Fixing sand blasted windscreen

Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:02

ThreadID: 84054 Views:6383 Replies:11 FollowUps:14

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Member - Mfewster(SA)

A garage in Vic told me a few years ago that a liquid was available(and legal) that could be applied onto windscreens that would fill sandblasting and the screen came back like new. Has any oone heard of such a product and if so, where can it be obtained?
Thanks

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Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:08

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:08

I think a new screen would be a much better choice to spend some $$ on Mike.
Probably get one for around $200 if you shop around I think.

I couldn't imagine any liquid would fill the pitmarks and not leave any residue.
Driving on a wet day or night would be a problem then I think. How would the wipers cope with the filler all over the screen.

Dave

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AnswerID: 443856

Reply By: Member - Jack - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:19

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:19

If your windscreen is difficult to see through, you can get it replaced if you have windscreen insurance. Mind you, a hammer through the screen will also get you a similar result.

Have never heard of the liquid you are asking about. I went looking with Google and that came up empty as well.

Jack

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AnswerID: 443859

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:34

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:34

I agree with our Insurance we have Windscreen cover for an extra $34-00 a year, why stuff around trying to fix them.

FollowupID: 715912

Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:35

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:35

The garage that originally told me about it said it was made in Geelong. I've also gone googling etc but have never been able to find anything like it. Just thought perhaps someone might have heard of such a product.
Thanks everyone anyway.

FollowupID: 715913

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:40

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:40

I had a Hiace done in NZ by one of the screen outfits.

Basically they use an orbital polisher with a very fine grinding paste polish.

It cleaned it up a bit and took the wiper marks out but certainly didn't take any significant pits out.

If you grind into the surface too much it will crack as the surface is under tension and thats why it splits.

It cost me about $125 in 1994 so a new screen would be the go now

See the thread about good service (Or not in my case).

New cruiser screen fitted for $220.

FollowupID: 715914

Reply By: Member - Bruce T (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:08

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:08

Just get a new windscreen. Most insurance companies allow one per year. The RAA certainly does. We finished up having about 3 new ones in our Troopy. Every major trip we seemed to get a major stone or stones flung at us by inconsiderate travellers and it resulted in a new windscreen.

They even come to the house to o the changeover.

Bruce and Di

AnswerID: 443861

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 08:32

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 08:32

Inconsiderate travellers ?? So you can state without fear or favour that YOUR vehicle has never thrown up a rock??

FollowupID: 715942

Follow Up By: Member - Jason B (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 11:20

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 11:20

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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 17:26

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 17:26

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Follow Up By: Member - Jason B (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 18:33

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 18:33

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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 14:24

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 14:24

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce T (SA) - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 18:41

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 18:41

Alloy,

I can.

Excessive speed, travelling in the middle of the road and I could go on.

We've had our windscreen ruined by trucks, BUT they were on bitumen and stones were on the road. That's not being inconsiderate. However travelling at 100 km/hr on dirt roads with or without a camper on behind and travelling in the middle of the road with the attitude of, "Get out of my way here I come is."

Unfortunately we have had several experiences of this and the associated costs. We travel with a camper, or a van, and slow down when meeting fellow travellers on dirt/gravel roads. It's called being considerate. We stop or slow down and get off the road when trucks pass us in these circumstances. They need the road for safety.

If someone were to call back to us to let us know we had caused their windscreen major damage we would go back, apologise and offer to pay. Really odd, aren't we?

We hope we never ever meet you on a gravel or open surface road.

Bruce and Di

FollowupID: 716129

Follow Up By: Member - Jason B (NSW) - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 19:26

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 19:26

I to have experienced the odd issue when travelling out west, as indicated, drivers in the middle of the road, overtaking in work zones (40 or 60k) when travelling at the speed limit on gravel roads, drivers driving to fast for the conditions, idiots doing burnouts and spraying cars and camp sites with rocks and gravel etc etc.

