In this guide, we will walk you through the best way to remove welding spatter from glass, sharing tips and procedures to smooth out your work!
Do you remember watching old TV shows where they would work on cars? They would weld the cars after the painting had already been done and the glass was totally unprotected. Looking back now, we’re still not sure how that worked.
Unprotected glass and welding means you will probably get grinding sparks into the glass. Thankfully, there are processes you can follow to remove the grinding sparks from the glass and save your work.
How to Remove Grinding Sparks from Glass – The Process
If you’re able to be proactive and protect your glass, that is really the best solution. We recommend taking that approach if it is at all feasible. Some welders would tell you that the damage of grind sparks is irreparable. It almost has a buckshot-like effect and can sporadically cover the glass.
In order to remove grinding sparks from glass, it is easiest to do with a brand new razor. You can keep fresh razors on hand to have them for this purpose or just get them when you need them. Also, we are primarily referring to a razor blade in this capacity.
Take the razor blade and use a backward and then forward motion, holding the blade at a 45-degree angle, to dislodge the metal particles that are fixed into the glass surface. You can only use one side of the razor blade. If you turn it over and try to use it, you will find that the blade is damaged and it will do more harm than good to the glass that you are trying to repair.
This will help remove the metal specks from the grinding sparks. You may find that your glass surface will need some additional care for severe damage.
An alternative approach to this method would be to work with a professional glass shop. They can polish out the metal specks but this tends to distort the glass as the thickness is altered in some places.
- Effective solution for eliminating welding & grinding sparks on glass objects.
- DIY Glass Repair Kit
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Buffing The Spatter Or Sparks Out
Once the welding spatter or grinding sparks have been removed with the razor blade the best way to remove welding spatter from glass is to buff it out with a car polisher and some cutting compound.
The car polish can be made more aggressive with the addition of a hand cleaner that uses pumice as an aggregate. As the polish is used on the windshield the pumice becomes smaller and smaller particles further reducing the spatter.
To avoid distortion on the glass you will need to feather out the area to disguise the reduced thickness. This should be the last resort and a test area would be advised in an area not noticed.
The spatter if to deep may leave the glass damaged beyond repair. I is worth trying before replacing to save some money.
Can Welding Sparks Damage Glass?
When you have spatter affecting your glass surface, you can remove the splatter using much the same method as you do grinding sparks.
Removing glass welding sparks or grinding sparks from glass should be a last resort. In some cases, you might need to replace the windshield as even removing the sparks leaves damage behind.
It’s a much better approach to use preventive measures when you are working. You can cover glass surfaces using cardboard cutouts, taped down. You can also use a welding blanket to cover the surface and protect it.
If you are working with a car or a nicely painted surface, keep in mind that paint can be damaged just as easily as glass so cover those surfaces as well.
As you fine-tune your welding skills, you will find ways to reduce your spatter and better protect your surfaces. You might also try cold methods of paint or metal removal to prevent those red hot sparks from becoming stuck in the glass or paint work.
