As previously mentioned, simple wear and tear is often the root of windscreen damage and there is very little one can do to prevent it. After we ran the uAvionix AV-30 installation planning guide in the May 2022 issue of Aviation Consumer, we got some requests for an inflight Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Using common household products such as toothpaste etc. And there you have it, our guide to home windscreen scratch repair. Once the scratch is removed, use water and paper towels to clean the glass. Questions? The severe scratch was repaired somewhat, but that kind of gouge requires more horsepower to really fix correctly. Scratch Hog Glass Scratch Repair Kit - Standard, Scratch Hog Glass Scratch Repair Kit - Heavy Duty, 3M Trizact Glass Restoration Disc (Polishing), translation missing: en.cart.general.close_cart, Existing Automotive or Glass related businesses. The appropriateness of the polish is crucial as using standard (non auto-specific) polish can damage or discolour your windscreen. Keep your customers happy and your reputation strong by fixing scratches on-the-spot. Windscreen scratches are more than just unsightly, a compromised windscreen can affect visibility and even cause accidents. Do not use for eye glasses or optical lenses. I hear you ask. The most important questions and answers. While gripping the Max, press the disk flat against the glass on the scratch. Two sets of scratches were inflicted on the glass: a severe scratch produced by three passes of a -inch common screwdriver blade and a separate single scratch several inches below it. Apply approximately 0.04-0.06 ml of Repair No. Polish the scratched area for 3 minutes (= 1 polishing unit) with the polishing rod applying firm pressure and with a fast motion at an angle of 90 degrees to the scratches, whereby the bevelled surface of the polishing rod must rest on the glass with the entire surface when polishing. Part of Micro-Meshs effectiveness is the progressive abrasive sandpaper pads, but the utmost care must be used if you do this yourself. Color-coding the compounds to the foam pads eliminates errors caused by possible distractions or inexperience. On the other hand, designing the product for use with a common hand tool is one of Scratch-Offs strengths. If the acrylic surface starts to overheat, spray the area with water and reduce the RPMs. It is impossible to deal with a deep scratch without professional-grade equipment. Each step should take three to five minutes per square foot of plastic. Throw in a little rain or window fog and you can be blind. Damage to aircraft windows is more than a cosmetic challenge, too-it can compromise flight safety by limiting your ability to see traffic or even the destination airport. To be successful, all damage must be removed after the first step. Even the single scratch was evidence of more damage than we normally see on an aircraft window. The two coarser compounds are identified with yellow labels, matching the yellow foam pad: SO-1 (Micro Cut) and SO-2 (Micro Lite). 3. The powered version of the Novus application was more effective, but didnt completely remove the scratches, either. Micro-MeshThe Micro-Mesh Light Damage Kit is one of several offered by the company. With QUIXX Do-it-Yourself Glass Scratch Remover you can repair damaged glass in no time at all and get great professional quality results. QUIXX solves the problem of scratched glass! If your nail can still run smoothly over the windscreen scratch, you should be well equipped to tend to it yourself. Most scratches can be removed in just minutes. With any luck, you should notice immediate results. Simple as it may seem, the windscreen is a profoundly sensitive component of your car. Before you treat an entire window, test them on a small corner first. Remove the tape and clean the glass. 1. If scratches are still visible, start again with Step 2 and continue with further 3 minute polishing units until all scratches have been removed. Its time for a better way. An added bonus is that theres less temptation to rush the job. Carefully dab the polish with a damp cloth and use it to then thoroughly clean the treated surface. Now attach the white polishing strip to the bevelled side of the polishing rod using the rubber ring. Waiting on replacement glass or using an outdated scratch removal system costs you valuable time. Apply 0.04 - 0.06 ml of the. Our Call Centre opening hours are as follows, If you wish to make a booking online, please click here, Got a question or want to book an appointment? Anything thats harder or more abrasive than your windows will scratch them. Half of each section was covered by paper for comparison after the test. Using medium pressure, run the Max back and forth along the length of the scratch. Many versatile uses: Car, clocks, furniture, household, 2-component system; the high-tech diamond polish removes the scratches and the high performance diamond finish polishes to a high gloss, Avoids expensive repairs and maintains value, Professional results through innovative QUIXX Diamond Polishing Technology (DPT). Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. in full range, we recommend activating Javascript in your browser. This website uses cookies, which are necessary for the technical operation of the website and are always set. With every rescheduled appointment and delayed delivery, you lose future customers and damage your reputation . Get $10 each bottle of resin for Resin Awareness Month. We used a lot of water in this process and discovered that every square inch of the window being treated must be kept wet. The only real minus was the lack of 600-grit sandpaper in the kit. web browser, guide for correctly defrosting your windscreen. Thanks, {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. Think of it like ironing wrinkles out of clothes. The next generation of glass scratch removal is here. This website uses cookies, which are necessary for the technical operation of the website and are always set. Maintain a milky consistency on the glass by releasing water with the built-in water feed system. Apply 0.04 - 0.06 ml of the Finish No. But, the risks dont end there. After all, the cost of the repair kit is far less than the cost to replace the entire windshield. 1 paste (this is approximately 2-3 units on the syringe scale) to the scratched area or to the tip of the polishing rod. For a quick and easy way to make an appointment book online now. NOT suitable for mobile phone, TV, laptop or tablet repairs. Is it worth removing a scratch instead of just replacing the glass? Once the damage was reduced to only fine scratches, we cleaned off the remaining polish and applied Novus 2 in a circular motion until dry.Finally, we applied Novus 1 to polish and buff with a clean microfiber cloth.A note: Novus 3 should not be used on coated plastics or polycarbonates. Not suitable for use on tablets. The Max is so straightforward that even beginners are just a training video away from successfully removing scratches. No need to stress about clean-up. Let's get started: The all-inclusive kit contains all the utensils you need for making repairs. How We TestedWe used a brand-new acrylic window intended for a Mooney 201, unused by a local shop customer. All orders received before 3pm GMT will be dispatched same day, we ship domestic and international via DHL Expressor via our local distribution centres located across the UK, EU, USA, Canada, India and Australia. Please note that it may only be possible to improve deep scratches and they may not be entirely removed. Debbie Abrams of Micro-Surface Products recommends that you have the right tools-and enough time-for the scratch removal process. Scratch-OffThe Scratch-Off system uses four progressively finer compounds matched to two different foam pads which are attached to a backing plate for use on a power drill. Remove the tape and clean the glass. If this is the case, keep in mind that a motorized hand drill with a rubber polishing wheel attachment should do the trick. The major upside was that it was a lot less work and it wasnt overly messy. And be sure to familiarize yourself with the application technique for the product before you launch-theyre generally applied parallel or perpendicular to the scratch. Polishing wheel attachments are available at many motor factors and hardware shops, so it shouldnt be too difficult to get your hands on one. Its important, too, to keep the surface wet with a spray bottle throughout the process to prevent friction heat damage to the window. Its a simple matter of taking exquisite care with your aircraft glass. Leave a space of approximately 5-6 mm to the left and right parallel to the scratch so that a 10-12 mm wide area is left for polishing. Self-leveling Backer Pad: The self-leveling backer pad makes it easy to keep the disk level on the glass. We learned that the product directions must be followed to the letter and learned that Harry Callahan was right-a mans gotta know his limitations. Glass cleaner, specifically ammonia, will cloud and ruin them. Other cookies, which increase the comfort when using this website, are used for direct advertising or to facilitate interaction with other websites and social networks, are only set with your consent. If the scratch catches your fingernail, the scratch will require professional help to fix. AUTOGLASS and the logo are registered trademarks of Belron S.A. and its