resurfacing windscreen

[kylekrueger]

I not sure if this will work. I really need to either resurface my windshield or buy a new one. Since I am reluctant to buy a new one and spend a bunch of money trying to install it without breaking it I thought that I might try to resurface the glass.

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this at all. I did a little research on a telescope forum where they were talking about regrinding glass mirrors and they said that to resurface the glass you have to sand it with 1500 then 2000 grit sand paper then polish it with either a diamond powder or cerium oxide.

All comments welcomed

[Asbradley21]

That sounds really cool, but I'm doubtful of success. Go get a quote for getting a windshield installed. It's really not that expensive.

[kylekrueger]

thanks for the reply, I think I'm going to try it maybe just on the passenger corner so that way it doesn't ruin the whole windshield and if i have to get a new one anyway I might as well completely ruin the one I have while trying to save it.:D

[Adrian_Visser]

I've resurfaced a few plastic aircraft windshields this way but it takes a long time to do right and that is a plastic window not even a glass one! Going by hand with the sand paper finer and finer until you are at 2000 grit then using an abrasive polish on a buffer wheel etc. will take many hours. Doesn't your insurance pay for most of the windshield?

[M-technik-3]

The amount of labor involved is not worth the outcome. @ $225 at dealers and you could install it yourself if you have an understanding on how the gasket works.

[nando]

a new windshield was just over $100.. installed (PPG). totally not worth trying to bring back an old one.

[thereisnoyun]

a new windshield was just over $100.. installed (PPG). totally not worth trying to bring back an old one.

agreed, I got my installed for 130. thought I have to say I called them 3 different times, and got 3 different qoutes as high as 300 bucks. the same moron answer the phone. ... wtf. yea. it should be just over 100.

[FL318is]

I read somewhere, there is a european "Comet" abrasive scrub that as been used.

I am too lazy. New!

[jlevie]

It takes hours to polish a 6" telescope mirror. Consider how many equivalent sized areas there are in a windshield and thus how long it will take. Just get a new windshield installed.

[Aptyp]

mine was $144 installed.

[MikeDE]

$20 Junkyard glass + (1)Helper + Trimtool + 20 minutes = 'new to me' windshield

[Restoman]

I installed one on my car and it was fairly easy. Junk yards have pretty nice glass, it's the transport that can ruin your glass before it goes into your car.

[kylekrueger]

thanks for all the replies, yeah I think that you are right I can probably just go over to the pick and pull and get a fairly new or better condition one for cheap and just put it in myself.

Does any one have any tips for removal/installation or is it covered well in the Bentley manual. I haven't really checked.

[lateracer]

I'm with the rest of the crew on $$ vs. time/effort to resurface a windshield. My friend just bought a refinishing kit from harbor freight for his 62 Caddy's wrap around windshield. Can't really find those anymore, and they definitely no longer manufacture them. We'll see how it goes.

[kronus]

I paid about 120 bucks for some dudes to come to wherever I want, swap out my windshield for a new one (with a new lockstrip) and take the old windshield away. They did the whole job in about 25 minutes.