Is this tomfoolery?

[Mauiguy]

Using steel wool to clean your windshield:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D05vX-G9iV4

[alm001]

This is legit. We did it on every car we detailed. I've done it on my own cars for years.

[achillies]

It works great. Be sure to blow off the fine steel dust.

[Nine8Six]

Please someone sell this to me

For the hell of me I can't imagine scrubbing a glass with something as abrasive as steel. Never heard!

Glass is a zero-porus surface and its clarity is defined by how smooth it is. That steel will certainly lift up rain spots but geez, i simply can't understand how it could make a glass "clearer". If this is what they are selling here.

Amonia (windex-like) worked pretty good for me so far, I mean for the contaminants, mineals, bird poop, mozzies

Can anyone debug this onto a test glass please?
1. Put the glass in night condition facing incoming traffic/lights
2. scratch it good with steel
3. repeat no. 1 test.

If nobody is able to demonstrate a "true clarity test" I won't be the one who will scratch my windshield with steel to find out lollll

[Mauiguy]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Please someone sell this to me

For the hell of me I can't imagine scrubbing a glass with something as abrasive as steel. Never heard!

Glass is a zero-porus surface and its clarity is defined by how smooth it is. That steel will certainly lift up rain spots but geez, i simply can't understand how it could make a glass "clearer". If this is what they are selling here.

Amonia (windex-like) worked pretty good for me so far, I mean for the contaminants, mineals, bird poop, mozzies

Can anyone debug this onto a test glass please?
1. Put the glass in night condition facing incoming traffic/lights
2. scratch it good with steel
3. repeat no. 1 test.

If nobody is able to demonstrate a "true clarity test" I won't be the one who will scratch my windshield with steel to find out lollll

Nine8six, in my rudimentary research done before my original post, I found that:
- There's grades of steel wool, and "0000" grit is lower on the scale than auto glass, and therefore can't scratch it, theoretically.
- Ammonia-based cleaners are not good for car glass for different reasons.

Still I wasn't sure, hence this post. Good to know others use it with positive results!

[particlewave]

Not sure I'd use it on glass, but I used to use it on chrome and the results were a mirror finish.

[alm001]

Originally Posted by Mauiguy

Nine8six, in my rudimentary research done before my original post, I found that:
- There's grades of steel wool, and "0000" grit is lower on the scale than auto glass, and therefore can't scratch it, theoretically.

Yes, the gauge is important. 0000 is safe, but still use a lubricant (glass cleaner)

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Mauiguy

- Ammonia-based cleaners are not good for car glass for different reasons.

Glad you raised this. I did once asked Porsche why their windshield haze so much, was sure it was because of the ammonia myself. They confirmed that modern glass's laminate are sandwiched between glass layers so it couldn't be that. They did recommend to change the glass entirely, want to know how much here?!

That's why I'm quite interested to know if this really works.

Again, steel-is-steel for me, micro-nano 0000001 it still doesn't make sense for me, still steel :/

Can you actually improve glass clarity professionally? also never heard

[ArizonaDan]

Although not for everyday cleaning, I have to say that cerium oxide powder mixed with water is amazing at removing scratches, haze, etc, etc. I learned this after buying my 986 and having the previous owner scrape the windshield with blades that were about 12 years old and in most places, down to the frame. The windshield was in pretty poor shape. The powder can be found on Amazon. I'll tell you now, it is a huge mess to use...small section, clean, repeat...but, it is well worth the $12.50 to buy.

Follow the instructions---mix to a buttermilk type consistency and use a pad on a drill or polisher...Strongly suggest you cover the top and surrounding body work as the slurry will be slung all over the place when you use it.

[imon_2nd]

Steel wool won't harm glass, UNLESS abrasive particles are already present on the glass. Unfortunately, aluminum oxide is common in "dirt." It won't take much aluminum oxide to scratch glass. So, before polishing glass, remove the bird poop and dirt with lots of water, detergent and a soft cloth. Then, polish with a commercial compound intended for that purpose, like:
https://www.amazon.com/Cerium-Oxide-Glass-Polishing-Compound/dp/B009XUAA4Y

[germaneighter]

This has been used in the production auto paint industry for many years to remove overspray. I've done it for that same purpose and it works well. I've done it dry and with a class cleaner. Just don't bare down.

[Nine8Six]

Are we still selling "glass clarity" magic tricks here or we are selling Joe's chemical "rain spots" cleaners, I'm lost now.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by imon_2nd

Steel wool won't harm glass, UNLESS abrasive particles are already present on the glass. Unfortunately, aluminum oxide is common in "dirt." It won't take much aluminum oxide to scratch glass. So, before polishing glass, remove the bird poop and dirt with lots of water, detergent and a soft cloth. Then, polish with a commercial compound intended for that purpose, like:
https://www.amazon.com/Cerium-Oxide-Glass-Polishing-Compound/dp/B009XUAA4Y

You are talking a Class 1 (or 2 min) clean room bud. Same place they assemble your iPhone. Being your profession, Dave, you know as much as I do it won't work outdoor.

Don't have the material hardness links handy for steel but believe me, you don't want to scratch glass with that. Naked eyes won't catch the damage, but magnify this x100 and you'll have a heart attack

(scout promise )

[jb92563]

In General Glass hardness ranges from 4.5-7.5 but steel is in the 4-4.5 range.

Hence the steel wool will not scratch the glass since windshield auto glass is in the 6 to 6.5 range and the side and back windows are in the 7 to 7.5 range.

Ever notice folks using razor blades on glass to remove stickers etc. Thats also safe due to glass being harder than steel.

[Nine8Six]

you are faster than I am, I was booting up the office notebook to look this up :/ arggg

Thanks bud, that's informative

[particlewave]

Unless done carefully, razor blades can scratch the hell out of glass

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by jb92563

In General Glass hardness ranges from 4.5-7.5 but steel is in the 4-4.5 range.

Looking at about the same figures as yours here, surprising. Never worked with glass, learning everyday.

[Bootlegger]

Clay bar and RainX or a commercial ceramic coating. Works well for me.

[Mauiguy]

Hmmm, I haven't given away my Boxster's predecessor yet ('06 Ford Escape), so I might try it on that. Upper passenger-side corner, of course

[Nine8Six]

Deleted: Unwelcome and inexperienced comments on other' products