Motherhen replied:

Do you have insurance with 'free windscreen'? If so, and the scratches can be said to 'obscure vision', you may have a claim. Maybe not worth it if you have an excess on windscreens.

kev.h replied:

have used a pooduct called jewlers ruge -it is used for polishing jems etc.- use with small lamswool buff on an electric drill worked well should be available from jewelery supply stores, try it on an old piece of glass first so you can see how it works
Kev

luch replied:

I don't know what car you have but i know a windscreen for a 80 series is only $140
Find out what a new glass cost for your model i don't like your chances of being able to polish them out

Keep in mind "nothing worse than driving, facing the afternoon sun with a scratched or sandblasted windscreen"

Member - Doug T (QLD) replied:

sam_84h
Long times back in the late 60s I was involved in the hobby of Lapidary, thats gemstone cutting and polishing, I use to use some synthetic stone called Goldstone and it came from Italy ,it was Glass with copper fillings in it , and I polishrd it to a high finish with Tin Oxide mixed to a slurry with water on a wooly buff, If the scratches are to deep to polish out you could try using a 500 grit silicon paper and finish it with a 600 silicon paper then apply the polish,after the Tin Oxide/water I used another one to finish it off but can't remember what it was called but it was a tan color and messy , glass is like Opals , can't let to much heat build up or it will pit, use lots of water if you use the grit papers , I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS REMEDY ON A WINDSCREEN

Member - John R (NSW) replied:

The stuff you're loking for is called Cerium Oxide. Glassies use it for polishing and smoothing.

If you're attempting to polish by hand, you'll still find it very labour intensive. It might be more economical to just have it replaced.

sam_84h replied:

thanks all, your responses are helpful. i think i'll decide what to do after i return from the canning trip... the chances of getting a chip or crack are too high to replace it before the trip.

Member - John R (NSW) replied:

I just remembered Sam, if you get someone to polish the scratches out, there is a chance that you will get distortions in your vision as a result of polishing now changing the generally perfectly smooth and consistent thickness of the outside glass layer. This will be quite obvious if the operator has to concentrate on any deep scratches.

To get an idea of difference, take a look through your run of the mill plate glass window at an angle. Traditionally "rolled" glass has undulations and distortions which are quite easy to see. Windscreen glass is "floated" and is optically very consistent when looking through it at almost any angle.