affiliated companies. Thankfully, with the proper tools, most cases of windscreen scratch removal can be handled at home. The directions recommend that you repeat this as needed-we applied Novus 3 four times. The Light Damage Kit is designed for use with a random orbital sander and a right-angle polisher. Do not use on coated or anti-reflective surfaces. Water is released through a convenient, built-in button. All orders shipped outside the EU may be subject to local customs fees andduties not included in the items price or shipping charges. Digging into the Plex with a screwdriver qualified as severe, so we used both application methods. The light scratch was diminished, but not removed, something that could be a function of arm strength. If the scratch is still visible following this process, you most likely require a windshield replacement. In our view, its well suited for this type of damage in that the sweat factor is reduced. First things first, you need to discern if the windscreen scratch is suitable for home repair. With a built-in water feed, ergonomic grip, and self-leveling backer pad, even beginners can use the Max to remove scratches in just minutes. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Gforce Max scratch removal system allows you to remove most scratches distortion-free in just minutes. Make sure that the 3 minutes polishing time period is observed. Our QUIXX repair professionals will guide you through the repair step by step with easy-to-understand instructions and a user video guide. The secret of our QUIXX Glass Scratch Remover is powerful diamond abrasives that use two revolutionary polishing pastes to remove scratches from glass surfaces for the ultimate results. The first step calls for wet sanding with 600-grit sandpaper, which is not included in the kit. A scratched windscreen can be caused by a number of different everyday occurrences. How deep is a deep scratch? The standard Scratch-Off kit, with enough product for one aircraft windshield, retails for $34.85; the deluxe FBO-sized kit, enough for several aircraft, sells for $66.50. If its more than a fingernail-depth scratch, check with a pro.Replacing the window may be safer, given that a bird strike on a thin spot could cause failure of the entire windshield. We used a clean cotton bonnet, running the buffer at 1000 RPM for 10 minutes between the Novus 3 and 2 compounds. While many aircraft detailing companies specialize in removing scratches from aircraft windows, a number of products on the market purport to allow spot repair of damage glass by the do-it-yourselfer. Its main features include: Many scratch removal systems claim to be distortion-free, but if they use abrasive disks, thats impossible. Our basic technique doesnt remove glass from the surface. Windscreens just like any other part of your car are prone to wear and tear, over time. Only this is very tedious. Well, we would recommend that you differ to the experts if the scratch is is any deeper than 50 microns. Anyone who says distortion-free isnt possible hasnt met the Max. In conjunction with the Splash Guard, the Max minimizes splatter and keeps your area tidy. And never use glass cleaner on acrylic (Plexiglas or Lucite) or polycarbonate (Lexan) windows. We hope you found this guide illuminating and be sure to check back with the Allglass Autoglass Blog soon for more guides, hints and explainers like this one. They are designed to cut and remove deep marks, while the compounds used with the white pads, SO-3 (Micro Brite) and SO-4 (Microsheen) are used to remove swirling and for high-gloss polishing. Novus is generally applied by hand, with power application as a choice for severe scratches. Windscreen Scratch Repair Kit Do-It-Yourself 3'' (75 mm), Professional GP-WIZ Scratched Glass Repair System, Micro Fibre Cloth, Dust Mask, Spray Bottle. Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Windshield Repair Kits & Tools, Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like, Recommend this product, has plenty of attachments to do the job, removed two scratches from our front door and patio window. Annoying scratches on car windows, watch glass, glass furniture, decorations and window panes can finally be a thing of the past. We found the Scratch-Off system easy to navigate and the directions were clear and readily understandable. Here at Allglass Autoglass, we regularly encounter windscreen scratches caused as a result of ice scraper misuse. We recently tested a few well-established scratch removal systems to see how well they repaired some worst-case scratches. legal value added tax. 4. Now attach the white polishing strip to the bevelled side of the polishing rod using the rubber ring. Be careful not to use