Windshield restoration

[Jeff]

Is there a good way or does anyone offer services to "refinish" a windshield? I've got a 95 miata that has some small little pits and scratches from "normal" wear and tear being 16 years old and I want to have brand new looking glass.

Can it be "restored" or does it need to be replaced?

[Nick Chapman]

It all depends on just how attached you are to this car and that windshield. You can get a kit to buff the windshield, and it will safely remove LIGHT defects, but it's quite a bit of work, and you'll have to have a DA or Rotary. But, a new windshield for that car is only about $150 or so. If you go with a brand new one, you'll have glass that's 100% perfect vs only being able to remove light defects with a glass polishing kit.

Just my $0.02

Nick

[Jeff]

Cool, do you perform the windshield polishing and if so how much? If it's more than the cost of a replacement, do you have anyone you recommend for replacing it?

[Nick Chapman]

It would probably be a good idea to just replace it. Those polishing kits are designed for all glass, but is mainly used when restoring a classic, that has hard to find glass, or if it's not replaceable at all. Glass is harder than paint, and requires quite a bit of time to do it correctly. Much easier and cheaper to just replace the glass.

[Jeff]

Cool, do you have anyone you want me to throw the business towards?

[Baba Ganoush]

Hey Nick, I have a windshield in my 88' coupe with some good scratches from the wiper arm in it. So I should just replace it?

What about the quarter windows? They are covered in what looks like water spots or something, or little spots of a peeling finish, it looks bad. What can I do to polish these babies out, if it is even possible?

[Jeff]

If they are just stubborn water spots - I've had good luck with a clay bar.

[Baba Ganoush]

If they are just stubborn water spots - I've had good luck with a clay bar.

they look like water spots, not really sure what they are. It almost looks like a peeled finish, but it doesn't have a texture, I can't feel them when I wipe the window.

[Jeff]

I would try a clay bar on it then. You can hit your windshield with it too and remove any stubborn grime buildup there as well.

[Nick Chapman]

Depends on how deep those windshield scratches are. I can polish them out, but if it starts eating up too much time, you'll be better off replacing it. As for the water spots, like Jeff said, use a clay bar. And if that won't work, try some buffing compound by hand and a towel. I typically use a DA when polishing water spots out of windows, but you can do it by hand also.

Nick

[EW]

cheap glass is wavy.