Scratched Glass Repair Revolution

Early glass scratch repair kits used to be very immobile

When we were first exploring the field of scratched glass removal revolution services, the best tempered glass scratch repair kit consisted of cerium oxide slurry buckets, many hoses, and a router type cumbersome machine that polished in 3″ small circular motions.  This was great if you were removing a small amount of light scratches. However, when the project involved larger glass surfaces, such as sliding doors, tempered glass curtain walls, or other large commercial glass panels, this type of equipment proved not be the fastest glass resurfacing method to save scratched glass.  In an effort to be more mobile, we used to use a little dolly with wheels so we could move the slurry bucket around with a little more ease! However, carpeted floors, scaffolding, and other awkward surfaces and objects still hindered the speed of the scratch glass removal process. Since we only used this machine for the final glass polishing step, could there a better way to polish the glass?

Polishing Glass Scratches with felt and cerium oxide solution

We experimented with a medium density 6″ felt wheel and our regular rotary sander.  We then tried different types of cerium and different concentrations and additives until we developed a method where we could polish the glass without the big, bulky, SRP machine!  This adjustment was truly revolutionary! Everything became much more mobile from that adjustment moving forward. With this one adjustment, we were now able to resurface the glass and polish approximately 10 sq. ft. per hour!  That was a huge development. Almost doubling our previous glass resurfacing output. There were still occasional issues with random swirls and haze and hard edges. Where were they coming from?

Best Abrasives For Grinding Glass Scratches

Since we were getting more calls for large glass resurfacing projects, there wasn’t much room for error.  Commercial glass resurfacing panels were usually larger and clients more demanding. In other words, clients were expecting us to remove the heavier, unsightly scratches, but also make sure there was no haze or swirls or hard edges from sanding the glass surface.  What we noticed was, that even with the best technique, we would still occasionally see some swirls and also haze. Since over-polishing glass always leads to distortion, we focused more closely on our abrasive sanding discs. We tested all kinds of silicon carbide from all over the world.  Eventually, for reasons still unclear, we found one unique abrasive that exceeded all others in quality and consistency. The swirls ceased and the haziness would always polish glass flawlessly on the first pass. Now the time required to complete scratched glass restoration was cut by even a little more.  Another revolutionary adjustment!

Improving the restored glass smoothness

Any glass scratch remover who has worked with cerium oxide knows the affinity, on a chemical level, that cerium oxide has for glass.  If you allow warm cerium oxide to dry on warm glass, it’s nearly impossible to completely clean the glass. It seems like the higher purity of the cerium, the more this becomes an issue.  If you wet the glass after it’s been polished, and you are able to see all the areas that have been worked on, you are most likely seeing cerium oxide residue. It will appear during high humidity, foggy, or rainy conditions.  Initially, we found more thorough cleaning after the glass restoration was finished helped significantly. Eventually, we discovered, with the help of a highly qualified chemist, an additive that resulted in an incredibly smoother, cleaner, slippery finish, exactly like polished glass should have.

The Real Savers Of Scratched Glass

So, is it fair to say that Unscratch the Surface has, in a sense revolutionized scratched glass restoration?  We’ve improved the mobility of the glass restoration process, for one.  Secondly, the quality of the abrasives have resulted in no more unsightly scratches, swirls and haze, ever.  And finally, not only is the glass clarity drastically improved, but the smoothness of the glass restored and the dreaded return of the cerium haze has been eliminated. If you look at the high end glass resurfacing projects we get have completed, and the demanding clients we have already worked for, we think they would answer with a resounding, yes!  If you find yourself looking at many panels of scratched glass panels, do not despair. Do not replace the glass until you contact Unscratch the Surface. Chances are extremely good that we can save scratched glass, quickly, and flawlessly, and at a fraction of the cost of replacement glass!  Please contact us anytime for more information about scratched glass repair revolution. You can also click here for all our available services.  Thank you.