Ask a Professional Detailer
The outside windshield glass on my dd is pretty scratched up. Not everywhere, but in different spots. It appears as if the previous (original) owner used a knife or something sharp to get something off the windshield. I tried a rubbing compound and rubbed hard for a minute and it didn't do anything.
Is there anything that you use that works wonders on scratched glass, or should I just replace the windshield? At times, it's almost hard to see at night, so something should be done. I can get some pictures if it's needed.
Thank you
and Happy Holidays!
Is there anything that you use that works wonders on scratched glass, or should I just replace the windshield? At times, it's almost hard to see at night, so something should be done. I can get some pictures if it's needed.
Thank you
and Happy Holidays! 
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 535
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From: SC
im having trouble getting the swirls out of my 02 z06, the clear coat is rediculously hard which you probably already know. i know a thing or two about detailing but my flex D/A is not doing the job efficiently as id hoped. i use adams severe swirl remover then swirl and haze remover then fine machine polish all on speed 5 with the applicable pads. should i just drop the money on a nice rotary buffer to get the job done?
The outside windshield glass on my dd is pretty scratched up. Not everywhere, but in different spots. It appears as if the previous (original) owner used a knife or something sharp to get something off the windshield. I tried a rubbing compound and rubbed hard for a minute and it didn't do anything.
Is there anything that you use that works wonders on scratched glass, or should I just replace the windshield? At times, it's almost hard to see at night, so something should be done. I can get some pictures if it's needed.
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Is there anything that you use that works wonders on scratched glass, or should I just replace the windshield? At times, it's almost hard to see at night, so something should be done. I can get some pictures if it's needed.
Thank you
and Happy Holidays!Lake Country makes a superb glass polishing kit, both for the PC and rotary. I'd give that a try before replacing the glass.
im having trouble getting the swirls out of my 02 z06, the clear coat is rediculously hard which you probably already know. i know a thing or two about detailing but my flex D/A is not doing the job efficiently as id hoped. i use adams severe swirl remover then swirl and haze remover then fine machine polish all on speed 5 with the applicable pads. should i just drop the money on a nice rotary buffer to get the job done?
The Flex is definitely up to the job, that's not the problem. I could be wrong on this...., but I think the Adams pads are rebranded LC pads. I don't think the pads are the issue, its likely the polish. Adams is good for most vehicles, but its not up to the task of the super hard vette clear. Now you CAN do it with the Adams products, but its not as efficient as using a product designed specifically for hard clears like Menzerna SIP and 106FA "Nano".
SIP is a miracle worker on corvettes. It takes heavy swirls out and leaves an OEM finish behind. You can brighten it and gloss it up even further if you follow it with the 106FA though. Don't ditch your Flex, its a good machine.
Oh and if anyone wants a nice rotary, I'm selling my Flex "Lightweight" rotary, need $ to fund a $,$$$ detailing tool purchase! I still have my Makita and Hitachi rotaries, I really don't need 3.....
Banned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,127
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From: IL
Well i guess when i do it it will be in the garage so say 70 deg. And should i use one coat or two. I also see you said a makita is a good buffer. My grandpa use to paint cars and he has one. I asked i he ever removed swirl marks from cars he said yes. His concern was how much clear i have left. Should that be a concern?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: SC
You have to get it online, but a lot of places are doing free shipping right now. In that temp I'd give it a few hours so it doesn't get streaky when removing it. Thats a pretty low temp to be applying it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Conrad!
Lake Country makes a superb glass polishing kit, both for the PC and rotary. I'd give that a try before replacing the glass.
Corvette clears are some of the hardest out there. Audi and Lamborghini are some serious offenders as well....
The Flex is definitely up to the job, that's not the problem. I could be wrong on this...., but I think the Adams pads are rebranded LC pads. I don't think the pads are the issue, its likely the polish. Adams is good for most vehicles, but its not up to the task of the super hard vette clear. Now you CAN do it with the Adams products, but its not as efficient as using a product designed specifically for hard clears like Menzerna SIP and 106FA "Nano".
SIP is a miracle worker on corvettes. It takes heavy swirls out and leaves an OEM finish behind. You can brighten it and gloss it up even further if you follow it with the 106FA though. Don't ditch your Flex, its a good machine.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Conrad!
Lake Country makes a superb glass polishing kit, both for the PC and rotary. I'd give that a try before replacing the glass.
Corvette clears are some of the hardest out there. Audi and Lamborghini are some serious offenders as well....
