Removing ancient water spots from glass?

[82DMC12]

I have a classic car that has some water spots from before my ownership on all of the glass except the windshield (which I have replaced). I've had the car for over 20 years and I'm finally revisiting this topic because I am seriously restoring the car and want it to be perfect.

I have already tried:

1) 100% distilled white vinegar on shop glass towels - no change
2) 0000 steel wool lubricated with Windex - no change
3) Razor blade at an angle with windex - no change
4) Meguires Water Spot Remover paste on a terrycloth applicator pad - this actually seems to work but it's a ton of effort to apply manually.

I have a Griots Garage G9 and a 3" backing plate. Is there a pad I should get to apply this paste? Any concerns about motor speed or heat build up?

[Bosko]

There are specific glass polishing pads and griots makes a glass polish, I'd post links but the long river isn't allowed to be posted

[82DMC12]

Awesome, thanks! I just ordered a set of 3" pads from them. I'll try that with the Meguires paste I already have since I know it does work. Cheers!

[Rsurfer]

Car Pro's Ceriglass with their rayon pad. It gets messy as you need to keep the glass moist. Lay some old mf on the wiper cowl and part of the hood to prevent splatter.

Slow arm movement and small sections at a time. Polishing glass is a tedious job, but the results can be very rewarding.

[Eldorado2k]

I’d try McKee’s Glass Restorer before busting out the chisel aka Ceriglass.

Blackfire is supposed to have an equivalent product to it, but I was too lazy to search it.

Kaboom Bathroom Cleaner works great as well. No joke. You might want to keep it off the paint though.

[82DMC12]

I’d try McKee’s Glass Restorer before busting out the chisel aka Ceriglass.

Blackfire is supposed to have an equivalent product to it, but I was too lazy to search it.

Great, sounds like there are definitely some options out there. I know the Meguires works but I'm trying to be lazy and reduce the hand-application effort. I'll try the 3" Griots glass pads with the Meguires and see how that goes. If I need more aggressive cut I'll try the Glass Restorer since we do have a McKee's dealer nearby.

[Eldorado2k]

Great, sounds like there are definitely some options out there. I know the Meguires works but I'm trying to be lazy and reduce the hand-application effort. I'll try the 3" Griots glass pads with the Meguires and see how that goes. If I need more aggressive cut I'll try the Glass Restorer since we do have a McKee's dealer nearby.

That Glass Restorer is a product I try to make sure is always available on my shelf. I’ve had that stuff perform miracles when other methods wouldn’t even touch contamination on glass.

[ducksfan]

Didn't 3D just come out with a new glass cleaner (cerium based I think) at SEMA?

[Tasmania]

Try a glass polish even in a pinch you can use metal polish or a dedicated water spot remover.

[Coatingsarecrack]

Griots fine glass polish.

Haven’t met a window that’s met this and the griots glass pads that didn’t clean up well yet. 2yr old ceriglass sitting unopened because of this.

It’s cleaned some tough old water-spots but not anything 20 years old

The Griot’s has Cerium oxide just not as much or aggressive as Ceriglass.


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[Eldorado2k]

Griots fine glass polish.

Haven’t met a window that’s met this and the griots glass pads that didn’t clean up well yet. 2yr old ceriglass sitting unopened because of this.

It’s cleaned some tough old water-spots but not anything 20 years old

The Griot’s has Cerium oxide just not as much or aggressive as Ceriglass.


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Have you tried it on the shower door?

[Coatingsarecrack]

Have you tried it on the shower door?

No but don’t have much spots. Maybe hit it in the spring.


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[UncleDavy]

Griots Fine Glass Polish with a Rayon pad on a rotary polisher or even a DA with remove water spots. It depends on how badly spotted the windshield is, it may require two or three polishings (if that is a word).