Sanding and polishing epoxy resin jewelry

A car has long ceased to be a luxury and has become a practical means of transportation. However, every diligent, competent owner understands the importance of maintaining his “iron friend” in decent condition and ensuring status indicators. This is why car body polishing is so popular. Moscow and other cities offer this service in every car service center.

You need to understand the importance of this procedure and carefully choose the professionals you trust to polish your car. Our service uses an innovative method of covering the car body with materials that provide ideal aesthetic characteristics and reliable protection of varnished parts. By contacting our company, you can be sure that the car body polishing will be performed by experienced professionals. It should be understood that polishing and protective coating are two procedures that should be performed together. If the car is only polished, but not protected, then the coating will be more exposed to various external influences.

Method for polishing car glass and correct use of GOI paste

Every motorist is faced with the need to polish their windshield, which can be done with their own hands. This is necessary to ensure that driving is safe and the car looks beautiful and new. The fact is that over time, the glass becomes dirty, small or large scratches may appear on them due to sand that gets under the blades of the wipers, due to small pebbles flying while driving. Also, improper care, poorly selected abrasive paste and wiping with a rough dry cloth can have a negative impact on the appearance of glass. There may be many reasons, but there is only one solution to the problem - polishing the glass with the well-known GOI paste.

Who will be interested in the service

The condition of a car's windshield can deteriorate for various reasons. The main ones are scratches as a result of constant work of the wipers, marks from cleaning with a scraper, chips from stones, clouding after chemical treatment. Over time, glass inevitably becomes cloudy and dirty; the situation is aggravated if the products were initially of poor quality.

Polishing is aimed at removing plaque, chips, irregularities, abrasions, acid stains, and pinhole defects. It smooths out shallow scratches and completely restores smoothness and transparency. The procedure allows you to preserve the factory glass with a full set of markings and will help avoid difficulties associated with replacement (leaks, stress, etc.). The price of polishing is much lower than the cost of purchasing and installing new glass, and the turnaround time is also minimal.

Treatment of minor damage

Minor damage makes the glass dull and unsightly, although scratches are difficult to see. The easiest way to fix such a defect with your own hands is, however, you should be careful, otherwise you can only make things worse.

It is recommended to adhere to the following rules for polishing to be successful:

• The abrasive paste should not be aggressive, since you are polishing, not grinding. Felt must be tested first.
• It is not recommended to use strong water pressure, as it causes a hydroplaning effect - the abrasive does not adhere to the surface being treated.
• Be sure to use warm water, otherwise cracks may appear. It will also help eliminate waste quickly.

Before polishing the windshield with your own hands, you will need to wash the surface using windshield wipers. After this, you need to use GOI paste, which can be mixed with sunflower oil. Felt and felt circles are suitable as polishing materials.

If you want to cover the entire surface of the glass, then to make it easy to find the location of the defect later, you need to outline it with a marker from the inside.

You can see the glass polishing process in detail in the video.

Removing deep chips and scratches

In cases where the windshield has deep scratches from sharp metal objects or chips caused by stones while driving, complete removal of the damage will be impossible. In most cases, the only correct solution is to replace the glass.

However, you can try to sand out such damage. This will require removing a deeper layer of the glass surface - which is quite problematic in itself. The grinding wheel cannot be kept in one place for a long time, otherwise overheating and chipping will certainly occur, and cracks will increase in size. Grinding a windshield is very difficult and is best left to the experts.

Even in cases of successful removal of the required surface layer, a diopter effect is necessarily formed, reminiscent of a lens in its properties. The picture is distorted, which interferes with control of the traffic situation and causes eye fatigue.

Even specialists, using grinding and filling cracks with photopolymers, restore glass only by 50-70 percent.

Polishing medium defects

When the depth of the scratches is no more than 300 microns, but they catch the nail if you run it over the defect, the damage can be classified as moderate. You can remove them yourself, but you will need a grinding machine and GOI paste.

• It is advisable to wet the material before applying it to the circle, so as not to then touch the surface of the window or car headlight with the dry compound.
• During the polishing process, the result must be checked. The paste can be easily removed with paper towels, and after removing it, you can inspect the surface.
• It is recommended to mark the work area on the windshield in advance; this is not required for the side windows.
• It does not matter what direction the abrasive moves, but overlapping stripes are encouraged.

Defects

Minor damage includes scratches that are not visible to the naked eye. But if the weather is clear, then the sun’s rays refracted through them greatly interfere with driving. This kind of damage occurs under the influence of external factors - dust, road sand, improper care of the glass associated with rough snow removal or the use of harsh napkins. Old windshield wipers are also dangerous. From such influences the glass becomes dull and dull.