anything too coarse as this may serve to exacerbate the issue. Scratch removal doesnt have to be complicated. Which compound you start with is determined by the extent of the damage-gouges and chips will take the full course of treatment while hairline scratches, hazing and swirl marks may be repaired with the two finer compounds. Take your time with this product as well and keep the RPMs below 1200. Next, use the cloth to slowly and evenly work the polish solution deep into the scratch. In the case of some deeper scratches, you will likely need a motorised buffing or polishing tool. The Light Damage Removal Kit, which we used, retails for $95, with enough product to cover 100 square feet of plastic. The test scratches were the only blemishes on this acrylic, making the evaluation of the marks and the repair attempts as clean-cut as possible. Apply Polishing Compound to the Polishing Disk. Because the major scratch removal products are not perfectly comparable-all were applied using power tools and one (Novus) was also applied by hand-minor variations in the results were expected and observed. Further causes of progressive windshield damage are scraping off ice in winter, defective or dirty windshield wipers and putting the car through automatic car washes. Clean microfiber cloths (80/20 or 70/30 blends of cotton and synthetics), available in auto and marine supply stores, are ideal for this purpose. Were here to help. We also have extensive resources to prepare you for every scenario. The directions for this process are detailed and its crucial to read them thoroughly before you start. Clean the glass well, dry and apply tape around the scratched area. All prices are UVP and incl. Call us on, Windscreen Scratch Removal Our how to guide, instructions how to enable JavaScript in your We feel that inclusion of that small item, necessary to start the process, would be a plus. Rain Away, Contacts Aircraft Spruce (Scratch-Off), 877-4-SPRUCE, www.aircraftspruce.com Micro-Surface Finishing Products, 800-225-3006, www.micro-surface.com Novus, Inc., 800-668-8760, www.noscratch.com/novus. Our Basic Technique is able to achieve distortion-free results through a combination of heat, friction, and Polishing Compound. Ultimately, the success of this method is dependent on the severity of your scratched windscreen. Annoying scratches on for example car windows, watch glass, glass furniture, decorations and window panes can finally be a thing of the past. Now polish again applying firm pressure and with a fast motion until no more micro scratches / marks are visible. Stone chips and other loose road debris can often be responsible for a scratched windscreen. The second Novus panel was the test bed for application with a power buffer, a less labor-intensive process and only somewhat more effective. If you have any doubts regarding the seriousness of you windscreen scratch, its best to contact the experts at Allglass Autoglass. With our help, keeping your windscreen at peak performance should be a breeze. Its important to note that this product is not recommended for use on pressurized aircraft. The microfiber traps any dust and debris on the window, absorbing it into the cloth and pulling it away from the window surface. Any time glass is removed from the surface, distortion can happen. Also With This ArticleChecklistRain X vs. Glass Scratch Removers: Scratch-Off Works Best, Airframe Cracking? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Built-in Water Feed: No need for a handheld water bottle. Accordingly, windshield repair should never be taken lightly or left on the back burner if you have an issue now, it only stands to get worse. To learn how to erase fine, light and medium scratches with the. The first item on your itinerary should be to get your hands on polish specifically formulated for use on car glass. A side note about equipment usage: The Makita orbital sander we used didnt come with the thin open-ended wrench needed to remove the back plate.We had to buy one of those separately to get everything taken apart. While using an orbital sander and an angular polisher may be the best method for products like Micro-Mesh, it required an extra purchase at the home supply store. For the last two power-assisted steps, a black TufBuf polishing pad (resembling a small swatch of fluffy shag rug) and a white foam pad are used to apply the Micro-Gloss fine abrasive compound. Once youve got the correct polish, be sure to read the instructions carefully, as some brands of windscreen polish will require dilution before being applied to glass. The Gforce Max is the only tool designed specifically for removing scratches. We divided the glass into four sections with masking tape and