Shtexas
08-26-2013, 02:47 PM
Hello AG,
I saw an earlier thread asking about polishing Hatch windows on boats, so I thought I would share my experience polishing the hatches on my Sea Ray.
There were some questions about what the windows are made of as well. My hatches are nice quality Taylor Made Ultra II hatches. These are from 2001 though, the newest version is the Ultra III, along with some newer frame-less versions. These hatches are aluminum framed tempered glass.
I know there are a lot of other brands that use other materials such as Lexan.
The Before Shot
Here is one of the hatches after a wipe down, but before polishing.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0733.jpg
As you can see the window is covered in water spots.
My Polishing Approach
I remembered reading somewhere in an article where Mike Phillips talked about using larger abrasives on glass instead of fine polishes. I'm not 100% sure on the reason anymore, but I think it had to do with scouring the glass with the finer abrasives.
Taped Off Window Hatch
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_07341.jpg
The window is surrounded by 1/4inch gap where the rubber seal is. I made sure to tape off these gaps to avoid getting abrasives in there.
I decided to try some M105 on a white LC polishing pad. Here is the after shot compared to before.
The Result
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_07351.jpg
You can now clearly see through the glass. I didn't achieve 100% correction, but I plan on ordering the Diamondite Glasswork System (http://www.autogeek.net/diglkitforma.html)to achieve perfection.
Note that under the tapeline what you see is part of the hatch handle. There is a mosquito screen under the glass as well. This hatch sits above the kitchen counter, hence the paper towel holder and faucet you can see.
Thanks For Looking!
I saw an earlier thread asking about polishing Hatch windows on boats, so I thought I would share my experience polishing the hatches on my Sea Ray.
There were some questions about what the windows are made of as well. My hatches are nice quality Taylor Made Ultra II hatches. These are from 2001 though, the newest version is the Ultra III, along with some newer frame-less versions. These hatches are aluminum framed tempered glass.
I know there are a lot of other brands that use other materials such as Lexan.
The Before Shot
Here is one of the hatches after a wipe down, but before polishing.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0733.jpg
As you can see the window is covered in water spots.
My Polishing Approach
I remembered reading somewhere in an article where Mike Phillips talked about using larger abrasives on glass instead of fine polishes. I'm not 100% sure on the reason anymore, but I think it had to do with scouring the glass with the finer abrasives.
Taped Off Window Hatch
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_07341.jpg
The window is surrounded by 1/4inch gap where the rubber seal is. I made sure to tape off these gaps to avoid getting abrasives in there.
I decided to try some M105 on a white LC polishing pad. Here is the after shot compared to before.
The Result
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_07351.jpg
You can now clearly see through the glass. I didn't achieve 100% correction, but I plan on ordering the Diamondite Glasswork System (http://www.autogeek.net/diglkitforma.html)to achieve perfection.
Note that under the tapeline what you see is part of the hatch handle. There is a mosquito screen under the glass as well. This hatch sits above the kitchen counter, hence the paper towel holder and faucet you can see.
Thanks For Looking!