Can a windshield be polished

[charles p]

I live on a coastal barrier island and my windshields get sandblasted in about a year.  Tough to drive toward the sunshine with those 1000 points of lights glittering at me.

I once was told to use Bon Ami and a wet rag.  Important to keep the rag very wet and to work in a circular manner.  GM dealer did this for me once a long time ago.  Never tried it myself.

Anybody had success.  If so, how?

[Victor3]

 I've removed scratches made by windshield wipers using cerium oxide glass polish. Can't say it really worked all that well for me. Removed the lines but left the area less than crystal clear. Took a lot of time the way I did it; buffing pad on a drill followed by a rag and elbow grease. I'd never attempt an entire pitted windshield.

[Glanceblamm]

I had heard that a (used car lot) will use steel wool to buff out those windshields, I dont know what grade is used or what kind of Lube\polish is needed if any.
Shouldn't be too hard to check on this...you would think that a little 0000 with plenty of water may work.

[charles p]

For starters I'd like to improve a basketball size spot right in front of the steering wheel.  Of course, if I screw it up, that would be the worst place. 

[JustaShooter]

I had heard that a (used car lot) will use steel wool to buff out those windshields, I dont know what grade is used or what kind of Lube\polish is needed if any.
Shouldn't be too hard to check on this...you would think that a little 0000 with plenty of water may work.

With steel at about 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, and glass at about 6 to 7, I doubt the steel wool trick would work.  Unless of course car glass is a lot softer than plate glass, but I don't think that's the case especially since I've seen folks sharpen a knife blade on the top edge of a partially rolled down car door window in a pinch...

Just a Shooter (and former rock hound)

[Rex in OTZ]

If you put a Dime in a Jar for every minuet you spend on the window you'd be money ahead on new glass when finished.

[Empty Quiver]

The truck company I drive for once had to do about fifty windshields because of an over aggressive acid wash. Long story short the polishing was very smooth and seemed great, for about a month. The glass has a hard surface which was cut through by the polishing. The wipers quickly made the windshield a mess and the whole thing was replaced.

Spend an afternoon calling glass companies, the prices can vary a whole bunch, let them know cost is a major factor.

[charles p]

Maybe a big fat rock will come at me head on, and my comp coverage will help me out.  Don't get much large hail where I live.

[Glanceblamm]

Maybe a big fat rock will come at me head on, and my comp coverage will help me out.  Don't get much large hail where I live.

That was my second thought, specially after seeing Empty Quiver's post. If you are with one of the major companies, Comp coverage usually comes at no charge to your deductable.

[243dave]

I never change the wiper blades on my old truck unless the rubber is coming off.  One day it was raining and never give it no thought and jumped in and started driving.  It left me some nice wiper-scatches on the drivers side.  I took out my car waxxing buffer and some cheap fine grit rubbing compound and went to work.  It done such a fine job and looked brand new that I had to work the other side over too.  So get out your buffer (or borrow a buddies) and some fine grit rubbing/polishing compound for a couple bucks at wally-mart.  By the way, this works good on a oxidized headlight lens too.   Dave