identified the scratch removal methods on the tape. Most scratch removal systems create a mess so big that its not worth the hassle. Other cookies, which increase the usability of this website, serve for direct advertising or simplify interaction with other websites and social networks, will only be used with your consent. Our support team is always here, whether youre in the middle of a job and need immediate help or you're in need of some technical advice on a project. Shop now, Pay Later with GT Tools and Klarna. Yourself! Most people either throw out the scratched piece or cause more damage while removing scratch. For more than five decades, active and dedicated aircraft owners and pilots have turned to AVIATION CONSUMER to answer their most important buying questions. Whether the damage is small and isolated, or large and extensive, GT Tools has the right solution to get you the results youre looking for. View cart for details. To be able to use QUIXX Repair it. Sound familiar? A screw-in backplate is used to carry three grades of sandpaper pads included in the kit: 1500, 2400 and 3600 grit. Once the polish has been thoroughly applied, wipe the area clean with another micro fibre cloth. NovusThe Novus system is well-known in the marine and motorcycle communities for a product set that contains three levels of aggressiveness: Novus 3 for heavy scratches, Novus 2 for fine scratches and Novus 1 for polishing. Automotive Windshield Repair Kits & Tools, item 1 Windshield Scratch Removal, Glass Polishing Kit, Windscreen Repair Kit, item 2 Windshield Glass Scratch Remover, Polishing Kit, Windscreen Repair Kit, item 3 Car Wash Interior Cleaning Gel Slime Machine Glue Car Wash Mud Car Cleaning Gel, item 4 Car Headlight Repair Fluid Scratch Remover Headlight Refurbishment Polishing, item 5 34Pcs Auto Windscreen Polishing Repair-Kit Car Glass Repair-Deep Scratch,Remover, item 6 Auto Cleaning Wash Tool W/ Long Handle Car Window Windshield Cleaner Washing Kit, item 7 BOSCH wiper blade 3397007570 FRONT AR654S 650/340mm, item 8 Car Scratch Repair Polishing Wax Rust Removal Headlight Polish Cleaner Auto Care, 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 13 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 3 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 product rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 2 product ratings. Leave a space of approximately 5-6 mm to the left and right parallel to the scratch so that a 10-12 mm wide area is left for polishing. The test scratches were severe and, to be fair, were probably beyond the capabilities of this product. Conversion and usertracking via Google Tag Manager. Removing scratches, abrasions, acid etching, limescale mineral deposits, chemical stains, surface marks and scuffs from any type of windscreen or car glass. Last, a clean white flannel cloth, also included, is used to apply an antistatic polish. Next, grab a micro fibre cloth. Then slide the enclosed rubber protective cap over the end of the polishing rod and attach the pink polishing strip to the bevelled side of the polishing rod with the rubber ring. Safe travels! Circular application should only be performed if the directions call for it specifically. Something went wrong. Run your finger across the affected area. From windshields to skyscrapers, Gforce is the go-to choice for pros all over the world. Ergonomic Grip: The grip was designed specifically for comfort and fatigue prevention. The depth of both scratches was reduced, as detected with a fingertip and a fingernail, but both were still visible after the treatment. Why replace when you can save? The sandpaper pads abrade the plastic as part of the cure and the resultant scratches must all be removed and blended to avoid surface distortion. -Cory Emberson is Aviation Consumers copy editor. Nothing looks better on an airplane than fresh glass and few things short of structural damage look worse than beat-up, scratched windows and windshields. Either way, removing scratches from your windscreen with polish is rarely a permanent solution. The level of damage we inflicted on the window may not allow for do-it-yourself repair, so for lesser damage, Scratch-Off should shine. Also, if a scratch is too deeply embedded in the window, the subsequent abrasion repair may compromise the integrity of the window by removing too much material thickness. Now that you have a soft micro fibre cloth and some polish, apply the polish to the scratched area. or polishing out the scratch with conventional car polishes is unfortunately not enough in most cases - the effects leave much to be desired despite all of the hard work. Allglass Windscreens Repair Limited t/a Allglass & t/a Autoglass, Unit G9 Calmount