scratched glass?

[LoneWolfandSon]

i have a friend that owns a copy company. well one of his idiot employees sent threw there copy machine a staple and scratched the glass surface. :wes: what compounds can they use to buff out the scratch?

he thanks you,

[Big Jay]

I think Brasso. Do a search on it. Pretty sure its what they use to remove scratches from watch faces.

[Mecha]

What about the solution used with CD and DVD scratch removers? Or that miracle product for eyeglasses seen on late night TV?

[Mike_Aurelius]

Nope. Don't try to buff it out. That glass is usually tempered in some fashion and it will probably break.

See if your local glass (plate glass) store has replacement sheets of the same thickness. The glass in the machine is usually held in place with a bracket of some kind -- they get scratched and need to be replaced all the time.

[Mecha]

Curious, how would using a compound designed for filling in scratches on glass cause it to break? They use the same stuff on chipped windshields, which are heavily tempered without a problem. I had that done to my own windshield over four years ago and it is still fine. It is like a glue that is optically clear.

[Mecha]

Although a replacement plate would probably be pretty cheap and easy as well. As Mike said, I am sure they are scratched all the time. Think office parties...

[Mike_Aurelius]

That stuff(CD & DVD material and for eyeglasses) is for plastic lenses, not glass...The chipped windshield material is a composite that is forced into the chip under pressure.

Buffing out a scratch on a flat piece of glass requires stock removal. There's already probably a fairly deep scratch which affects the temper of the glass, removing additional material around the scratch will widen the area where the temper (or hardened skin) is gone and once it reaches "critical mass" the piece will break/shatter.

[Mecha]

The stuff on my windshield is actually just UV glue. Not some special compound requiring pressure. I watched them do it at jiffy lube. Nothing technical about it. Just spread it on, wipe off the excess, and shine a UV light on it. Viola! You can hardly tell there was a chip there at all unless you look really close.

[LoneWolfandSon]

thanks guys for the help,

it is a black line machine for blueprints. so a replacement is a little bit more than a office copier. i will tell him what everybody has said.

thanks

[Mr. Whale dick]

Nope. Don't try to buff it out. That glass is usually tempered in some fashion and it will probably break.

See if your local glass (plate glass) store has replacement sheets of the same thickness. The glass in the machine is usually held in place with a bracket of some kind -- they get scratched and need to be replaced all the time.


if the only option is to replace the whole piece of glass, why not try somthing that may work ...even if it breaks it...(if your replacing it anyway)

[DanBrooks]

ive heard of people using nail polish

[FredLight]

Ok, breaking it before replacing it is a BAD idea.

I know you're thinking, well if it breaks while buffing, you just replace it.

Any little chips from the glass getting where they're not supposed to go will be a major pain.

What would you rather do; replace one part or have to have the whole thing overhauled?

[FredLight]

Although I have seen large tempered windows repaired with water-fed buffers, I wouldn't recommend it for this.

[Mr. Whale dick]

put it upside down on some sawhorses


so if it breaks all the glass falls out

[Mecha]

Just google glass scratch repair. Plenty of products out there. Even for tempered glass. Just don't be a retard and press too hard while buffing, and you should be fine.

[LoneWolfandSon]

thanks all for the help,

hey hasslenuts thats kinda funny thinking of turning turning it upside down. the machine is probaly 4' wide by 3' deep. its a commercial blackline machine heavy as hell. thanks for the help thou the more brains the better. i gave him the options so we will see. the crappy thing is its probaly 2 weeks old.

[nicko0]

are your talking about the glass cylinder? they are precision. any buffing is gonna make its surface uneven and will no longer give proper contact for the blue print. if the scratch is so shallow that you cant feel it i would try buffing it out anyway. caution. ive buffed windshields its very easy to put more scratches than take out. use the best compound and new pads washed and tested directly before use. i dont know what im talking about

[nicko0]

did the scratch make any difference in the print? doing anything more to the scratch might make a difference. i dont know what im talking about.

[dicro]

here is what mike is talking when tempered glass structure is compromised
Prince Rupert's Drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V2eCFsDkK0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdy2_vi0FfM&NR=1


do not let this guy fool you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWXiFtE0ojw&feature=related


or here is a good one on glass tables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc6Z2KDIQXY&feature=related

[LoneWolfandSon]

hey ray,

no it is not the glass tube. that was the first thing i asked him. it is a a piece the lenght of the machine and about 4 inches wide he said. i have to go over and look at it today so i hope he can fix it.