The Flex is definitely up to the job, that's not the problem. I could be wrong on this...., but I think the Adams pads are rebranded LC pads. I don't think the pads are the issue, its likely the polish. Adams is good for most vehicles, but its not up to the task of the super hard vette clear. Now you CAN do it with the Adams products, but its not as efficient as using a product designed specifically for hard clears like Menzerna SIP and 106FA "Nano".
SIP is a miracle worker on corvettes. It takes heavy swirls out and leaves an OEM finish behind. You can brighten it and gloss it up even further if you follow it with the 106FA though. Don't ditch your Flex, its a good machine.
Well i guess when i do it it will be in the garage so say 70 deg. And should i use one coat or two. I also see you said a makita is a good buffer. My grandpa use to paint cars and he has one. I asked i he ever removed swirl marks from cars he said yes. His concern was how much clear i have left. Should that be a concern?
Painters use rotaries MUCH more hardcore (read: aggressively) than detailers do.... many of the cars I've posted up that have had paintwork done demonstrate this quite well. They typically take lots of swirls out...and replace them deep wool pad marring, buffer trails, burned edges, and thin paint. Since your grandfather asked about the thickness of the clear, that is encouraging... Many old school guys just don't care.
It shouldn't be an issue for you unless you are buffing too deep/aggressively. Have you done any paint correction on your car? If so, what have you used? In order to know how much clear you have to work with, you will need a paint depth gauge ($$$ - $,$$$).
I'd recommend Lake Country orange for SIP and Lake Country white or black for 106FA. Play with both those pads to find the best result on your paint. White will give you a little more correction and good gloss, Black will give you minimal correction (the SIP should have handled the majority anyway) and great gloss.
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: SC
Where are you? Are you deployed US military?
I'd recommend Lake Country orange for SIP and Lake Country white or black for 106FA. Play with both those pads to find the best result on your paint. White will give you a little more correction and good gloss, Black will give you minimal correction (the SIP should have handled the majority anyway) and great gloss.
I'd recommend Lake Country orange for SIP and Lake Country white or black for 106FA. Play with both those pads to find the best result on your paint. White will give you a little more correction and good gloss, Black will give you minimal correction (the SIP should have handled the majority anyway) and great gloss.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,127
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From: IL
I have not done paint correction. It was a makita orbital buffer. He has wool pads foam pads. He has this rubbing compound and polishing coumpound. He said he use to do it all the time. He did polish on wool to see if that would get it. If it wouldnt then rubbing compound on wool. Then he would get the foam pad and do it with polish. He said it would look like it got repainted. Then he would wax it. He used #7 and then #20 meguiars. Does that sound good and would you trust him?
Well cool, I shall try them out next time I place an order for towels. I just dropped $350 on new Cobras. Thats a great savings over the higher line cobras when you factor in any kind of quanity.
yea im USAF on a year tour on korea. so ill def. give this a shot, thanks for your help. if i wasnt halfway around the world id buy one of your rotaries that your trying to get rid of. i already have a flex and a meguairs G110v2 so that wouldve completed my collection. but its all good i haven't really used a rotary before minus my 4 inch pad on my drill for tight spots. merry christmas!
Merry Christmas!
I have not done paint correction. It was a makita orbital buffer. He has wool pads foam pads. He has this rubbing compound and polishing coumpound. He said he use to do it all the time. He did polish on wool to see if that would get it. If it wouldnt then rubbing compound on wool. Then he would get the foam pad and do it with polish. He said it would look like it got repainted. Then he would wax it. He used #7 and then #20 meguiars. Does that sound good and would you trust him?
...............and say thats just how black paint is supposed to look. I see it all the time, and hear about it on the detail forums daily. Generally bodyshops and painters are terrible at buffing paint and detailing.
There are only a handful of people across the country (could count on 10 fingers) that I'd trust with my car...
What if any are the differences between these 3 Menzerna polishes? I have a bottle of the Micro polish and it works fantastic. I wouldn't mind trying the PO106FA though.
Final Polish PO85U Cut - 2.5 Gloss - 4.5
Super Finish "Nano" PO106FA Cut - 2.5 Gloss -5
Micro Polish* PO87MC Cut - 2 Gloss - 4.5
Final Polish PO85U Cut - 2.5 Gloss - 4.5
Super Finish "Nano" PO106FA Cut - 2.5 Gloss -5
Micro Polish* PO87MC Cut - 2 Gloss - 4.5
Can u recommend a polish system for an 04 gto ( phantom black metallic)? I got a pc7434xp for Christmas. It came with pinnacle swirl remover and wax. Also orange, black, and white pads. The paint has never been corrected as far as I know
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...2&blockType=G2
Might want to look into the new Griots Garage DA polisher or a Porter Cable 7424XP. That's my $.02