Super-Abrasive Plastic Powders

 IGSA has just developed the first super-abrasive plastic powder/product for non-routine window cleaning and coated glass restoration.  It is based on polymeric particles which are measured in microns, softer than glass, and have an angular shape.  These particles also have a different chemical functionality.  This means simply that their surfaces have a different chemical identity than cerium oxide, feldspar, or silica.  Which will react differently when in contact with glass, titanium dioxide, or another metallic alloy.  These differences will result in different effects.  

For one thing it should be possible to use particles that are larger than those used to polish glass.  This will allow for the quicker removal of contaminants like cured silicone caulk.  It can be mixed with various solvent blends too for quick removal of paint from defective glass or coated glass.  Recently Nick Evans of New Zealand, the chief founder of IGSA, proved that our first product Poly-Skrub is very effective at removing greasy residue from etched glass.  Also Peter Thomas of Australia has demonstrated that Poly-Skrub is capable of removing car key scratches from a low e coated glass surface.  We will be testing this product on many other coated glass surfaces and defective glass too.  Really we are just beginning to learn about all of the different applications and benefits of this product.  Here is the video I made showing Peter Thomas discovery with car keys.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

GlassSmart@ProtonMail.com

www.glasssmartconsulting.com

Coated Glass Can Be Restored

 

So most people think that Low E Coated surfaces cannot be restored.  Well we here at IGSA beg to differ.  Check out this video featuring Peter Thomas from Australia.  Using our first product/ingredient he will show you how quickly metallic Low E surfaces can be restored.  There is so much more to learn about working on Low E!  You will get it right here on the Glass Smart Blog, YT Channel, GS FB Group, Instagram and other social media featuring IGSA Products.  Poly-Skrub is a one of its kind product.  A superabrasive plastic powder.  Available in powder form so it can be used to create a variety of solvent based compounds for removing construction residue from defective glass surfaces, and Low E surfaces.  It can be used as an additive for other compounds too for added power.  You be the creator!  Want to be a member of the International Glass Smart Association (IGSA)?  Just send me an email.  Copy and paste my email.  GlassSmart@ProtonMail.com

Written by Henry Grover Jr

Can We Abolish the Razor ?

There are three different types of surfaces that a metal razor absolutely cannot be used on.  There are other surfaces too.  I am just focusing on these three in this post.  To directly address the question raised in the title of this post I need to say very straightforward;...NO!  I do not believe we can accomplish this.  I really believe there will always be a place for razors in window cleaning.  However it is becoming more and more difficuly to use a razor safely.  For reasons that will become very obvious in this post.  It is therefore critically necessary that we learn how to identify these surfaces and discover and develop products that can be used safely on these different surfaces in place of the metal razor.  Such as micronized plastic abrasive powders.  Which I am starting to develop and show in videos on the Glass Smart YouTube Channel.  Which you can subscribe to.  Right now!  The link is below.  PLEASE subscribe.  When enough people do that I will get more benefits that will help me to help you.

As it stands right now the float glass manufacturing industry is putting out glass products worldwide that have defective surfaces.  Surfaces which we absolutely cannot use a metal razor on.  Check out these two videos which plainly demonstrate what defective surfaces sound like.

This is a very common defect that is usually found on at least one side of most tempered glass.  The sound varies because the density and size of these aluminosilicate embedded particles differs from one plate to the next.  When the psrticles are dislodged and dragged by a metal razor the particles scratch the glass.  Not the razor.  Nonetheless the pattern of the scratches tell more about the identity of the particles too.  Meaning the size and density.  Listen close to the sound in these two videos.  You will learn that the particles are not very dense and are of a variety of different sizes.  I used a penny in these videos.  I would never use a razor.

Another surface we would never want to use a razor on is coated glass.  That being TiO2 (low maintenance), antireflective coatings on solar panels, Low E reflective first surface or inside surfaces, mirrored surfaces, and many other metal coats.  For whatever the reason metal blades cause scratches either directly or indirectly.  Metal surfaces are becoming almost invisible.  So they are very difficult to ID.  So I made a couple videos to show how simple it can be.  Not always.  But many times.  Check it out.