Damage whose depth ranges from one hundred fifty to two hundred microns is considered medium. Such a scratch is determined by running a fingernail across the glass. Once it gets caught, that's where the average damage will occur.

Deep defects are immediately visible. It is best to eliminate them using photopolymers. After their application, the glass is ground and polished.

Removing deep scratches

Deep scratches are those that easily catch the nail. They are the most difficult to eliminate, as the glass surface may become distorted. If the depression is large and located on the windshield, then grinding is not recommended.

To eliminate the defect, it is better to use a colorless compound that will fill the scratch. You can also use GOI paste, but it is important not to overdo it with pressure, as too much pressure will damage the material. To do everything correctly, it is recommended to watch the video with instructions.

We eliminate abrasions from windshield wipers with our own hands

The abrasions on the windshield caused by the windshield wipers do not penetrate deeply; the thickness of the damaged layer is only a few microns

Two “arcs” from windshield wiper blades are a very common occurrence on the windshield. Typically, such defects do not penetrate deeply and imply the presence of a damaged layer several microns thick. It is possible to completely remove dullness using a ready-made abrasive wheel for primary processing or an ordinary felt wheel with polishing paste applied to it.

“After applying the repair to the crystals, sprinkle vinegar on the dry surface and wipe it with a soft white cloth.” Thank you for reading. How to Remove Scratches from Glass and Glass If you liked this article, subscribe to any of our social networks and receive outstanding posts every day.

If we search among the cleaning products we have at home, be it the bathroom, kitchen or personal cleanliness, we can find some that will allow us to improve the appearance, both inside and outside of our car. Plus, with a little skill and cunning, you can perform small miracles with something as simple as a gel or food. But it is also possible to solve emergencies that arise with the help of small tricks and, above all, without having to spend money on certain car cleaning products, which, moreover, are not always easy to find.

If using a paste, it is necessary to evenly distribute the composition over the entire area to be treated, and then begin polishing, constantly moving the polishing wheel. It is not recommended to keep the machine in one place, as overheating and cracking of the material may occur. You should also not allow the polish to dry out; if you feel that polishing has become more difficult, moisten the surface with water from a spray bottle. However, you shouldn’t overdo it with hydration, otherwise aquaplaning will start and you’ll have to put in more effort.

We offer 20 home tricks that you can use to remove stains, odors, or minor problems that may crop up unexpectedly in your car. If you want to get rid of a body dent without having to go through the store and spend a lot of money, use a plunger. Wet the edge of the suction cup and place it on the dent. Then pull as if you were going to clear a pipe.

To restore the original shine to your tires, hose off the water and let them dry. Then pour out the can of coke and brush it along the gum line. You will see how bright they are. You can also use furniture varnish, which leaves less residue.

How to deal with dullness?

If dullness appears under the influence of the environment, it can be eliminated using a GOI and a grinding machine. This is delicate work, but such processing can be done with your own hands without any problems. First of all, remember that before polishing it is necessary to wash the area with cleaner and moisten with water.

You need to start the polishing process when the machine accelerates to 1100 rpm. There is no need to apply strong pressure, as it may damage the surface.

The contact area should be maximum (the angle between the glass and the disk should not exceed 4-6 degrees). It is also necessary to take into account that the circle must be in constant motion on the surface of the machine, without stopping. If you do everything correctly, you will be able to eliminate the dullness.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-polishing

Having finally decided where and how you will polish the glass of your vehicle, you should take into account all the positive and negative aspects of doing it yourself. The main advantage is the low cost of all events.

But there is a little more negativity. An unprofessional specialist will spend much more time on the work with his own hands. A beginner can generally confuse the terms and start grinding the surface instead of polishing, ultimately ruining the glass.

Mistakes when polishing a windshield

If you have never had to polish a car before or have little experience in this matter, then you should not deviate from the instructions and rules. Otherwise, you can make irreparable mistakes that will ruin the appearance of the windshield.

What not to do:

• First of all, you should not use tooth powder for polishing. It can be used on headlights, but is not suitable for windshields. Because of it, new scratches will appear, since the surface being treated is too thin, so it is better to use GOI paste.
• Even if you use high-quality glass polishes, it is not recommended to press too hard on the surface as this may cause microlensing.
• GOI paste comes in different types: fine, medium and coarse. It is necessary to distinguish between them, since only a thin one is suitable for polishing a windshield.
• During the process, it is necessary to monitor the heating of the glass, because if it overheats, it may burst.

To avoid these and other mistakes, it is recommended to first watch a training video on the Internet, and then start polishing.

How to bring the transparency of glass to perfection yourself

When polishing, you need to periodically stop and wash off any remaining paste from the area being treated to inspect the results of your efforts. It is important to visually analyze the surface from different angles and make sure that further polishing is necessary.

