Fixing scratched glass with jeweler's rouge

Fixing scratched glass with jeweler's rouge

Letter 25852

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I am a store owner and someone "scratched" graffiti on my window. My neighbor told me to try jeweler's rouge [link is to product info at Amazon] to try to take out the scratches from the glass. Is there any merit to this? If so, how would I go about purchasing this?

Joseph M
store owner - Brooklyn, New York

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You can put in a new window for the time cost. A cheaper and workable solution is to contact shops that repair rather than replace car windows. It is used on rock damage on windshields. You can barely tell that is has been repaired, basically, you have to know where to look.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

Hi, Joseph. I don't know how much skill is required to do a good windshield repair, and whether it can really be done by an untrained person, but inexpensive windshield repair kits are now available for the brave do-it-yourselfer.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

P.S.: See later postings. Storefront glass is different stuff from windshield glass, and some knowledgeable people say below that you can't polish tempered glass.

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Can you tell me what type (color/grit) of jewelers rouge I can use to remove surface scratches on glass? Do I need a buffer or can it be done by hand.

Thank you.

Lisa V
consumer - Manchester, New Hampshire

Hi, Lisa. Glass repair is not done by hand; you need an electric buffer of SOME sort -- a Dremel [link is to product info at Amazon] tool or electric drill if not an actual buffing machine. You are trying to use an abrasive that is so fine that it leaves no scratches; that means the softest rouge colored rouge. But I don't really know that this can be done by amateurs.

Regards,

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

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Please advise if you would recommend using Jeweler's Rouge or any other product to remove surface and deeper scratches from glass table top.

Thank you,

Andrea J
- New York, New York

March 17, 2008

IT WILL BE CHEAPER AND EASIER TO REPLACE THE GLASS IN YOUR STOREFRONT. WINDSHIELD REPAIR IS FOR A STONE CHIP THAT HAS CRACKED THE FIRST LAYER OF THE GLASS. W/S ARE TWO PIECES OF GLASS LAMINATED TOGETHER. A STOREFRONT IS EITHER ONE PIECE OF PLATE GLASS OR TEMPERED GLASS. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SLIGHTLY POLISH THE PLATE GLASS BUT THE TEMPERED GLASS CANNOT BE PLAYED WITH. I WAS IN THE AUTO GLASS BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS AND STOREFRONT GLASS FOR OVER 10 YEARS. HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU.

SHARON P
- DELRAY BEACH, Florida

Thanks, Sharon. Your expertise in this may save people a lot of wasted work :-)

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

August 21, 2008

I wonder if Lisa V. can expand on her reply to the question about polishing out scratches on glass with jeweler's rouge. I have a Dremel, with buffer wheels, and a block of red rouge. I'm not sure if the rouge, or buffer wheel, is to be wet or dry when polishing the glass.
Thanks for your help.
P.E.

Peter E
- Poughkeepsie, New York

August 27, 2008

Hi, Peter. Lisa V's posting is from years ago, so I don't think we should await a response from her personally. I am not a polisher, only saw it done a few times, but you "dress the wheel" with the buffing compound. That is you get the wheel going, then press the bar of buffing compound against it. You can read more by searching the web for "wheel dressing" or "dressing the wheel". Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

November 12, 2008

I read on the following post that for auto glass it may be best to include equal parts water, glycerin, and jewelers rouge. www.essortment.com/hobbies/diyhowtorepai_sggt.htm, however, simply states to use hand buffing rather than a polishing wheel.

My situation is that the wiper washer on my newly acquired used car seems to have been inoperable for several years and there is a VERY fine but also very noticeable hazing to the window where the wiper blades went back and forth. It is really quite significant, but there are no "deep scratches".

Is this an appropriate place to use jewelers rouge? If so, what about using it with or without glycerin. And, buffing wheel or by hand?

Thanks so much.