Yet another surface that metal razors cannot be used on are plastic films and glazing materials.  That being mylar solar film, acrylic surfaces, and polycarbonate surfaces.  Plastic is all around us.  I mean everything is plastic.  And yes I have scratched acrylic and polycarb with a blade before too.  I have also used a blade on some really pricey mylar solar film and almost had to change my pants when I found out what I had done.  Just collected my check and hoped the customer did not see any scratches when the sun came out the next day.  I was not able to see any that day.  Fortunately I never got any calls.  But.  My point is this.  ANYONE can make these mistakes at any time.  So we need a simple, quick, nondestructive testing method to determine if a window has any type of plastic film or plastic surface.  So we DO NOT use a razor.  Here you go.

So there you have it.  The only surface I have not touched on yet is frictive glass surfaces.  But I will.  The point I am trying to make here is we MUST be more aware of the different surfaces we are working on.  So that we do not lose our businesses.  No one wants to pay out thousands for replacement glass.  And no one wants to have to deal with a sickening lawsuit.  But something else is going on here.  Something that is much bigger than even this.  PAY ATTENTION PLEASE.

I have about a hundred stores on my window route.  Twenty of these are restaurants.  All independents.  They are more frequent, pay more, pay fast, and usually pay cash when I am done.  Restaurants are closing up now.  It might be that those of us that rely on route work will have to change to a residential customer base.  But not just any residential customer base.  One with big paying wealthy individuals.  Then this kind of knowledge as I have demonstrated in these videos coupled with high tech specialty products that I am currently developing will be invaluable.  Use these videos to sell to this group of potential residentials.  No Wendys, or CVS, or Dunkin Doughnuts is going to care about scratched or acid damaged windows.  But a wealthy homeowner with a multimillion dollar home will!  Yet you have to SHOW them.  I have now done what I told you I would do.  I have put that power in the palm of your hand.  Just take out your cell phone and play them the one to two minute video.  Go to the link below and subscribe to the videos you have watched above.  I will be making many more. Currently I have about 18.  So you will receive a link to each one when it is published.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA/videos?view_as=subscriber

Written by Henry Grover Jr

GlassSmart@ProtonMail.com

You Too Can Be A Consultant;...Seriously!

Over the last 25 years I have been called in to consult on buildings by window cleaners, janitorial companies, construction companies, real estate companies, lawyers, property maintenance management companies, and even insurance companies.  This has made me more money in a day than I have made cleaning windows.  But in only a fraction of the time.  I have always believed that many other window cleaners could do the same thing.  And I would like to help you become a consultant too.

I learned much of what I know by using brand new glass samples.  For example what of the different types of etch that are caused by different acids?  What acids do not cause etched glass?  To come up with the answers I literally wasted window glass and took it to the dump.  Then when I seen different conditions in the field I knew immediately what I was looking at.  Sometimes I would see certain conditions out there that I surmised were caused by acids, but didn't know.  So I went back home and used the sample products and chemicals that I had there to duplicate what I seen in the field.  Once I succeeded I had the answers that I needed.  A case in point was a building down in PA.

The building had two different conditions.  It had a kind of clear orange peal effect.  Also a clear banding that followed straight up and down.  The building had been sealed with a liquid siloxane concrete waterproofing sealant.  Which ran down over the dark glass.  It also was covered with hard water spots from concrete efflorescence.  The kicker was the sealant ran down the glass and so it was removed simultaneously with the hard water spots with a hydrofluoric acid based "restoration" product.  As it turned out the acid had eaten into the glass showing the pattern of the banding from the siloxane sealant and the spots which showed up as a clear orange peal.  There was no clouding but both the moderator and builder matrix of the dark glass had undergone complete dissolution.  So I went back to my little makeshift grassroots lab.  And was able to easily duplicate both of these conditions using both the restoration product that was used on the building in PA, and a pure water based solution of 1 and a half percent hydrofluoric acid.  I was first called in to look at this building by the restoration company that was looking to come up with some way to "fix it".  There was no fix.  Then I was called in by the company that did the damage, the insurance company they had, and the lawyer that the building owners were using. I actually demonstrated how easy it was to cause the damage using this acid.  Each time I was called in I was paid.

There were many other consulting jobs that I was called into over the years.  Which I will talk about on this blog.  I think if anything you will find them interesting.  At the same time it will lead you into how IGSA will be making courses available to help train our members to become consultants too.  Hope you find it enjoyable.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

GlassSmart@ProtonMail.com