With an ice pack you can harden the rubber and then peel it off. It only takes three minutes. It may also cost a hairdryer. Dampen the stains with linseed oil and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wipe with a damp flannel cloth. You will see that the result is positive.

Step-by-step polishing of a windshield at home

We're talking about those inevitable seats left for little ones in the back of the front seats. One option is to distract the children. You can also place clear plastic at the bottom of both places. Although this will need to be renewed every so often because children kicking is inevitable and the plastic ends up breaking.

When the goal is to polish a relatively large area, it would be appropriate to draw conditional boundaries on the back of the glass, dividing everything into squares. In this case, when moving from one cell to the second, it is necessary to do “overlapping” polishing so that there are no untreated stripes left and the restored glass has a uniform surface.

With this trick you will have your car looking like new, at least on the outside. Mix some rubbing alcohol in a bowl and some liquid Vaseline. Apply the mixture to your body. Then wash the car, dry it and then wipe it with a cloth. Battery terminals often become filled with grease and dust. To remove this dirt, use a rag soaked in coke. The result will surprise you.

Reasons for loss of glass transparency

For tar and resin stains, use a cloth dampened with alcohol. After a few minutes of friction, your efforts will be rewarded and disappear. If you think your tire is flat and you don't have a spare tire or puncture protection kit, you may be able to solve the problem temporarily if you have a nail on hand. Raise the vehicle with a jack and inspect the flat tire to find the source of the leak. If the hole is due to a blow to the rubber, there is no other solution than to call a faucet. If the hole is small and very localized, you can always try driving a nail or a large enough screw into the hole to prevent air from escaping.

During processing, you need to ensure that the polishing wheel is at an angle of approximately 5º relative to the glass. In this case, it is advisable not to raise the speed above 2000, the optimal indicator is 1500-1700 rpm. The total amount of time spent on polishing is usually 2-5 hours. After completing the procedure, you need to wash the glass with water and a special cleaner, and then wipe everything dry with a microfiber cloth.

What you need to polish glass

Stop at the first gas station to inflate the tire a little and remember that this is a temporary “fix”.
You will need to go to the workshop. Although this may seem like a joke or a myth, the truth is that it is a practice that is very common in several countries. Place a small aspirin on your belly button and cover it with two crossed heat strips. Another solution is to give them some gingerbread cookies before the trip because ginger has properties that prevent nausea. Eucalyptus fruits are ideal natural air fresheners. Place a dozen of these fruits in areas of the car that receive air from the ventilation ducts. You'll see your ride smell more naturally. "Pine" air fresheners, which can be purchased at the supermarket, can also be an option.

How to polish a windshield with your own hands at home

Hello, dear friends! I think many motorists are familiar with the problem of scratches appearing on the windshield. Moreover, factors independent of the driver and mistakes of the car owner can lead to their appearance. Therefore, it will be relevant to talk about such a topic as polishing a windshield with your own hands.

The procedure can actually be performed independently and at home. And to be more precise, in garages. You shouldn’t do this outdoors, because there is too much dust and pollution around.

There are various tools described on Drive2 and thematic forums. Many people suggest using toothpaste, polishing the glass surface without a machine at all, etc.

But if you want to get a good result, and not contact the service, you will have to do everything smartly and technologically.

Working with grinders

Windshield polishing is often done using grinding wheels. Novice motorists sometimes confuse the process of polishing and grinding, since they differ only in the attachments used on the grinding machine.

Polishing is carried out by placing a felt wheel on the grinding machine, because it is designed for polishing almost all glass. When polishing the windshield, you must use a special green felt pad and green polishing paste.

Grinding machines are indispensable for better performance and speeding up the polishing process.

In addition to damaging external influences, the surface of the windshield is significantly damaged by glass cleaners - wipers. The dust that gets underneath them constantly scratches the glass.

Working on this problem, a method for cleaning windshields using ultrasound is proposed and exists at the design stage.

Polishing scratches on a car body is a necessary measure when restoring the paintwork from numerous small defects. It allows you to return the car to its original appearance without completely repainting it. The causes of damage are small stones flying out from under the wheels of other cars, tree branches, ice, hail, and careless driving. Defects spoil the appearance of the car and cause corrosion. If you have special equipment, you can polish your car yourself.

Sequence of procedure

As the practice and experience of motorists shows, using goyi toothpaste is much more rational and effective than toothpaste. Although the latter also has a right to exist in the matter of finishing the windshield to a shine. My personal experience suggests that the best remedy for removing scratches on the windshield of any car is the voiced paste together with cerium oxide as a means to combat deep damage in the form of scratches. But the choice is yours. Some even polish with soda, believing that it is in no way inferior to oxide. But it’s still easier to buy and the cost is lower. On this score, it will be interesting to read your reviews, as well as the results of what happened before and after when using certain folk remedies.

