Scratched glass

[doozer]

Hi,

I doubt there is a solution (well one that I would like to use) for this problem but I thought I would try asking as you never know.

We have some glass panelled internal doors (each made up of 15 bevelled panes) courtesy of the previous owners. They are fairly nice doors so I would rather not replace them. The problem is that the previous owners weren't exactly great at DIY but did like to have a go. They have stained and varnished the doors but managed to get it all over the glass as well. They obviously didn't like it on the glass (and nor do I) so rather than gently removing it with a Stanley knife blade (as I am doing) it looks like they have gone at it with a screw driver. This, of course, has resulted in the glass getting scratched to hell and back in places. Is there any way of removing even the smaller scratches? I would rather not take the panes of glass out if I can help.

TIA

Graham

[Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot]

I'm fairly sure I've heard that toothpaste removes scratches from glass.....

Yes, down the page a bit...

[Gerry]

Try the compound which is used for jewellery polishing - 'something Red' (possibly Rouge) I think - I have used it before with good success. You could get a little piece down at any Jewellers.

Gerry

[Andy Dingley]

Not practically, but the very palest of blonde shellac can help to hide them.

[Rob Morley]

Product 30347

[doozer]

that is minty fresh :o) but not much improved.

I decided to try Astonish sink cleaner. I have always avoided using it on glass because I thought it would be to abrasive but it turns out it isn't. I managed to substantially improve one fairly large scratch with about 15 minutes work using it but to do all four doors on both sides would take forever by hand.

[Andy Dingley]

Too soft - so's toothpaste. The polish for glass is cerium oxide, or maybe diamond or even silicon carbide if it's a big job.

You can buy polishing kits (paste and bobs) to go with a Dremel, but it's a horribly slow process and dificult to make it look really well.

If you strip the panes out, bevelling costs about £6/metre. You should be able to get a re-polish for a bit less.

[EricP]

Glass polishing, like all abrasive polishing is producing scratches of reducing size until the eye thinks it's shiny.

One thing I have found useful is valve grinding paste from a motor shop. It comes in various grades and can produce a nice finish if used carefully.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'm not quite sure how steel manages to scratch glass?

Polishing out scratches in glass is invariably more effort than replacing it.

[doozer]

It feels like relatively soft glass but even so scratching glass isn't that hard. The hardened steel tip of a screw driver is pretty tough and I would imagine the corner could scratch glass without much trouble.

If you are a complete Muppet and use said screwdriver like a shovel I am sure it is fairly easy in fact :o).

[Mary Fisher]

When I worked for the professional photographer he would 'repair' scratches in his lenses with vaseline. OK, it's only temporary and won't do for the OP but it was interesting, and it worked.

Mary

[Scott]

I've done a scratched CD with car wax...