so I had to keep the buffer moving and constantly wetted with the polishing goop you have to mix up. On wiping the residue off to inspect the progress, I noticed that the background 'haze' had vanished in the area I had been working on, so there is an effect. But as I said, it is a case of slow progress and you may want to spread the task oveer a couple of sessions.

My car isn't on the road yet so I can't say anything about the finished job, but I am optimistic. If I've taken too much glass off and I get 'rain runs' then it'll have to be Rain-X for me. Or only use the car on high days and dry days!

Good luck with it,
Duncan, Skye

[Moraystag]

Alan tried Jewlers rouge last time home, and it really did'nt work very well. Scratch on my screen is from a previous owner, bit of a pain but it's on the passenger side, you've probably noticed it before.
The guy that lives across the road is a glazier and his machine was just to big and bulcky for a small windscreen. Splattered the rouge all over the shop as well.
See you on Sunday

Mike