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Repair lightly scratched glass of any type

gordonglasscompany
11 years ago

If youâÂÂre a homeowner with even modest skills, the only things you need to restore lightly scratched windows, tabletops, mirrors, auto glass or even headlights like a pro is a bit of Cerium Oxide, a felt buffing wheel and an electric drill to attach it to.

If you have grime on your glass or stains on a shower door caused by hard water and they donâÂÂt come off with household cleaners, Cerium Oxide will take care of the problem.

First of all, what is a âÂÂlightâ scratch? If you can distinctly feel a scratch in your glass with a fingernail, it may be too deep to polish out and the risk of trying to do so yourself is probably not worth it. However, if you have a hazy mass of shallow scratches or scuff marks, itâÂÂs Cerium Oxide to the rescue.

Cerium Oxide Powder and a felt buffing wheel (3" in diameter) are readily available online. 8 OZ of Cerium is usually plenty for any around-the-house glass restorations. And get the lowest-priced powder you can find, since glass is soft and doesn't require super pure cerium oxide.

HereâÂÂs how to remove those scratches and stubborn stains in your glass.

⢠Clean the area youâÂÂre going to work on thoroughly
⢠Get two small plastic tubs, a pint to a quart in size and fill one halfway with water
⢠Place the buffing wheel into the water to let it get thoroughly damp, but not dripping wet
⢠Scoop a couple TBSP of Cerium Oxide into the other tub and add a splash of water
⢠Use a plastic spoon or knife to stir the mixture and keep adding small amounts of water until the slurry reaches the consistency of heavy cream. (ItâÂÂs perfectly safe to check with your bare finger. And donâÂÂt worry if there are small particles that donâÂÂt completely dissolve.)
⢠Attach the dampened polishing wheel to your electric drill and dip it into the slurry
⢠Place the polishing wheel on the work area and rev up your drill
⢠Keep the pad moving constantly side to side and in a circular motion
⢠Keep buffing until the slurry is ALMOST dry (CAUTION: Be sure not to buff the glass when it is dry. This can cause the glass to overheat and crack.)
⢠When the slurry has dried, wipe it off
⢠If the glass has not been cleared up to your satisfaction, just repeat the buffing process with the slurry-dampened pad

ThatâÂÂs all there is to it. And donâÂÂt throw out any leftover slurry, since it can be stored until dries out and then re-activated just by adding water. Happy polishing!

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