Andy

Andrew I
- Saint Paul, Minnesota

January 14, 2009

I also have a question about polishing mineral deposits out of glass with red jewelers rouge.I have clear glass shower doors and have tried everything that I've found posted on all sorts of web sites about how to get them crystal clear again. Finally i called the company that installed them and was told that the spotting was actually acid etched into the glass after years of harsh chemical cleaning products.It was suggested that i try a red jewelers rouge (preferably in liquid form) which i have located and a buffing cloth and apply it with a kit i have that goes on my drill.I have removed the doors and have them on 2 saw horses in my garage.Before purchasing the red rouge i wanted to get 1 more opinion from someone who is an expert and knows about cleaning and polishing glass.
Thanks,Marsha

MARSHA COE
- BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

February 22, 2009

My son's dogs scratched my patio sliding door, the scratches are not that bad but look horrible and I would like to repair this. I would like to know how do I do this, I read something about jewelers rouge, electric buffer with lamb's wool buffing pad, 2 ounces of ammonia, 2 quarts of water. I know I have to put the ammonia in the water; but what do I do with the jewelers rouge? Do I rub it on the glass first? wouldn't this make it worse? Please help!

Aida Morales
- Mesquite, Texas

February 23, 2009

Hi, Aida. I've never polished scratches out of glass myself, but considering the need for flatness, I'll bet it isn't easy, and requires experience. I'd certainly practice on an old piece of glass first.

But, maybe more importantly, I'd bet that the patio door is tempered glass (the very hard stuff that shatters into a million pieces to reduce the danger of someone being badly cut. And I have heard that you can't polish tempered glass: see the reply from Sharon of Delray Beach.

Regards,

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

April 28, 2009

I have a similar question to the one above about removing dog scratches from windows. These were installed 15 years ago. I don't know what kind of glass it is. There are 20 of these windows 30" by 7' tall, so buying new glass is probably out of the question.

I see the recipe above for the stuff used to polish out these scratches. Would you, please, explain the process in enough detail that someone can follow these steps. Or, is there a finishing.com store in Houston that will provide this service?

Thanks,

Nancy

Nancy Weller
- Houston, Texas

April 28, 2009

Hi, Nancy. Finishing.com is only a website, not a store. If anyone who has done this is willing to explain the steps, we'll be happy to post it here, but we don't have a store to help you. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

April 30, 2009

Getting dog scratches out of plate glass windows: How can I get dog scratches out of my glass windows?

Nancy Weller (returning)
- Houston, Texas

July 1, 2009

Hello one and all. Though glass scratches can be repaired. Jewelers Rouge is not ideal. I have been repairing glass for over 26 years, from flat glass (tempered, annealed, amd mainly automotive windshields wiper scratches, gauges, residue, hazing and oxididation from shallow scratches to very deep without distortion to the glass. I have tried every product available in comparison to one another and the ideal repair solution is a combination of critical temperatures, pressure and keeping the product between the glass and the buffing wheel providing the correct amount of water, temp and pressure and not to remove glass via sanding and buffing. This will offer nothing but more problems and serious distortion to the glass. I use a rather expensive and very scientifically engineered system. It is used by over 70% of high rise building owners and sky scrapers internationally. There is really only one way of doing these procedures properly and should be done by an experienced professional. Everything else will be an improvement or a temporary cosmetic illusion, just spray your glass with water and it will disappear before your eyes.....Until it dries!!! Contact a local glass supplier, they all have shipping damage of all sorts to new glass or handling mishaps, and they use a glass scratch system to repair their own inventory. This is the same system I use, it can also remove scratches on mirror glass. Please look up "Gforce". All your questions will be addressed and put to rest. Best Wishes.

Charles Givas
Owner / Operator since 1986

Charles Givas
- Spokane,Washington

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Ed. note: Thanks very much, Charles. That was a very helpful exposition! But this site is for technical discussion and we don't print claims that one system is better than their competitors. That often leads to a race to the bottom as shills, even posing as satisfied customers, try to outclaim each other. So readers should also please search for "glass scratch removal system" to see what the other suppliers say about their systems compared to the Gforce system. Thanks again!

September 18, 2009

FWIW, I've just had success removing sandpaper scratches - a home improvement boo-boo - from my bathroom mirror using Ultrabrite toothpaste and baking soda!! I found a list of toothpaste abrasiveness ranked by RDA value and Ultrabrite was one of the highest. I used a small piece of moist cotton jersey with a dab of Ultrabrite, a dusting of baking soda and more than a little elbow grease. It's taken a few days working at it off and on but the scratches are 95% or more gone. I am very happy that the mirror won't have to be replaced.

Thanks

Gail Pierce
- Austin, Texas

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