The entire polishing process can be divided into several successive steps. I strongly advise you to adhere to this structure of your work process.

When you have managed to purchase and assemble the entire kit for restoration and polishing work, you can begin the procedure.

It consists of the following actions:

• Body wrap. It is important to protect body parts from accidental contact with pastes and oxide. The products dry quickly, so this will save you from having to wash the car again;
• Oxide treatment. The product is applied with water not to the glass, but to the polishing wheel. Be sure to keep the machine at medium speed. Do not allow the glass to overheat, stop periodically;
• After finishing the oxide treatment, thoroughly rinse the glass surface and replace the wheel on the machine;
• Now the paste is applied. The product is cheap, but incredibly effective. For better performance, you can mix Goya paste with a small amount of paraffin or wax;
• After finishing the finishing process, remove the masking tape from the body.

At this point the polishing can be considered complete.

Please note that there are many videos and instructions on the Internet that clearly show the entire process of polishing car windshields yourself. You shouldn't rely on them completely. Take only the main ideas and main recommendations.

When working independently in a garage environment, it is very important to distribute the force from the polishing machine extremely carefully and evenly. During the processing, a layer of glass is removed, which allows you to remove scratches. But you can’t shoot more than 10 microns.

How to prevent the appearance of holograms or how to remove holograms after polishing a car?

All paint finishes are different. Some paints will polish better without holograms than others. Since all paints are different, the same method can work and there will be no holograms, but on another paintwork the same actions can cause holograms to appear. Therefore, you need to look at the situation and experiment.

• The main idea is to be less aggressive when polishing with a rotary polisher. What does it mean? There are several ways to polish without aggressively affecting the paintwork. The aggressiveness of the impact is influenced by the abrasiveness of the polishing paste and the hardness of the polishing wheel. Thus, a less rigid circle will have a less severe impact on the paintwork. The wheel you need to choose is the least hard, but intended for use with abrasive paste. The hardness of the same type of wheel may vary depending on its newness. A new circle is stiffer, while a used (but not very worn) circle is softer. Larger diameter circles are less aggressive than smaller ones. Circles with a smaller diameter concentrate pressure, while larger ones disperse it. To reduce the aggressiveness of the impact, you do not need to put pressure on the circle, but slightly weaken it (raise it), while the circle should still touch the surface.
• The next factor is a decrease in the speed of rotation of the circle. Thus, at a high speed of rotation of the wheel (1700–2000 rpm), a more aggressive abrasive effect is obtained, which is necessary to eliminate defects. To reduce the hologram effect, you need to reduce the rotation speed of the circle by half (and down to the lowest), which will give a more gentle effect.

The trunk lid is polished with a rotary polishing machine according to all the rules. The result is a uniform gloss without the hologram effect.

• After reducing the wheel speed, increase the speed of the polishing wheel over the surface and expand the polished area. In recommendations for polishing, you can hear that you need to limit the polished area and polish gradually in small areas (50 by 50 cm). At the final stage of polishing, to reduce the hologram effect, you need to polish a larger area. Thus, at a higher speed of movement of the circle, the time of its action is actually reduced and, thereby, the aggressiveness of the action.
• So, lower the speed, lower the pressure on the wheel (using only the weight of the machine and lifting it while polishing with a soft wheel), polishing a larger area at a time with an increased speed of movement of the polisher (and wheel accordingly). There is one more thing not mentioned. When polishing soft paint, a hologram effect is more likely to appear. In this case, you need to use a little less polish. Oily residue after polishing should be removed with a microfiber towel with cleaning liquid (water + 10–25% isopropyl alcohol).

Deep scratches

When very deep scratches appear on the forehead, which cannot be removed with ordinary polishing wheels using the mentioned products or their analogues, many motorists give up.

In practice, there is nothing critical or scary about this. Yes, sometimes deep scratches are more like cracks, and then you have to repair the glass or replace it completely.

There is a good way out of the situation. It’s not the most budget-friendly, but you can definitely save on car service costs. I'm talking about diamond type polishing pads. They have a special diamond coating that can save the front from deeper scratches.

When working with such circles, it is worth considering that they quickly grind down the glass, and therefore require extreme caution. Make sure that the machine moves evenly and do not allow the tool to remain in one place for a long time. To avoid creating a lens effect, all glass is polished. Processing continues until the scratch disappears. Then take cerium oxide again and finish polishing with goya paste.

