Help From Those Creative Who Think Outside The Box

I posted about my side window vent shields scratching the upper 1/2" of my windows. Today I checked with a Glass company who is know for removing glass scratches but they told me there is nothing that will touch the tempered glass and that its a common issue here in the North Country because of all the poor gravel and other roads we travel daily. So I'm reaching out to you out of the box creative mind thinkers, of which there are many here, to garner some cover up ideas that would pose as a custom touch? I tried a strip of 3-M scratch guard film and although you Hardly noticed it and it would prevent further scratching its optically clear and you can still see all the scratches along the top edge of the glass. Concealment Ideas that double as a customizing touch from you creative mind types?!

 

I've lived in the north country for years and never encountered what you have going on. All I've ever done in the past is run a cloth down the channel to keep it clean from time to time. The only thing I could think of trying is glue a felt strip inside the vent visor channel where it contacts the window. That would give you something soft but, if you fail to keep it clean, it will also fill with dirt and continue to scratch the window. Cleanliness is the key!

 

concealment ? anything you do will look like junk IMHO

if you want it optically clear you essentially have 2 options

1) new glass and ditch the vent shields

2) remove windows , acid bath to remove all contaminants, and UV bake Norland NOA60 optical adhesive onto the glass to cover up the scratches. Oh and this needs to be done in a vacuum to have zero refraction anomalies so it becomes 100% invisible. this will get rid of the scratches and make the glass appear correct

 

Original idea.

Keep the window closed.

Realize it's a cosmetic defect that doesn't make one hoot of how the truck runs/performs. It's a truck, maybe you need a VW bug.

Take them off and replace the window if you loose sleep over it.

It's only the top 1/2" if that. If a chick is worried about that little issue, toss another Benjamin to her. No worries.

 

The truck has 4800 miles on it and I can assure I keep it spotless including channels so I cant for the life of me figure out how this happened. In any event it did and the reason I'm concerned is that I usually ride with my window partially down not fully up or down, and these scratches stand out like a sore thumb. People comment on what happened to the glass.

 

So easy, $50 at the strip mall glass shop? Or does it need to be shipped to Area 51?

Drop the thingies, buy new glass, get a new Rolex while your at it if it matters.

Just tell them you got hit by a meteorite and quit freaking out.

 

well, ya...to make the glass scratches filled in, and refractive index perfect so it is invisible... you can't do it behind the dumpster at wally-world

 

Nope, so live with it or get new glass. It's a toss up, keep the water out, or worry about perfection and then be blindsided by a bus.

What matters in your life? A scratch or another $300 in your 401K, your 55.

 

Thinking of frosted acid etching just that top 7/16" piece of glass? Don't think that would look bad. Kind o a custom window edge look?

Oh and to some of you offering smart assed comments, Thanks for the entertainment!

 

Do what I did before I bought the Tacoma; buy an 8 year old truck. scratched glass was the least of it's cosmetic issues.

(Sand/dirt + vibration)sandpaper + glass = scratches. Its why I don't run ventshades.

If you want a perfect vehicle, park it in the garage and walk.

 

You could lay coat of clear plasti dip over it. Fills in the scratches nicely

 

Decided that nothing will look right so I need to live with it for now but I will end up replacing the glass eventually. The glass isn't being scratched any longer so whatever happened originally is no longer an issue. Thanks for the many constructive responses

 

I have really fine scratches on some spots from the vent shades but it's so minor they don't even show up in pictures..it doesn't bother me, and side windows are easy and cheap to replace, but how bad are yours? Any pictures if possible

 

Camera on my phone isn't great so they are hard to take pictures of but it is extensive and deep. Not surface.

 

Hard to keep anything nice in this State with the terrible roads, and the gravel they spread instead of sand on roads etc. Pot holes. Chips in the windshield and paint already too. Is what it is here

 

Permanent fix, buy a used piece of glass at a wrecking yard. Temporary fix, try polishing the area with a hard car or furniture wax. Won't remove the scratches but may fill them reasonably well.

 

Goodness gracious Rick, are you talking about the part of the window that is concealed 99% of the time within the door trim, and when it is visible, it's traveling at 60 mph? I get not wanting cosmetic flaws but you need to let go of some things in the interest of health. Don't put anything on the glass to protect it. You will just make it an even tighter fit which will eventually kill your window motors. Scratch the rest of your window to match, or just be ok with it. I bet if you look closely there are little rock dents in your rad as well. There. Try and get sleep tonight knowing that!

 

If you do replace the glass, beware the cheap aftermarket stuff out there. Some pillar of the community smashed my front passenger window and it was replaced with some glass that looks really bad with my polarized sunglasses. Factory glass didn't have the same pronounced pattern effect. Keep your factory glass.

 

You have a '15, warranty should cover it. If it is as bad as you say it is, it shouldn't be a problem.

Post pictures of it, both from the inside and outside

 

I hear Ya! I seem to have a case of OCD with my Truck, Bike and House! May be time for therapy! Lol.....I'll live with it for now!