Windshield Polish? 47 Years of Road Debris

[gregp553]

My windshield is awful. 47 years of road debris makes it look like it was sandblasted. I've read old posts about cirium oxide and other attempts to clean the glass, but has anyone recently discovered a new product that you can use for a DIY fix? A new windshield is an option, but is that the best option? Anybody have success polishing a windshield? I used a flashlight to accent the flaws in the glass.

[BarneyT]

The best option is new glass, i just replaced mine it really a difference.

[ray_]

Barney is right.

 

Though there are ways to polish out the pits but it would take forever, with less than perfect results and likely cost more than a new windshield.

 

Cheers,

[jimk]

To "Remove" a pit, the pit isn't removed, but the area surrounding the pit is removed.  On glass if the surrounding area is not smooth, there would be a lot of localized distortion.  There isn't much hope in finding a method to make it happen.

+1  Buy new glass.

Edited September 1, 2019 by jimk

[gregp553]

47 minutes ago, ray_ said:

Barney is right.

 

Though there are ways to polish out the pits but it would take forever, with less than perfect results and likely cost more than a new windshield.

 

Cheers,

OK. But now what do I do on a rainy Sunday? I thought the windshield would be a good project.

[ray_]

3 minutes ago, gregp553 said:

OK. But now what do I do on a rainy Sunday? I thought the windshield would be a good project.

Replace the valve cover gasket on your N55. That will take all day.

 

[gregp553]

56 minutes ago, ray_ said:

Replace the valve cover gasket on your N55. That will take all day.

 

33,000 miles and dry as a bone. No way. I bought the 2002 to have something to work on. Good idea though.

[ray_]

1 hour ago, gregp553 said:

33f,000 miles and dry as a bone. No way. I bought the 2002 to have something to work on. Good idea though.

I think the 40 pages of illustrated instructions are still on pelican parts site. Notwithstanding that and the intake valve decarbonization I really miss my 335 ?

[Conserv]

My ‘76’s windshield suffered the same fate: the windshield looked great, except when the sun was at just the right angle. The tiny stone chips, in that light, made the windshield nearly opaque, certainly unsafe. I, too, thought it would be great to save the original windshield, but, to jimk’s point, I would have had to polish 100% of the windshield down to the depth of the deepest chip. Even antique glass restorers said “Don’t be stupid!” The new windshield is great! ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited September 1, 2019 by Conserv

[gregp553]

32 minutes ago, Conserv said:

My ‘76’s windshield suffered the same fate: the windshield looked great, except when the sun was at just the right angle. The tiny stone chips, in that light, made the windshield nearly opaque, certainly unsafe. I, too, thought it would be great to save the original windshield, but, to jimk’s point, I would have had to polish 100% of the windshield down to the depth of the deepest chip. Even antique glass restorers said “Don’t be stupid!” The new windshield is great! ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Sounds like the right thing. Is the local dealer or some other source the best call these days?

[joysterm]

First piece of hardware/dust collector and  hanging out with of couple of new friends

[2002#3]

10 minutes with a clay bar might work wonders.  Certainly did with a few of my windshields. Worth a try.  

Clay bars will not remove pits; however, they will remove everything else.  The only things remaining will be pits and, thus, an overall reduction in total windshield "trash".  

[NYTransplant]

3 hours ago, 2002#3 said:

10 minutes with a clay bar might work wonders.  Certainly did with a few of my windshields. Worth a try.  

Clay bars will not remove pits; however, they will remove everything else.  The only things remaining will be pits and, thus, an overall reduction in total windshield "trash".  

 

I was just thinking about using a clay bar to clean my windshield today.  What do you use for a lubricant?

[Einspritz]

Consider this a no loss situation.

Try this: https://www.eastwood.com/glass-polishing-kit-for-deep-scratches-5658.html

 

If it doesn't work for you, then get a new windshield.

 

I used this on BIG Cibie lights and will try it when the time comes on the windshield....I want to keep the OE stickers and the antenna for the UNGO box.....

 

HTH

[2002#3]

NYTransplant,

Water.  I was surprised at how smooth and clean the clay bar made the glass feel and appear.  I will not hesitate to use it again.