Although there is an impressive range of various special products on sale, goyim remains a priority for most motorists. This is largely due to the extremely low cost coupled with excellent efficiency. Therefore, a natural question arises about why overpay.

If you have a different opinion, be sure to write in the comments. Let's discuss.

Thanks to everyone who reads us! Special thanks for inviting your friends to our site! Continue in the same spirit! And we will answer you with relevant and useful materials!

(
9 ratings, average: 4.67 out of 5)

Preparation for polishing

Before polishing, the glass must be washed to remove dirt. When working on an uncleaned surface, rubbing fine sand particles will result in new scratches. The next stage is marking problem areas. They use an additional light source - it is moved at different angles.

Found scratches are outlined with a marker from inside the car. When a full restoration of scratched glass is carried out, a marker is not required.

Preparation stages:

1. Protect the rest of the car from splashes with plastic film. The edges are fixed with masking tape. Cover the hood, windshield and roof. When working with film, do not make sudden movements so as not to raise dust from the floor.
2. Then a window is cut out in the film according to the markings. The edges of the hole are fixed with masking tape.

Before polishing, you will have to prepare not only the car, but also the room.

Polishing room

The polishing room must meet basic requirements - good lighting and no dust. When working outdoors, particles of dirt will certainly fall on the glass, which will lead to the formation of even more abrasions.

The lighting should be sufficient to make it easier to evaluate the results of the work. Good lighting allows you to find single scratches.

Necessary equipment

A special polishing machine is the best tool for processing windshields. However, if it is absent, the surface can be sanded with a grinder or drill. A felt polishing wheel attachment is attached to the tool.

During the work you will need:

• sprinkler;
• soft cloth, clean napkins;
• fine abrasive paste for auto glass;
• masking tape;
• special cleaner;
• spray bottle with water.

It is better to do the work in overalls.

Ways to polish plexiglass with your own hands

Plexiglas is a thermoplastic material obtained by chemical reactions from acrylic acid. Use in production and at home is due to good strength, increased transparency, as well as aesthetic quality. Most often used for the manufacture of shower cabins, auto accessories, lamps, showcases, partitions for home and office design, etc. Due to their widespread use, owners of such products often have questions about how to polish plexiglass at home.

Although the material has good resistance to mechanical damage, still, during long-term use, small chips and scratches appear on it, it becomes dull and not aesthetically pleasing. In this case, to return the product to its original appearance, polishing of the plexiglass is necessary. To do this, you don’t have to turn to professionals; you can do everything yourself.

What materials will be needed?

To polish the case with your own hands you will need :

• polishing cloth intended for polishing jewelry;
• a good brand of cleaner and its analogues;
• manicure block for polishing nails;
• scraps of soft cloth or napkins for wiping glasses.

Polishing can be done on stainless steel watches without bluing, gilding or other coatings. a glossy area does not appear in place of the scratch .

To get rid of minor abrasions and scratches, defective areas are polished with the dark side of a polishing cloth, and then the surface is polished with its light side to a shine (with the exception of the matte case and bracelet).

If the abrasions and scratches are of medium size, then polish the defective areas with a piece of soft cloth , having previously applied a cleaner or its equivalent to it.

The movements must be circular and precisely localized to the scratch site.

Until there is no trace left of it, after which, using a soft cloth or napkin for wiping glasses, the treated area is polished to a shine.

You can also satin the bracelet yourself in a simple way, as evidenced by reviews on the forums. It is usually recommended to use a high-quality eraser (you can use a pencil eraser - it will be convenient) to eliminate scuffs and minor scratches.

Watch polishing eraser

To repair a small chip or deep scratch on uncoated stainless steel, you can use a manicure block to polish your nails , and then polish the top of the case or bracelet.

No matter how carefully you handle your watch, over time it will inevitably develop minor defects in the form of scratches. This not only spoils their appearance, but also makes it difficult to see the position of the hands on the dial. If the glass is scratched, you can use one of the methods below and sand the glass yourself, taking into account the type of material from which it is made.

Features of the material and scope of application

In general terms, the high technical qualities of organic glass have already been mentioned, which also has many other names: acrylic, polycarbonate, plexiglass. Among the main features that have led to the widespread use of this material are environmental friendliness and low weight. Compared to conventional glass products, the use of acrylic allows the structure to be twice as light.

• The material is durable and difficult to break, which makes the product durable;
• Ease of processing allows you to create decorative elements for design, including watch dials;
• Provides high transparency, as well as the ability to use different color solutions;
• It is moisture resistant and less susceptible to mechanical and chemical damage than ordinary glass.

Polishing plexiglass at home allows you to restore its aesthetic appearance and extend the service life of the product for a long time. There are many ways in which you can polish an acrylic product without the help of a professional.

