Scratched Your Glassware? No Need To Worry

It is one of those annoying problems that lots of people face. A great set of wine glasses, a glass coffee table or a favorite vase has picked up some scratches and looks old and tired. You would be amazed just how many people throw the bit of glassware out, even though with a little work it could be made as good as new. With the right knowledge and materials, you can get your glass looking spotless again.

1.) Trying to rub the scratch out using harsh abrasives will not work. This may work on wood, but on your favorite whisky glass, you’ll end up with a horrible opaque patch that will look even worse and be even more difficult to remove. Cerium oxide is the very fine abrasive that professionals as this is much kinder to the glass. Any good jewelers will stock this type of abrasive.

2.) A polishing wheel is the next thing that you’ll need. This is a kind of buffing pad that can be attached to a drill and in combination with the fine abrasive, will gently buff out the scratch. If the pad isn’t completely clean then you’ll just make more scratches in the glass, so check carefully first. You should also use the drill on a slow speed setting to avoid damaging you glass. Crystal glass is stronger and so can withstand higher spin speeds.

3.) If the scratch is quite large or deep, you may find that a polishing wheel is not enough. Special resin is often used for serious scratches and this can be found at most hardware stores or glassware specialists. You’ll need to ensure that the resin you use has the same refractive index as the glass, otherwise it will stand out like a sore thumb, especially on crystal vases and glassware. When you have laid on the resin, the buffer and abrasive can be used to get a consistent finish and get the glass sparkling.