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removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:03 pm
by singleton
Has anybody got any suggestions for removing a number plate etching from glass? Ive got a second hand door with glass which is etched with a number plate from the old car it was once on. I know it is a security measure and it would defeat the whole object if it could be removed easily but wondered if anyone has succesfully removed an etching. My thinking at mo is flat the small area with fine paper until reg has gone then put a sticker there? I think it will just look silly on my car with another cars reg on it. cheers

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:21 pm
by MarkyB
I've heard that you can use toothpaste to polish out scratches in glass.
As it's been etched I suggest using a Dremel type tool with a mop head rather than an enormous amount of elbow grease.

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:31 pm
by silloyd
Could you fill it with some sort of hard setting clear resin - like what the windscreen repair bods do to stop a screen chip from getting any worse?

DIY kits look expensive (£20+) but if you want a 'good' rather than 'perfect' result then any clear hard setting glue might work.

Use an old jam jar :roll: to test the theory before attacking your precious class.

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:58 pm
by polo2k
there is an abrasive specifically for this called jewlers rouge

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 7:28 pm
by PSL184
You will never un etch glass with any amount of polish rouge or whatever - |The only way is to re etch over the top. the pro's mask an area around the reg number then etch the whole area to blurr the number out then re etch the correct number above it.....

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:27 pm
by Alec
Hello singleton,

you can polish it out with diamond paste but really it's likely to be far easier to buy a second-hand glass and replace it.

Alec

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:41 pm
by bmcecosse
Jewellers Rouge = iron oxide = rust! It will indeed take 'for ever' with that. I have removed scratches from glass with cutting compound (used for polishing up dull paint) followed by Brasso to remove the 'dull' effect on the glass.

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:56 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
bmcecosse wrote:Jewellers Rouge = iron oxide = rust!
= plenty in my sills = free :wink:

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:45 pm
by ASL642
Put a request for window glass in the Wanted section. It's impossible to remove the number without professional help.

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:10 pm
by MarkyB
Unless you are going in for concours I doubt anyone will even notice.
If they do, it just proves you green credentials, recycling etc.

If it bothers you why not just put a sticker over it?

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:21 pm
by minor65
Sorry of the topic slightly. What is the reg number?

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:49 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
the reg is short registration plate / number plate

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:15 pm
by minor65
:oops: :lol:

No I meant. What is the reg number on the glass ????

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:21 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
minor65 wrote::oops: :lol:

No I meant. What is the reg number on the glass ????
oops sorry..

to stop a theif nicking your car you etch the number plate of the car into all the glass of the car.. that way when a thief nicks your car they have to change all the glass as well as chassis plate and registration plate. that way it costs them a lot more in money and effort.. so they do not bother and just move onto the next car.

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:49 pm
by MarkyB
when a thief nicks your car they have to change all the glass as well as chassis plate and registration plate.
That was the theory then, seems to be out of fashion at the moment.

However the question was what registration, not why.

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:45 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
:oops: :oops: :oops: its been a long week is all i can say

Re: removing etching from glass

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:37 pm
by minor65
No problem charlie, but my question has not been answered. :)