Methods for polishing plexiglass at home

The most important advantage of polishing plexiglass yourself is that the methods do not involve the use of expensive materials. All products can be purchased at a regular hardware store. It is also worth remembering that with manual processing the result will be much better than using special equipment. For example, attachments on a grinder (which is often used for this) can heat and melt the surface, ruining the quality of the product.

Among the most accessible and simplest methods:

• polishing acrylic glass using felt and GOI paste;
• specialized polishes;
• dichloroethane;
• improvised means (wine vinegar, toothpaste, etc.).

Each of them has its own characteristics that should be taken into account when working. In addition to the products themselves, you need to take care of the availability of tools that will be useful during processing: masking tape, felt, sandpaper, soft sponge, etc., depending on the chosen option.

Medium scratches

To eliminate medium-depth scratches, you will need the same materials as for small scratches, but GOI paste is not only No. 1, but also No. 2 and No. 3, as well as a piece of leather or felt .

A piece of leather for polishing watches

Steps:

1. Remove the glass from the watch case and with microfiber to remove all dirt.
2. Apply a little GOI paste to microfiber moistened with water and polish the glass with the same wave-like movements until noticeable scratches disappear, then replace the paste with No. 2 and continue polishing. To eliminate micro-scratches, use paste No. 1.
3. When the surface of the glass becomes perfectly matte, wash off the GOI paste, dry the glass with dry microfiber, apply tooth powder or paste to it and continue polishing with microfiber dipped in water for about 15 minutes.
4. Clean the glass and put it back into the watch case.

Tooth powder for watch polishing

Using GOI paste, sandpaper and felt (with detailed video)

Plexiglas polishing paste is most often used for this type of work. Even professional restoration specialists use this method. To achieve maximum results, you need to use a certain algorithm:

1. The first step is to limit the work surface using masking tape. If it is possible to separate the acrylic part, then it is better to do just that.
2. Sand the surface with sandpaper (grain 2000), periodically moisten it with cold water. The result of this stage should be a uniform matte surface. Don't rush into work, do everything measuredly.
3. Polishing plexiglass with your own hands, although it does not require much effort, is a rather lengthy process. At the third stage, you need to dry the acrylic element, take felt and apply GOI paste. Then get to work. It is recommended to divide the surface into small sections and rub them until they have a glossy shine.

As you can see from the algorithm, there is nothing complicated, the only thing is the time that needs to be spent, but the result is really impressive. A plexiglass product will return to its original appearance and will delight the owner again. This method can remove fairly large scratches and chips.

Useful tips when using GOI paste

We've written about how to properly sand acrylic glass, but there are certain tips that you should follow during the process, as well as in preparation.

• instead of felt you can use: felt, insoles, a piece of felt felt, a cotton pad, a terry towel;
• While working, constantly wet the surface; if it dries out, you can scratch the material even more;
• if it enters the body, GOI causes severe poisoning, be careful and work away from children;
• if you have any questions, you can use the forum, where they will tell you how to solve the problem or watch a video;
• if the surface is severely damaged, sandpaper (800 grain) will be needed; if the product is new, then you should not use it.

What to do with scratched car glass

First, you should critically assess the condition of the glass elements and the extent of their damage.
This component of the car can be replaced with a new one, but this method is not rational for minor defects, and is also quite expensive. Alternatively, you can contact a car service, where professional polishing is carried out using specialized products. The cost of the final work is determined by the price list of a particular service station.

And finally, the simplest and most cost-effective method of solving the problem is to polish your car windows yourself to prevent damage and scratches. Of course, it is advisable to take on such work if you have experience and skills. But, if you follow the instructions correctly, even a novice car enthusiast can carry out this activity.

Important! Self-polishing of car glass is unacceptable if there are significant scratches and chips. Polishing the surface to a shine will probably work, but a “wave effect” may occur, which is extremely undesirable for a windshield. In such a situation, it would be wiser to redirect the matter into the hands of professionals.

Determining the extent of car damage

Before starting work, you will need to assess the severity of the defects, as this will determine the nuances in polishing.

• minor changes in the appearance of the glass surface are minor abrasions and scratches no more than 200 microns deep. Work to eliminate defects is carried out using a felt or fine abrasive wheel and fine-grained pastes containing manganese or zinc. The essence of polishing is to remove the thinnest layer from the glass;
• medium damage - are defects with a depth of 200-300 microns. Fine abrasive materials using fine and medium abrasive pastes with zirconium and iron also come to the rescue here. Such damage is the result of the mechanical influence of worn-out wipers, and in order to eliminate them, you will have to spend quite a lot of time;
• severe damage - takes a long time to remove using highly effective fine-grained compounds enriched with chromium and cerium. This procedure allows you to give the glass impeccable transparency, but it requires certain skills and considerable patience.

