The Technology of Surface Repair using Superabrasives

The dictionary defines technology as the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area.  That practical application first requires an understanding of the characteristics of the superabrasive particle used.  It also demands an understanding of the characteristics of the surface you are working on.  Not to be left out is an understanding of the properties of the medium that carries the particle.  As well as the material of the pad/interface that works the surface with the superabrasive particles.  So you see, scratch and stain removal is not as simple as most people or manufacturers of stain removal systems/products make it out to be.  It is rather unfortunate that these manufacturers have not taken more time to research the practical application of this knowledge.

As I  discussed in "The Particle Zoo" there are a great number of different particles with a wide array of different properties. But I said nothing about the actual surface that we as Glass Restoration experts are working on.  Neither did I say anything about the carrier for the particle.  Which is just as important or at times even more important than the particle itself.  For example does it really matter which liquid suspension is used for loose particles?  Or what about the physical properties of the resin that holds the particle to the polishing film?  What of the lubricant used for the glass surface?  What of the properties of the pad material used to form the working interface for the compound?  There is so much to consider.

Both scratch and stain removal involves removal of glass. Simply put!  It cannot be done otherwise. If the scratches or stain is light than it is rather easy to remove them using an optical cerium oxide.  Although as I have explained here there is still a technology involved in doing this correctly.  It is also quite easy to damage the glass surface when removing light scratches and stains.  Now if the scratches are deep, or the stain is rather difficult, more glass will need to be removed.  Then the glass will first have to go through a one or two step grinding process.  After this it will have to go through a third step where it will need to be polished to near perfection. The best system will do it quick, not create problems along the way, and finish with the highest quality surface.  If you can stand back twenty feet and see absolutely no abrasion haze or waviness in the direct sun, then you have a perfect repair.  Very bright LED lighting is another powerful test method.

I have recently met people who have developed systems to restore glass surfaces which are better than many commercial products out there.  The technology used is in fact what I call counter-intuitive.  Which quite plainly demonstrates that there is still much more to learn.   This is the focus and gist of my consulting.

Please take a look at my Wobble Wheel video.  This is the first step in stain removal done at a slow pace with a cerium based slow release pad.  This is for a one step only polishing method. If the stains do not come out with this technique then it will be necessary to go to a grinding process.  Much more of the glass surface will need to be removed, and then brought back to optical specs.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Stain Removal Lawsuits

The first lawsuit that can happen is from the use of glass etchants or acids that will directly attack the surface of window glass.  This can show up as various clear distortions of the glass. Or a patchy white cloudiness covering the window.  You will also be able to feel a roughness when an etchant has been used. The new surface is now more likely to attract water vapor and so will tend to fog over in the early morning.  The home owner will notice any of these conditions.  One other condition involves scratch accents.  If a window has been lightly scratched at a prior time, removing the newly formed stains with an acid will also reveal and magnify such scratches fifty times over.  Of course the owner will not understand where they came from and so will blame the Window Cleaner.

Second, using crude abrasives either in a commercial product or from an abrasives supplier.  These can create an abrasion haze which can be easily seen in the direct sun from a distance of a hundred feet or even up close.  Greater depth scratches can be created from the wrong polishing technique or pad.  In an attempt to remove stains quickly very crude or aggressive pads have been used.  These can easily cause serious damage to the surface.

Mild silicate staining can be easily remedied by using a cerium oxide with a flat polishing technique. However very difficult stains must be removed using at least a two step procedure. This requires a great deal of skill and especially the correct pads.  The first step must be performed with something other than a cerium.  But not dry.  Then finished with a cerium wet. Most people would see the pad that was used first as a simple sanding method.  But the fact is that it is way more.  There is a technology here that only a few have guessed at.  And even less understand it.  The reason very obviously is simply that the glass  restoration industry is still very much in its infancy. 

We don't need to do any more damage then what hard water has already accomplished.  And we certainly don't want to incur any lawsuits.  So we should pay more attention to advancing the technology of engineering precision surfaces.  By means of various polishing procedures using slow release pads, coated superabrasive films, and various high tech lubricants to flush the surface of any glass dust that might agglomerate creating errant scratches.  Such lubricants also keep the working surface cool to the touch.  

This is not just my opinion.  It is the essence of the polishing technology used by the optics industry for creating lenses, mirrors, and fiber optics.  And has been for many years.  We are merely following in that wake.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Collaborating with Marc Tanner

Those of you who know Marc are already familiar with his genius.  I don't have to say anything to you.  This post is for those in our company who haven't heard of him yet.  But you will!  If I have anything to do with it.
I met him over Facebook.  It was mentioned in a thread on one of the Window Cleaning Groups that I meet him.  I ended up meeting him on a Facebook chat.  Which resulted in one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had.  Since then we have had two very long phone conversations about the technology of stain removal.  The details of which will be kept very secret until sometime in the near future.  If you know me you know how difficult this is going to be.  I love show and tell. But please believe me it is to everyone's benefit.
There are very great things coming down the tube.  We are both in collaboration with someone else.  And;...we are pulling in other players that no one in the window cleaning industry knows about.  Despite some pretty innovative products and systems the technology of glass restoration is still in its infancy. Marc and I together are going to take it to the next level.  But we are not going to stop there.  Because we will never be satisfied with any product or system.  We will continue to advance.

I cannot begin to tell everyone how ecstatic I am to have met Marc.  This is going to be a very enjoyable journey.  

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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