Clay Bar Those Windows!

[sptcoupe]

I was putting some wax on the 1973 FIAT 124 sedan today, and happened across a clay bar I had used on the car two summers ago. Got to looking at that and the rear window of the sedan, which I had never been able to get really clean. The inside had a thin coat of 37 year old grime that NOTHING had made a dent in.

So, using Windex as the lubricant, I clay barred it, and it came out looking like a brand new piece of glass! Best yet, it took about as long to clay bar it as it does to just clean it with your favorite commercial soluiton!

Next chance I get, all the glass will be clay barred inisde and out.

[ventura ace]

Thanks for the suggestion, Jeff! I'll give it a try.

Merry Christmas!

Alvon

[sptcoupe]

So I tried the clay bar on the chrome pieces with the same excellent results. Give it a try.

[mdrburchette]

I've used a clay bar on the outside but I'll have to try it on the inside. Great tip!

[FiatJim]

If the glass (windshield) had many tiny pits and scratches from road grit,.. would using a clay bar help?

[wikkid]

If the glass (windshield) had many tiny pits and scratches from road grit,.. would using a clay bar help?

The clay bar will take away any tiny bits of grit, dirt, pollen, etc that makes the surface feel rough. It does not act as an abrasive at all, and only acts as a remover of surface crud. So no, it would not take any scratches out, but it would take away things that would scratch the glass, or the plastic rear window.

[FiatJim]

I recall (can't remember WHERE) reading about a coating/treatment that can be applied to old, scratched/pitted windshields. Does anyone recall what that product was?

[tonyfromjersey]

Eastwood makes a couple of different kits for windshield polishing. I tried this one http://www.eastwood.com/glass-polishing-kit-pro.html with moderate results. To be honest, I would have done it again and probably had the scratches pretty well out, but George called me and had another windshield in better shape. So the scratched one and the kit are in the garage. It's worth the money I think, since I couldn't get a new windshield for less than 450 bucks.

Tony

[81SPIDERMATT]

but it would take away things that would scratch the glass, or the plastic rear window.[/quote]

is that right... it will work on the plastic window?????????????

[wikkid]

Matt, to be sure about the plastic window, it would be best to do a test rub on an old bit of plastic rear window. Plastics have a funny way of reacting to some things, although in principle, the clay bar is only picking up surface contaminants. Soapy water as a lube with the clay bar on a test bit is the way to check it - never any chemical stuff on the plastic.
-Chris