The polishing process takes from 30 minutes to 2-2.5 hours - it all depends on the severity of the problem. In addition to eliminating scratches, polishing eliminates problems such as stains and stains on glass, rubbing from wipers and scrapers.

Types of windshield damage and their consequences

Windshield damage can be divided into several types:

• loss of transparency or dullness;
• small scratches, or so-called “cobwebs”;
• deep scratches;
• chips and cracks.

As for chips and cracks, there are also certain methods and means to eliminate these defects. Most often, such damage is entrusted to professionals, since it is very difficult to repair it yourself at home. In most cases, the same applies to deep scratches that were the result of exposure to sharp metal objects on the car glass.

If there is slight dullness or shallow scratches, then in most cases these defects can be easily eliminated yourself in the garage. But even here there are many pitfalls that are very often not taken into account. Neglecting the basic rules for polishing car glass at home often causes complete damage to the part, which leads to the need to replace it.

What is the effect of dullness and the appearance of small scratches on this element of the car? There are two important factors here. Firstly, scratched glass limits your view, distorts everything that is happening on the road, dazzles you when driving oncoming at night, and therefore interferes with normal comfortable driving. Often such driving is not only inconvenient and tiring, but also dangerous. Secondly, damaged glass spoils the overall appearance of the car.

This is interesting: Self-replacement of low beam lamps in Hyundai Accent headlights

To avoid all these troubles, dullness and scratches can be polished with your own hands. But before you begin this process, you should understand in more detail the options for such restoration repairs.

Home helpers (toothpaste, chalk and others) + video

Many people want to learn how to polish plexiglass at home using available means. Most often, substances with a high content of calcium and fluoride are chosen: chalk or toothpaste. To get a shiny surface, you can use a felt cloth, onto which the product is applied, after which the surface is treated.

You can also use polishing wheels for an angle grinder; some craftsmen even do this with a screwdriver, but keep in mind that under no circumstances should you apply force. If your hand trembles, you can damage the product.

Therefore, it is better to polish plexiglass by hand. Instead of felt material, you can take a regular soft towel made from natural fabrics. Toothpaste is applied to it and rubbed in circular movements until transparent. After use, the product should be rinsed with cold water and dried.

Now you know whether you can polish plexiglass with toothpaste. When using chalk, you must first grind it into powder and add a little water until a thick paste forms. And then the process is the same as with pasta.

What you need to polish your windshield yourself

So, let's figure out what and how you can polish your windshield from car scratches at home? It is important to understand here that glass is a material that is more difficult to work with because it cannot be polished as easily as the rest of the car body. To perform this task, you will definitely need a polishing machine, to which you can connect a channel to supply water to the processing site, which will successfully combat sudden temperature changes on the glass during friction.

Polishing machine

In addition, you will need to stock up on:

• abrasive polishing paste;
• masking tape;
• film or any other protective cover for adjacent parts of the car;
• microfiber cloths;
• glass cleaners;
• a regular spray bottle with water;
• marker.

Toothpaste

You can try to solve the problem with toothpaste. To do this, you need to take one that has a whitening effect, since it contains an abrasive. Using modern gel toothpastes to polish your windshield will be ineffective.

For polishing, use toothpaste with a whitening effect.

Toothpaste is applied to a cotton swab and rubbed in a circular motion into the damaged area. After this, the glass is washed well. This method will help cope with only very minor damage and abrasions.

Fine sandpaper

If polishing with toothpaste requires a lot of effort and time to achieve results, then with sandpaper, on the contrary, you can easily overdo it.

To do this, use the finest and softest sandpaper. You must work carefully. If you press hard on it or move it in one place for a long time, there is a risk of new scratches or indentations appearing. This causes the curvature of the glass to change and will look worse than a small chip.

This is interesting: How to replace the cylinder head gasket on a VAZ 2110 (8 and 16 valves): fault diagnosis

The process of polishing glass with sandpaper requires a lot of effort and time. To do this, use fine sandpaper from 600 to 2500. Start working with paper with the largest grain, that is, with the lowest number. Gradually change the sandpaper and reach the finest grain. The paper must be periodically moistened with water.

Sandpaper allows for rough processing, after which the glass is polished with diamond paste or GOI paste is used. The paste also has different grain sizes. They start working with coarse grains and finish with fine grains.

You need to work carefully with the sandpaper so as not to create new scratches.

Paste GOI

GOI paste contains chromium oxide and is a universal polishing and grinding agent. It can be used to polish metal, plastic and glass. Men who served in the army are well acquainted with it. There it is used to rub plaques and buttons.

