[Healeys] Windscreen scratches

[Bob Spidell]

Apparently not a huge reach:

'ZnO is a relatively soft material with approximate hardness of 4.5 on 
the Mohs scale <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale>.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_oxide

Generally, you want abrasives to be fairly hard; abrasives aren't listed 
as one of its many other uses.





On 9/30/2023 2:04 PM, llennep at verizon.net wrote:
> Props of elemental zinc are likely very different from the 
> compound zinc oxide.
> Keith
> Chemist
>
>
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS 
> <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661>
>
> On Saturday, September 30, 2023, 4:45 PM, Bob Spidell 
> <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>     Same with any grinding compound: The components are selected for
>     their shape, hence 'cutting' ability, hardness, purpose, cost,
>     etc.  A compound with large particles with sharp edges will cut
>     deeper and faster than one with particles of a softer and/or more
>     rounded shape. The kit I bought came with a paste consisting of
>     rhyolite and whatever semi-liquid was used to make it a paste; it
>     appears aluminum oxide is also used.
>
>     A coarser compound will remove deeper scratches, but leave its own
>     scratches. You can start with a coarser compound to remove larger
>     scratches, then switch to a finer compound to remove smaller
>     scratches, and so on; just like you might start rubbing paint--or
>     filler--with 320grit sandpaper, then 400, then 600, 1200, etc.
>     Some polishing compounds do that 'automatically,' they start with
>     larger particles which themselves break down to smaller particles
>     and successively smooth the surface. McGuiars (sp?) has several
>     compounds, all graded on a thermometer-like scale for their
>     cutting (deep) or polishing (fine) characteristics.
>
>     I appears the lapidary (mineral-polishing) crowd has lots of
>     discussion re: best compounds. Cerium oxide is mentioned a lot,
>     rhyolite some, but I didn't see any mention of zinc oxide. Zinc is
>     a soft metal and may not lend itself to being a good polishing
>     compound, for glass anyway. Cost will (always) be an issue,
>     rhyolite may be a better compound than cerium oxide but may cost
>     more, or vice versa.
>
>     bs
>
>
>     On 9/30/2023 9:46 AM, llennep at verizon.net
>     <mailto:llennep at verizon.net> wrote:
>     What is special about cerium oxide?  Why not use zinc oxide?
>
>     On Saturday, September 30, 2023, 04:20:50 AM EDT, Mark Donaldson
>     <ardmorebusiness at xtra.co.nz> <mailto:ardmorebusiness at xtra.co.nz>
>     wrote:
>
>
>     Ira,
>
>     I have a spare windscreen with wiper blade ‘rainbow’ scratches on
>     both sides.  To remove them I have purchased some CERIUM OXIDE to
>     make a paste and hand-polish them out.
>
>     The people at the glass company told me the process will be slow
>     (a lot of elbow grease) but applying it to a soft rotary pad will
>     speed up the procedure.
>
>     My cost equates to about US $15 for 4 ounces.  That amount should
>     do the whole windscreen.
>
>     Here is a useful YouTube link: https://youtu.be/4ZJPPC1ak50
>     <https://youtu.be/4ZJPPC1ak50>
>
>
>
>     I hope this will help.
>
>     Mark
>
>     Ardmore
>
>     NZ
>
>     *From:*i erbs <eyera3000 at gmail.com> <mailto:eyera3000 at gmail.com>
>     *Sent:* Saturday, 30 September 2023 5:08 AM
>     *To:* Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>
>     *Cc:* Ahealey help <healeys at autox.team.net>
>     <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
>     *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] Windscreen scratches
>
>     I got nothing to loose. Might as well give it a try. BTW, this is
>     on my 67B. Those windscreens are spendy to replace
>
>     Ira Erbs
>     Milwaukie, OR
>     1959 Austin Healey 100-6
>     1967 MGB Roadster
>
>     On Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 9:06 AM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net
>     <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
>         I used a kit with some sandpaper, a mild abrasive and an
>         attachment for a drill to polish my BN2's windshield. IIRC, I
>         got it from Eastwood:
>
>         https://www.eastwood.com/glass-polishing-kit-for-deep-scratches.html
>         <https://www.eastwood.com/glass-polishing-kit-for-deep-scratches.html>
>
>         The 'rule-of-thumb' is if the scratch can be felt with a
>         fingernail it can't be removed, but my car had mostly mild
>         wiper wear and the kit did the job well enough I can live with it.
>
>         Bob
>
>         On 9/29/2023 3:41 AM, Robert Markovich via Healeys wrote:
>
>             There are some some places that polish windshields. But
>             ultimately it may be more cost-effective to simply
>             replace. Triplex is the brand to use; an OEM manufacturer
>             that supplied them back then. The rest often don’t fit
>             right and eventually crack from stress points, as I’ve found.
>
>             Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>             <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661>
>
>             On Friday, September 29, 2023, 2:01 AM, i erbs
>             <eyera3000 at gmail.com> <mailto:eyera3000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>                 Howdy all
>
>                 Is there any proven way to remove wiper blade
>                 scratches from a windscreen?
>
>                 Thanks all
>
>                 Ira Erbs
>                 Milwaukie, OR
>                 1959 Austin Healey 100-6
>                 1967 MGB Roadster
>
>
>
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