Stain Removal; Polishes Not Acids

Once window glass has become stained by hard water/mineral deposits it has been damaged.  Simply put there has been an exchange of atoms between the glass surface, water, and the minerals/salts in the water.  One way to effectively and completely remove all of the mineral deposits is with a super abrasive polish.  These polishes are usually based on a cerium oxide, silica, zirconium oxide, or diamond.   The application of these polishes are done by hand or with a machine and a variety of different pads.  The restoration professionals out there such as Marc Tanner focus on polishes.  I have had many conversations with Marc over the years.  He always tells me that every job is different.  So the most effective technique requires trial and error.  In my opinion "precision" stain removal can only be accomplished in the field with a technique based on a super abrasive polish.  Not with an acid.  There are many problems with acids that can very easily and very quickly cause damage to the glass that cannot be easily repaired.  So even though acids such as hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and ammonium bifluoride will quickly remove mineral deposits, they do react with the glass every time, and can do damage to the window that can bring in a lawsuit.

Written By Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

Wiljers Xlite Scrubber Sleeve

There was a time when I scraped everything!  But times have changed.  No I never was sued for scratching a million in glass.  But I have read stories.  I also have scratched my share of glass.  With metal razors, plastic scrappers, and even 0000 steel wool.  These days I am VERY careful.  The first thing I do when starting a new job is to check the surface of the glass.  Is it defective and does it have any kind of a metallic high tech coating?  Surface analysis is an absolute must these days.  However even then it becomes necessary to adopt safer techniques then metal razors.  Yes there are times when razors are perfectly safe and absolutely necessary.  I still do use them myself.  But I am becoming more familiar with alternate techniques.  Such as the new Xlite from Wiljer Specialty Cleaning Products.  Here are a couple of pictures of my own personal Xlite Sleeve.

It was a snowy day and these pictures were taken on the trunk of my pretty blue Civic.  You can see the darker yellow fibers in the fabric.  These are hard and course.  Much harder then the other fibers.  Just on one side of the sleeve so you can flip it if you want.  They are great for scrubbing light dirt that you might want to blade.  So now you don't have to.  Just one more technique to make cleaning glass more safe.

The Xlite is definitely lighter than other sleeves.  But it does hold enough water for most larger windows.  I have been working with this sleeve for about two months now and have been rather satisfied with it.  If you would like to give it a go just give Richie a call and pick one up.

Wiljer Specialty Cleaning Products
34 Front Street - Box266
Indian Orchard MA 01151
Phone 413-543-5333
EMail wiljer@yahoo.com
www.wiljer.com

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Lets Work Together

If you have any special problem jobs that you need to do or price send me an email.  We can talk.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

I am finally starting to work with people all around the world.  With the technology that we have today so many things are possible.  There really are no limits.  So I don't have to travel there.  But will be doing some travel over here on the east coast.  Just for the enjoyment of it.  I have been consulting with companies for 25 years.  Have visited many different states and looked at some very famous buildings.  It has been a tremendous amount of fun.  But all of this is nothing compared to what I can do now with the communications technology of the day.

This blog will start to include some of the stories of these different companies including pictures and videos that they send me.  Which I am already receiving.  This is actually VERY exciting!  And I am really looking forward to sharing with my readers.

Henry

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Smart Products for Coated Glass

The coatings industry is driving the glass industry.  This includes soft and hard low e coats, low maintenance glass, first surface reflective coatings, AR coated solar glass, and other high tech products.  This technology will continue.  Window cleaners have to deal with such surfaces.  What is of concern to us is the ignorance of the subcontractors that work around these windows.  When these windows are covered by paint, wood stain, concrete, hard water spots, silane and siloxane sealant rundown, and other contaminants they are according to GANA and the IWCA;... wasted.  The very first thing that you absolutely must do when you are introduced to such a building is make absolutely certain that the general contractor, maintenance company, and owner are aware of this fact.  Then if they want you to attempt to remove any of these contaminants, make sure you have a waiver in place signed and dated.

I don't believe any manufacturer has developed products for these surfaces.  No sealants, no restoration products.  It is just too niche.  Also many window cleaners have used acids, alkalies, and crude abrasives that have done damage that could not be corrected.  The windows have needed to be replaced.  This usually ends up in very large lawsuits.  One of the worst acids is hydrofluoric.  The only products that can be used for these surfaces are usually custom.  The best thing that a window cleaning company can do when they encounter a building with damaged coated glass is just walk away.

This blog is all about products.  Ones that others have developed.  And certain custom products.  I test out the commercial products and demonstrate such on the Glass Smart Product Development Youtube Channel.  Also I demonstrate the custom products that I have developed myself on my YT Channel.  My consulting work involves a blend of these two types of products along with an understanding of how to identify coated surfaces, defective glass surfaces, and more.  

Much of this however must happen on the job.  So when I can I like to travel to the job site so I can do my own testing and carry all of the custom and commercial products with me.  Although there are times because of distance that I must rely on the phone, pictures, videos and sending out different products, or having the window cleaners I work with order samples of different products direct from the manufacturers.  Which samples are usually free.

If you have any situations going on right now or planned, don't hesitate to send me an email so we can talk about it.

Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA/videos