Cleaning Glass...

"ddavidn" (ddavidn) 10/10/2013 at 23:07 • Filed to: driveclean

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So here's a dumb question. I watch the glass cleaning video, which is fantastic. I am a huge fan of super-clean glass with RainX on it. Just obsessed with clean glass and cars in general. He's pretty quick with that razorblade, and I'm pretty sure I've scratched my windshield slightly with one before, removing gunk. I know razor blades shouldn't be able to scratch glass, but I am just asking a question here.

Is he not worried because, as he proceeds to polish it with his fancy power tools that I can't afford, he will fill in any little scratches he makes? Or am I definitely worrying over nothing? The polishing with power tools is the stuff I have to skip, as I have no power tools at all.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > ddavidn 10/10/2013 at 23:14

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The absolute best thing traditionally speaking to scrape a windshield with is a brass scraper. Brass is softer than glass (won't scratch, unlike a carelessly used razor blade), harder than just about anything you'll find on it - but as that includes a lot of fancy coatings that total pansies don't like removed, brass scrapers are hard to find these days. Bastards.

If going back with a coating, microscratches will fill... to a point, particularly if the coating's polishable. Still better not to have them, of course.

Casper > ddavidn 10/10/2013 at 23:18

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Well he shouldn't be scratching the glass because he is using a safe angle, with lubrication, and not pressing hard. The outside of the glass should curve away slightly or be flat, so the corners shouldn't dig in and scratch unless you did something wrong in the first 3 aspects. You could always use something plastic to be a bit safer.

ddavidn > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 10/10/2013 at 23:19

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I'll keep my eye out for a brass blade then, thanks for the tip!

ddavidn > Casper 10/10/2013 at 23:20

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I have a plastic blade, which I will probably just end up using. He does explain the angle thing, so that seems important. I guess just being careful will do the trick.

Kugelblitz > ddavidn 10/10/2013 at 23:23

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I like using crumpled newspapers to polish the glass on my car.

ddavidn > Kugelblitz 10/10/2013 at 23:23

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So this actually works, huh...

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Casper 10/10/2013 at 23:34

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DING, FRIES ARE DONE

Casper > ddavidn 10/10/2013 at 23:34

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One thing I have heard from several glass guys, but don't know for sure, is that things like Rain X make the surface of the glass easier to scratch because they add both a false layer that can be scratched as well as using a penetrating agent to weaken the surface of the glass it's self. If this is true, and your glass scratches easier than normal because of something like this, it would be worth polishing it up to a higher hardness to refresh it at some point.

Personally I would just buy a real glass scraper, one for the task, so that it's a little safer than a steel razor blade. I have used them because I keep a huge box of them in the shop for all sorts of stuff, but I would much rather not have to polish out scratches because my arm got tired or I did something stupid like run the razor on a dry patch.

Frank Grimes > ddavidn 10/10/2013 at 23:40

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I hate dirty glass as well. It makes the whole car look like crap when you are looking out of it.

ddavidn > Casper 10/10/2013 at 23:40

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I would like to polish it up. Truth is, this windshield is going to have to be replaced whenever it's the most urgent thing to fix on the car, so I'm not too worried about the long-term effects of something like Rain-X. A glass scraper sounds like a good idea. I'll be using the plastic blade tonight.

ddavidn > Frank Grimes 10/10/2013 at 23:41

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Truths.

Casper > ddavidn 10/10/2013 at 23:43

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Yeah, if I had a car with easy to get windshields (like the wife's BRZ), I would never worry about using Rain-X type stuff... it works great. On my 240Z or the 55 Buick I get more cautious because glass gets harder and harder to get in good shape and the same quality as the original.

horspowr1001 > ddavidn 10/11/2013 at 00:45

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Not answering your question but instead storytime (with product placement)

I used RainX religiously in the past and loved it, but now have switched to PIAA Supersilicone wiper blades. If you're in traffic/driving slow with RainX, you need to run the wipers once in a while, there's no escaping that. Every wipe (and over time), the effectiveness of RainX decreases. The PIAA's actually apply additional silicone for every wipe, maintaining the effectiveness for a lot longer.

I bought supersilicone wiper blade refills for my car for about $10 ea, plus the PIAA Windshield Prep Pack (10 packs) . Cleaned the windshield, used the prep pack, put the wiper blades in, and ran them for a couple mins dry. They are just as effective as RainX and stay that way. Try em out!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

ddavidn > horspowr1001 10/11/2013 at 00:53

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Rain-X isn't my favorite product, it's just what I got on clearance for $2. I am currently looking for a new favorite wiper, as they all seem so wimpy or overpriced now, and the ones Costco has stopped putting the adapters in the box, instead they mail them to you. I will definitely check out what you suggested, as I didn't really know PIAA made wipers!

NaturallyAspirated > horspowr1001 10/11/2013 at 14:03

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I ended up with the PIAA SuperSilicone wipers as well. The longevity was what sold me. Here in the desert, standard rubber blades last maybe 3 months before they start chattering. I haven't had my PIAAs for much longer than that, but reports say they are good for 2 years+. Definitely worth the extra money if they will last that long.