Removing Scratches from Glassware
Everybody has faced this problem at least once in their life. A favoured piece of glassware has been dropped or just mishandled and has picked up some ugly marks and scratches. You would be amazed just how many people throw the bit of glassware out, even though with a little work it could be made as good as new. With the right knowledge and materials, you can get your glass looking spotless again.
1.) Trying to rub the scratch out using harsh abrasives will not work. This may work on wood, but on your favorite whisky glass, you’ll end up with a horrible opaque patch that will look even worse and be even more difficult to remove. You need to use a very fine abrasive substance such as cerium oxide. You should be able to find this at glassware shops or jewelers.
2.) Next you need a polishing wheel. This is form of spin buffer that has a soft pad and is fitted onto a hand drill. When abrasive is added to the pad and it spins up against the glass surface, it buffs any marks away. If the pad isn’t completely clean then you’ll just make more scratches in the glass, so check carefully first. You should also use the drill on a slow speed setting to avoid damaging you glass. Crystal glass is stronger and so can withstand higher spin speeds.
3.) Scratches that cover a large area or are quite serious will need something a bit more substantial for repair. Special resin is often used for serious scratches and this can be found at most hardware stores or glassware specialists. You’ll need to ensure that the resin you use has the same refractive index as the glass, otherwise it will stand out like a sore thumb, especially on crystal vases and glassware. When you have laid on the resin, the buffer and abrasive can be used to get a consistent finish and get the glass sparkling.
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