Fixing a scratched windscreen
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 301
Likes: 2
From: 46835
It takes the finish to new/near new.. it is not a coating but a polishing abrasive (albeit very very fine).
Polishing with the Ebony product is a bit of an art, it requires a pretty slow but steady path so that the wheel can heat the surface a bit (burning is the danger and product only works with a powered rotary polishing bonnet)
You would need a chemist to say whether plastic oxidizes faster as it ages but the results were pretty phenomenal.
I had on a couple instances color sanded the really bad ones first before repolishing..(worked like a champ)
Polishing with the Ebony product is a bit of an art, it requires a pretty slow but steady path so that the wheel can heat the surface a bit (burning is the danger and product only works with a powered rotary polishing bonnet)
You would need a chemist to say whether plastic oxidizes faster as it ages but the results were pretty phenomenal.
I had on a couple instances color sanded the really bad ones first before repolishing..(worked like a champ)
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 301
Likes: 2
From: 46835
Now, color sanding is the wholesale removal of top material.. Is a process used since the first guy wanted a shiney Model T.. Works amazingly well for orange peel or just to flatten a surface.. (we always used a block of some kind)
Now, when you use a powered wheel with a product like Ebony on a plastic surface, it does in fact move some material around and in fact does "fill" to a minor extent.. It does the same on paint, it heats and spreads the top surface of the coating. Get too aggressive and you burn the paint.
Ebony is very poor at removing stock.. (we actually used cornstarch and water for a long time for a slightly more abrasive media) I am more than sure there are some paint and body guys that can give a lot better explanation of this but that is my working understanding after a couple years sanding and buffing hotrods..
Last edited by RandallJ; Aug 27, 2015 at 08:24 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,601
Likes: 6,437
From: Honah Lee
If it's a tinted Harley shield, its similar to the coated tint they put on glasses. Once it's gone, it's gone. Since you look over a shield, not sure why they do that other than to charge more. Just makes the shield more noticeable.
Someone stuck a note on mine and a few hours in the sun made a 9x11 x 1/2" wide rectangle on it when I pulled it off.
Not worth fretting over. It's just a tool. I replaced mine with clear that I like better. I got a complete new take off off ebay for less then dealer wanted for just the shield. 100 Anniversary no less. However, in a few years, even a clear one gets scratched up but at least not in big patches.
Someone stuck a note on mine and a few hours in the sun made a 9x11 x 1/2" wide rectangle on it when I pulled it off.
Not worth fretting over. It's just a tool. I replaced mine with clear that I like better. I got a complete new take off off ebay for less then dealer wanted for just the shield. 100 Anniversary no less. However, in a few years, even a clear one gets scratched up but at least not in big patches.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 274
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
Not worth messing with since the clear has been worn through. Get a new one from Long Rides. They are a sponsor here and they have a very good product.
http://www.longrideshields.com/
http://www.longrideshields.com/
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 405
Likes: 30
From: Amsterda
No need for any fancy plastic polish.
Use any type of chrome of just car polish. End with the finest grade and almost all scratches will be gone, even the deeper ones. It does take a bit so don't give up to soon. What you basically do with the deep is polish away the rough surface of the scratch making it transparent again. I just removed a deep one on my new windshield (@&!^!!) and its not really visible anymore.
Use any type of chrome of just car polish. End with the finest grade and almost all scratches will be gone, even the deeper ones. It does take a bit so don't give up to soon. What you basically do with the deep is polish away the rough surface of the scratch making it transparent again. I just removed a deep one on my new windshield (@&!^!!) and its not really visible anymore.
Last edited by blackSP; Aug 29, 2015 at 03:53 AM.
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