How do I fix scratched glass on my speedometer?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: How do I fix scratched glass on my speedometer?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 07:32 pm:

I have an early speedometer with the thick, beveled edge glass that is in a brass ring, crimped on (so no easy replacement). The surface has some pretty deep scratches. Can I "grind" down the face, and re-polish it? If so, how would one go about doing this??
Thanks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Bennett - Australia on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 07:55 pm:

David, a craftsman here in South Australia has new bevelled glasses in their crimped nickel plated rims, but these are for Corbin speedos. Is this of any help?

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 08:08 pm:

You may be able to use one of the headlight repair products offered to fix the plastic headlight lens of modern cars. Most body shops will have the products and be able to advise if it will work or not. Some are a polish and some are a clear scratch cover/coating.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Daron - Brownsburg IN on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 08:15 pm:

I doubt it is crimped on,but your local glass people can tell you if it can be polished out.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Bennett - Australia on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 10:05 pm:

Jack, on Corbin speedos the nickel plated brass rim is spun onto the glass. The rim and glass become one unit. The only way to effect a repair if the glass is broken/cracked, is to break it into pieces to get it out and then cut a plain glass undersized and glue it into the old rim. Not altogether a satisfactory job. hence the need to have new ones made with the correct bevelled glass.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 11:37 pm:

My Speedo glass is as Allen describes.
Hmm, a clear filler coat?? I'll check into that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Eckensviller on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 11:42 pm:

Perhaps a jeweler would know how to get scratches off a watch face...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 12:28 am:

I believe glass with deep scratches needs to be ground before it is polished.

Contact Carter's Clock Glass and see if they will grind and polish the face of the glass for you while it's still in the rim:

http://www.cartersclockglass.com

Since you are in California, another option is to find an art glass company (a shop that produces glass objects of art or makes, reproduces and/or restores stained, beveled and leaded glass) and with equipment like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qO6KKP6qDw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcGnbQ_PbZk

Commercial glass shops in major metropolitan areas that do custom work may have the equipment to grind and polish the glass for you. They might be sympathetic and take on the small job for you.

1


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 03:19 pm:

Here's some pics of my lens, and I have emailed Carter's Clocks, I'll let you know what Tim tells me.
Interesting site, BTW, gave me some ideas for modifying my polishing set up to keep the "fluff & flyoff" under more control!
lens front

side view

I don't expect them to get rid of the one chip just off center, but if that's all the problems the glass has, I can live with it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 03:51 pm:

Got a reply from Carter's Clocks--RATS!!! Hmm, I'll have to find out what he means about
The spacing on the outside" And gee, I thought "Mr Dewey" was my Dad! Oh wait, I'm over 60 now, maybe I AM "Mr. Dewey" now. . . .


"Mr. Dewey, I'm sorry but it can't be done. The only way is if they were hair line scratches I could polish them out. You can't grind the face of glass and polish it to a clear shine. I can make you a new piece and install it for you. The spacing on the outside should be small enough that you shouldn't be able to see it. The cost would be $34 and $12 for shipping+insurance if you decide to send it. Thanks"


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 04:27 pm:

Would any of the windshield crack fillers work, and then polish the surface. I realize the lens is not cracked through, and just scratched, but this might work better than the headlight lens repair stuff that is meant for modern plastic lens.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Hagen on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 04:29 pm:

David, Sent you an email..........Gary


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 05:08 pm:

Gary,
Nothing in my inbox yet.
David


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Hagen on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 05:24 pm:

Call me 1-408-848-2141


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Hagen on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 05:36 pm:

My file size was too big. Not tech savy enough to fix it. Took a picture of my Chelsea Jos. w. Jones speedometer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 08:10 pm:

Some glass shops here in So CAL will bevel glass for $1.50 an inch. A silver smith can install glass into a frame such as your's. A Solar side lamp glass door frame on our 1906 Moline came off and rolled down the highway while on a tour. The frame was bent all up and they fixed it and polished the glass for $125 25 years ago. //the glass had a lot of old age scratches and it came back like new. Go to a good silversmith or silver plating shop that restores antiques. It may cost less to polish yours that to make a new lens. Talk to them first.




1906


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Hagen on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 09:15 pm:

Go to someone who does beveled glass. On mine he floated it on a round piece of stone that had water running on it. It was about 4 inches thick maybe 18 inches in diameter. Color was salmon. This is what they do to stemware when it has chips in it. Ground it down. It isn't as thick as it was when new. You can't tell the difference unless you take it of the car and compare to an original.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 09:33 pm:

When I was working at the stained glass shop here in St Cloud the owner had a machine for cutting bevels on glass. Along those same lines, a lot of the older stained glass window I repaired had round beveled glass in them. They make the round bevels up to ("I think") 5 or 6". If you don't have a stained glass supplier in your area, call Ed Hoy Glass in Chicago. If yours is an odd ball size, he'll make a replacement for you. The only other thing would be to call Michael's Stained Glass Studio in St Cloud, MN. He has a lot of old beveled stock on hand. He's also the guy with the machine that bevels glass. Good luck with your project. Oh, I believe Ed Hoy has a catalog on his website.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By HARRY A DAW on Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 11:45 pm:

A thin coat of epoxy will fill in the scratches just like windshield epoxy repair fills windshield cracks. If done with the glass very level, use a propane torch to heat the epoxy so it will self level and also burst any air bubbles. Cover until fully set. Don't use 5 minute epoxy, you won't have enough time. Do some experimenting first on some scrap glass. Score it with a glass cutter and try to fill in the scratch with epoxy. In 8th grade shop, we made hundreds of clocks out of cedar, cypress, and walnut slabs and poured two coats of epoxy on them. Very clear and hard finish, looked like glass. A hobbie shop might have that type of epoxy available but I think regular two part clear epoxy in the double tube with a plunger, would work.


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