Most people are considerate and do slow down when passing or travelling on dirt roads.

FollowupID: 716140

Follow Up By: Member - Bruce T (SA) - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 20:22

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 20:22

Absolutely agree Jason. Once again the minority.

Cheers,
Bruce and Di

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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Feb 04, 2011 at 08:32

Friday, Feb 04, 2011 at 08:32

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Follow Up By: Member - Jason B (NSW) - Friday, Feb 04, 2011 at 09:19

Friday, Feb 04, 2011 at 09:19

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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:17

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:17

To back up as above i have used cutting compound and a buffer to take out pitting and it worked really well, it was in an old truck so was not so easy to get a new screen .....
At the time it was just the type that fitted into a drill with a sheepskin pad on it, it is exactly the same principle as paintwork to remove scratches and fading ......
Come to think of it it kind of works out a lot cheaper to at least give it a try as it will probally cost you about $35 bucks and 3-4 hours elbow grease and at least the window wont leak as some fitments seem to do, it is the cutting compound in the tin, i think "Kitten" make it, go for cutting only, not cut n polish............ and as with paint, dont let it dry out
Cheers
Joe

AnswerID: 443862

Reply By: Member - Paul S (VIC) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:20

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:20

My son-in-law gave me a bottle about a year ago. Try googling RAIN-X.

Can't vouch for it yet as I haven't tried it.

Cheers,
Paul

AnswerID: 443863

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:23

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:23

Gday Mike,
I'm guessing he's talking about Rain-X. I use it every 6 months and it improves the visibility and water just beads off the screen. Costs about $10 from any auto shop.

AnswerID: 443864

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:26

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:26

hehe Paul beat me by 3 minutes! In that time I had to duck out to the garage because I'd forgotten the name :-)

FollowupID: 715926

Reply By: pop2jocem - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:35

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 22:35

There is a stuff called Mothers Polish made in USA. Now I have used this product on plastics and perspex with good results but not sure if it will work on glass. If the screen is stuffed anyway I guess you wouldn't lose much by trying it. The first lot we imported from some mob in the states but I think a lot of the auto parts stores now stock it.

Cheers Pop

AnswerID: 443866

Reply By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 07:36

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 07:36

I didn't rrealize what I was starting. I already use Rain X and quite like. I put a copat on before every long expedition it but it doesn't help sand blasting.
Spurred by my own post, I have done further deep Googling. I have come across Cerium Oxide. It appears that polishing glass with this stuff works, but it takes some time; needs a power buffer and may need some care to use.
Also found a very comprehensive range of windscreen surfacing products from a company called Diamondite. No idea whether or not they work but I don't think they will handle sandblasing, seem to be closer to Rain X in what they do.
I dont think the original story I heard about a product developed in Geelong can be correct, no one seems to have heard of such a thing and if it worked, I'd imagine it would be well known.

AnswerID: 443885

Reply By: Member - peter f (VIC) - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 20:48

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 20:48

tell him he,s dreaming .
polishing is far to costly compared to a new screen .
mechpete

AnswerID: 443947

Reply By: kcandco - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 22:37

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 22:37

hi I have tried to polish out windscreen wiper scratches with very little success using cutting compound and buffer. After 3 hrs I decided a replacement was the only solution. Although the screen looked pretty good in daylight and fine weather, as soon as conditions deteriated, ie rain and car headlights coming towards you, visibility went to the dogs. A new screen was just over $200 and the only proper solution. I wasted hours of my time and $ trying to polish it out.

regards Kc

AnswerID: 443974

Reply By: Berniec - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 11:18

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 11:18

This thread jogged my memory back about 40 years when I used "Jewellers Rouge" to polish some electrical contacts in the PMG. A web search put me onto this site www.aussiesapphire.com.au/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=64&products_id=1421
and it may be a solution. If you have got plenty of time and the right tools it may work. I'd be interested to know how it goes.

AnswerID: 444021