Over the course of several years, often
is the case that we don’t realize just how much abuse the glass
on any car takes, that is until it gets broken or scratched. In
this segment of Hemming’s Garage, Sam and Dennis talk about minor
glass restoration and how to locate obsolete glass for your classic.
This segment opens as Sam and Dennis are preparing
to remove some minor windshield scratches from Dennis’s Studebaker
Hawk. These minor abrasions and pits could be the result of chipping
due to rocks or other road hazards, or because wiper blade replacement
was neglected at one time or another. In either case, the Eastwood
Company, and their Professional Glass Polishing Kit for Windshields
can cure these types of minor surface imperfections.
The kit contains Rhodite, a powder that when mixed
with water on a 1:1 basis, forms a polish that will remove those
minor scratches. Just mix the powder and place on the buffer pad
that that is included, and then attach to a hand-held drill; however,
we must mention that you should use a low speed drill that does
not exceed 1,500 rpm. In just a few minutes of polishing, those
minor scratches will be gone for good. If you have a question
on whether or not this kit would work for you, remember this rule
of thumb, “run a fingernail across the damaged area. If the nail
does not catch on the scratch, then the windshield can be renewed!”
Also, remember that when working with this polishing compound,
or any other chemical mixture, you should work in a well-ventilated
area and also use eye protection. Another tech tip here is to
be sure to keep a spray bottle of water near by to prevent heat
build-up when using the Glass Polishing Kit. The kit from Eastwood
contains a buffing wheel, adapter for use with your electric drill,
and one pound of polishing compound with instructions. Now the
best part! This kit will only set you back for $32.99 and that
is a small price to pay for increased vision and for those points
that won’t be deducted at the next show! You can call the folks
at Eastwood at 1-800-345-1178 in the U.S., or at 1-800-820-9042
in Canada. You can also find them on the web at www.eastwoodcompany.com.
Now that Sam and Dennis have talked about minor scratches,
let’s say that the glass in your classic is suffering from stars,
stress cracks, or that it’s simply beyond repair, and after performing
some preliminary research, you simply can’t find that windshield
or wing window that you need, we’ve got the answer for that problem
as well. GlassSearch is a company in partnership with Pilkington/Libbey-Owens-Ford,
the world’s leading manufacturer of automotive glass. This partnership
allows GlassSearch to have access to a unique inventory of 65,000
NOS and OEM replacement glass parts for 1920s-1980s automobiles
including early Ford, General Motors, and exotics such as Jaguar,
Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and Lotus.
Also, as Sam mentions, if you’re really fussy about
your restoration, the folks at GlassSearch can also supply you
with the OEM auto replacement glass complete with the LOF sandblasted
logo and date coding so that you won’t lose points at a show.
You can give them a call at 1-800-848-1351 and their knowledgeable
staff will help you to determine your glass replacement needs.
You can also find them on the web at www.glasssearch.com.
Also, don’t forget, when it comes to questions about
these parts, or for any other parts for your restoration project,
check with us at www.myclassiccar.com,
and remember, when buying or selling anything automotive, look
to Hemming’s Motor News at www.hemmings.com.
Good luck and Happy Motoring!
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