Scratched mirror glass repair
F1nut
Posts: 50,647
Any of you have experience repairing scratches on mirror glass or recommend a repair firm? The scratches are not deep enough to feel with a fingernail.
At first I tried baking soda with water, dry mustard with vinegar and then Brasso. I didn't try toothpaste because I know it doesn't work.
I then I tried your standard automotive rubbing compound, nothing. Next I broke out my heavy duty buffing machine and 3M rubbing compound, which after multiple applications made a very minor improvement, but not enough to continue.
I saw some scratched glass repair kits online, but the reviews left a lot to be desired.
This is antique mirror glass, which is very thin and in part due to its larger size is valuable.
At first I tried baking soda with water, dry mustard with vinegar and then Brasso. I didn't try toothpaste because I know it doesn't work.
I then I tried your standard automotive rubbing compound, nothing. Next I broke out my heavy duty buffing machine and 3M rubbing compound, which after multiple applications made a very minor improvement, but not enough to continue.
I saw some scratched glass repair kits online, but the reviews left a lot to be desired.
This is antique mirror glass, which is very thin and in part due to its larger size is valuable.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
Comments
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Did you try jewelers' rouge, or would that be too fine?
Context (FWIW): BITD, I used a paste made with jewelers' rouge and distilled water to polish the gold "working electrodes" on an electrochemical molecular detector we used in the lab to a mirror finish. -
mhardy6647 wrote: »Did you try jewelers' rouge, or would that be too fine?
Context (FWIW): BITD, I used a paste made with jewelers' rouge and distilled water to polish the gold "working electrodes" on an electrochemical molecular detector we used in the lab to a mirror finish.
Ah yes I did and forgot to note that.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
sorry, that was my best shot.
I wonder if an agent which can attack/solubilize glass (hydrofluoric acid or strong alkali leap to mind - although neither reagent is subtle nor pleasant to work with) might be capable of 'removing' the scratch if used extremely judiciously? Needless to say, I wouldn't try this with the valuable glass without beta-testing on some cheap scratched glass!
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Thanks Mark. I'm going to consult with my very reputable glass shop tomorrow. They do everything, but I doubt they'll touch this one due to the risk of breaking the very thin glass.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The glass folks want to see it in person, so I'll take it over there. In the meantime, if anyone here stumbles upon this thread and has a suggestion please speak up.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
You might take a look at Peek polishing paste. It has ground-up diamond dust in it, and is good for polishing non-porous surfaces. In the FAQs here: https://tripeek.com/faqs/ under the third bullet regarding surfaces, it includes "Eisenglass, mirrors, clouded glass and crystal, leaded glass" in the list. I use it for polishing faceplates on components, acrylic dustcovers for turntables, and turntable platter edges and/or inner/sub-platters where a belt might run. It comes in paste, liquid, and spray-on foam. I've only used the paste. Pretty handy stuff!
You can find it on Amazon."This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
Some years ago I successfully restored a car windshield that had a maze of fine scratches caused by a rogue carwash with a kit from eastwood.com. Don't know how it would do on regular and thin glass. Did some of it by hand with their supplied "paste" and it worked with a gentle touch and a lot of elbow grease.
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Edit: ne'er mind. I looked it up.
sorry!
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I'll look into the Peek and Eastwood products. Thanks guys.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Eastwood kit, if it's the same one I remember seeing several years ago now is rated for the old non-safety glass in really old cars, like stuff before 1960.
If so, that will likely do what you are looking for it to do.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
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