Business Park, Ballymount Road, Dublin 12, D12V3W4. Any window work on pressurized airplanes should be done by professionals. Click your way through the pictures on the right to go through the repair process step by step. Then slide the enclosed rubber protective cap over the end of the polishing rod and attach the pink polishing strip to the bevelled side of the polishing rod with the rubber ring. The Gforce Max is designed specifically for simple, distortion-free scratch removal for flat and auto glass. With the Max, removing scratches wont put you behind schedule. Can be used on normal or toughened glass, automotive glass, house windows, marine glass, aquariums, glass tables, kitchen hobs and much more. The Micro-Mesh system was a real challenge for us and if we were to use this method on a live window, we would want a lot of practice on a spare piece of plastic. Over the last 20 years GT Tools has continued to develop and fine tune the most effective and efficient processes for removing scratching, environmental residue, and other damage from glass surfaces. The orbital sander generates a lot of torque and we inflicted a burn mark on the acrylic. In fact, most damage can be removed in just a couple minutes. Any of these products should be applied out of direct sunlight, which will dry the compounds prematurely and increase their aggressiveness. Consider the 2.5 Rule: It normally costs 2.5 times the original cost of goods to replace a piece of glass. Scratch-Off did a very good job in mitigating both the single scratch and the heavy gouge and although these deep gouges were not completely erased, the lighter scratches that accompanied the gouges were repaired. In our view, the ability to use more common tools would not only reduce the cost to the consumer, but would widen the field for use of this product. A Heavy Damage Kit is also offered, as is the familiar KR-70 kit, which uses a foam block, a number of progressively finer sandpaper sheets and Micro-Gloss scratch removal liquid. Dont use terrycloth or, even worse, paper towels (which have wood fibers in them) on your airplane windows. Clean the glass well, dry and apply tape around the scratched area. Glass is not removed during the process. A kit containing two-ounce bottles of the three compounds retails for $14.95. Drill It, Patch It Right, Garmin Service Alert: G5 Battery Discharge, Exhaust Systems 101: Not So Silent Killers, uAvionix AV-30 Fly-Off: Autopilot, Heading. 2. Generally yes. Professional grade glass polishing compound cerium oxide GP-PRO. Further, using this method on a small piece of window made it more difficult to remove the extraneous circular marks left by the sandpaper. Weve used that kit before and while effective, its time- and labor-intensive. The manufacturer stresses that sufficient window area be available for product application. Autoglass / Blog / Windscreen Scratch Removal Our how to guide. If the damage to your glass is minor, self-diminishing creams should be your first solution. The best thing is: You also save a considerable amount of money. Plexi 101For the purposes of this article, well examine scratch removal only, but a word about prevention first. If you work with glass, you deal with scratches. Do not try to restore a window under time constraints. That said, unintentional windscreen damage can happen to the best of us. (And yes, there was cringing.) At this stage, take your time and tread carefully, patience and care are key to proper polish application. All rights reserved. Instead, it uses heat, friction, and compound to level out the damage. Take the time to be thorough-if you arent, you will be left with a less-than-perfect restoration and will be wondering what step you need to repeat in order to have a perfect window. Do-it-yourself 2 stage abrasive version of ourProfessional GP-WIZ Scratched Glass Repair Systemdeveloped and used by Glass Polish technicians worldwide, suitable to be used on any type of windscreen or car glass to removewiper blade damage,scratches, abrasions, acid etching, limescale mineral deposits, chemical stains, surface marks and scuffs. With the Gforce Max, distortion-free scratch removal is not only possibleits also amazingly simple. RecommendationsWhile the manually applied Novus required less preparation, it took four applications over the course of 10 minutes to see noticeable results. These cookies are used to make the shopping experience even more appealing, for example for the recognition of the visitor. Weve pulled together a handy guide to help you with any forays into home windscreen scratch removal. If the scratches are still visible, carry out further 3 minute polishing units until all of the scratches have been completely removed.