So now that I've scratched the glass...

[jtiii]

Used hardware store razor blades on old vinyl glass door lettering. Didn't realize I scratched the glass until just about sunset and then
Two questions -
Does anyone have experience buffing out scratches in glass? What have you used? What hasn't worked?
Where do y'all get your stainless steel razor blades?

 

[SignosaurusRex]

I'm guessing that you razored the glass without lube ...soapy water? Dry razoring will result in scratches almost always, even with stainless steel blades.
At this point, the best you can hope for is to wax the glass.

 

[Adam Vreeke]

I have had a lot of luck with Novus Scratch Remover (won't do anything deep though). Bonus is you can pick it up at your local Wally Mart or Home Depot.

 

[Billct2]

Back when we would use Glass Wax.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Yes, always use lube.

 

[jtiii]

I'm guessing that you razored the glass without lube ...soapy water? Dry razoring will result in scratches almost always, even with stainless steel blades.
At this point, the best you can hope for is to wax the glass.

I cleaned the window first and sprayed foaming window cleaner on the letters before scraping. I might not have been using enough at first though. I think it was mostly the ACE hardware blades.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Blame it on the last guy before they see it.

 

[netsol]

https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Polishing-Compound-60150-Capacity/dp/B007460F7Q

 

[rjssigns]

https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Polishing-Compound-60150-Capacity/dp/B007460F7Q

Yikes they're proud of that stuff.

Just Google cerium oxide for glass. Lots of places sell complete polishing kits for about 20 bucks.

 

[jtiii]

Blame it on the last guy before they see it.

Unfortunately the doors AND the lettering were both about ten years old

 

[jtiii]

I have had a lot of luck with Novus Scratch Remover (won't do anything deep though). Bonus is you can pick it up at your local Wally Mart or Home Depot.

Is that the three part stuff?

 

[jtiii]

Yikes they're proud of that stuff.

Just Google cerium oxide for glass. Lots of places sell complete polishing kits for about 20 bucks.

Thank you. Any opinion about whether I should get a polishing pad to put on a drill or do it by hand?

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Unfortunately the doors AND the lettering were both about ten years old

Good, no likely witnesses

 

[netsol]

Have you consider calling a glass company to get an idea of the cost they'd bill you? Some stuff like this might be super simple with all the right equipment.

Jburton
EVERYTHING IS SIMPLE
with the right equipment

 

[Z SIGNS]

Sorry this happened to you. Fouling up a job and learning a lesson is right of passage in any trade.
In days of old 60's/70's it was hard to scratch glass with the available blades.
The blades of today are different. More carbon in them.

 

[netsol]

Sorry this happened to you. Fouling up a job and learning a lesson is right of passage in any trade.
In days of old 60's/70's it was hard to scratch glass with the available blades.
The blades of today are different. More carbon in them.

I am surprised, all the drill bits are chinese metal, getting cheaper and softer

 

[Adam Vreeke]

Is that the three part stuff?

I believe it is supposed to be used as like a sand paper, take out heavy with 3 , go to 2, then polish with 1. We only use #2 though, and if it doesn't work we reprint.

 

[Adam Vreeke]

Reprint the window?

We only use #2, instead of going up on all 3, and when just #2 doesn't work WE (as in the company I worrk for) reprint the glass. As in a 6" x *' glass award, not a window.