GOI paste helps to effectively combat scratches on glass

At home, metal and glass products are polished using GOI paste. When choosing a paste, you need to pay attention to the degree of its abrasiveness. GOI paste No. 2 and 3 is suitable for polishing glass.

GOI paste is applied not to glass, but to fabric; it must be lint-free. Felt works best. To make the paste fill scratches better, you can melt it in a water bath and then apply it to the fabric. First, a paste with a large grain is applied to the glass; its number will be smaller. Polishing is carried out, after which they take a paste with a higher number, that is, with a smaller grain, and continue to polish the glass.

Car windshield polishes

On sale you can find a variety of polishes for car windshields. Such products should only be applied with a rag or cotton pad; felt cannot be used for this.

After applying the composition to the problem area, rub it evenly to avoid sudden transitions. This is an effective method that allows you to completely remove small scratches and make deeper ones less noticeable.

Special polish designed for restoring car glass

Manicure polish

Some craftsmen use manicure polish. Only clear varnish is suitable for this. It is carefully applied to the scratch and wait until the composition dries. Remove excess using an eraser or rubber spatula.

This method helps hide deep defects. The disadvantage is that when exposed to sunlight, the refraction of glass and varnish will be different.

Can I polish it myself using dichloroethane?

Another product that is used to give acrylic products a pristine appearance. It’s worth saying right away that its use must be very careful, it is advisable to have skills in working with materials that corrode the surface, otherwise, instead of returning shine, you can add even more damage.

You can polish plexiglass in this way only if you take precautions. Dichloroethane is applied to the surface using a spray bottle. You need to do this as evenly as possible because... the product dissolves the top layer. After drying, if everything is done correctly, the product will become glossy again. And if some areas have not received a portion of the chemical, they will remain faded and unevenness will form. Therefore, it is better to entrust such work to professionals.

Polishing or sanding?

Can I polish my windshield myself? Yes - most minor damage to the windshield can be effectively repaired on your own, without resorting to the services of specialists. However, in cases of large chips and scratches, radical action may be required - completely replacing the glass with a new one.

The most effective way to get rid of dullness and minor damage on the windshield is polishing. A simple procedure that you can carry out yourself, either manually or using a special polishing machine.

It is necessary to clearly distinguish between glass polishing and grinding. The first procedure is used to eliminate minor damage, the second - to minimize the consequences of deep chips and scratches.

Important! Grinding car glass is a very labor-intensive and specific operation that should be entrusted to specialists from service stations or specialized workshops.

To determine whether polishing or grinding is required, the glass must be checked for deep damage. You can do this yourself by running your fingers along the glass; if the nail goes significantly deeper into the chip, highly abrasive grinding will be required. If surface roughness is felt, then you can start polishing.

The pros and cons of glass polishing

High-quality polishing requires removal of the entire outer layer. Its depth depends on the size of the chip being removed. If the procedure is carried out unevenly, the windshield will begin to work on the principle of a magnifying glass, which can lead to an inaccurate perception of the road situation by the driver.

Contacting a master is expensive, perhaps more expensive than pasting in the original. Polishing makes sense if:

• the price of a new part is more than 20 thousand rubles;
• there are no serious cracks or chips;
• The windshield is very rare.

Arguments against restoration:

• replacement cost does not exceed 10 thousand rubles;
• polishing yourself can damage the surface;
• there are no suitable tools or skills to work with them.

Considering these factors, it is easier to decide whether the glass can be polished or whether the glass needs to be replaced.

Other scratch remedies

If you still have a question about how to polish plexiglass from scratches, then you can go to the nearest auto store and find a special polish there. The product must be applied according to the instructions on the packaging specified by the manufacturer, since each product differs in composition. In any case, you must first test the product on a small area.

If nothing bad happened to it, feel free to start processing. How to polish plexiglass until transparent? Similarly, using felt, felt or a soft towel. Finally, rub the product with machine oil to remove any remaining polish and fix the shine.

Flame

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. This is where you need to be very careful, and it is better to have experience in such work. The result is achieved due to the melting of the top layer, and only for extruded acrylic. Cast material will leave black dots, so this method will not work for it.

Often this method is used to process the edges of products, inclined surfaces, corners and other hard-to-reach places. Polished plexiglass will become shiny again only if the surface being treated is evenly heated.

Solvent vapor

This method is used for the inner surface of products. It is achieved by exposure to solvent vapors, which will affect the top layer of acrylic. But we must take into account that if you are interested in how to polish plexiglass until transparent, you will have to abandon this method. With it you can achieve translucency, and then only machine processing.