Windscreen scratches

[Beer van Huet]

I was hit in the rear by someone and my Valk fell over.
Now, there are some scratches on the windscreen from the road. Minor damage, however and not within FOV.
I'm very fond of the OEM screen so I removed the scratches with fine sandpaper and polished the surface with compound.
The screen is sort of OK now, but the damaged spots are still visible if you look closely and not as clear as the rest of the screen.
I know there is a coating on the frontside of the screen but that is not the problem here.
Is there anyone who can recommend a procedure or polishing paste that will get the screen cristalclear again?
TIA

[hubcapsc]

Once I put some hydrogen peroxide on a sheet of (Duh) Bounty (paper towel) and
rubbed out a bug on my Clearview windshield. The paper towel left a haze where
I'd been rubbing in a circular motion to eliminate the dried on bug. I contacted
Clearview and asked if they had any advice: Novus #2, a microfiber cloth and
the directions on the bottle. I don't remember if at the time I thought it made
the cloudy place "perfect" again, but I still have that windshield and I don't
have a clue as to where the cloudy place is...

-Mike "or was..."

[MarkT]

Point of procedure - always use a fresh microfiber - not hotel towels which are scratchy polyester - and wipe vertically only, never in a circle or horizontally or you will make fine scratches which are obvious when you ride into the sun.  Use H₂O₂ in a spray bottle directly on any bugs and on the microfiber - let sit a few seconds and a gentle wipe removes them.  Be careful not to scratch with the bug's carapaces.  Walgreens sells the small spray bottle with H₂O₂ in it.

[Chrisj CMA]

Point of procedure - always use a fresh microfiber - not hotel towels which are scratchy polyester - and wipe vertically only, never in a circle or horizontally or you will make fine scratches which are obvious when you ride into the sun.  Use H₂O₂ in a spray bottle directly on any bugs and on the microfiber - let sit a few seconds and a gentle wipe removes them.  Be careful not to scratch with the bug's carapaces.  Walgreens sells the small spray bottle with H₂O₂ in it.

I don't know what H2O2 is but plain old warm H2O on a clean bath towel has worked great for me for 18 years

[Jess from VA]

I know this.  Trying to fix up polycarbonate shields (like the OE Valk shields) is always problematic.

The experts always tell us polycarb is a safer shield than plastic, but I've never had one of my plastic shields kill or injure me, and they sure are easier to clean up.

My OE interstate polycarb shield got so hazed up that when I rode at night for the first time in a couple years, I was quite surprised that when oncoming car lights hit it, it could no longer be seen though at all. 

I replaced it with plastic.  (Clearview) 

[gordonv]

I don't know what H2O2 is but plain old warm H2O on a clean bath towel has worked great for me for 18 years

I believe it is hydrogen peroxide. It took me a little while to remember from the post, it's mentioned that H2O2 will dissolve proteins, which is what a bug is, so it will re-hydrate a dried bug on your bike. It was mentioned that it will "foam" when applied. I must have had cheaper stuff, because I never noticed much of a difference. Drug store H2O2 I'll try next.

[hubcapsc]

Water is safe and effective. I was just trying hydrogen peroxide because I heard it would melt
the bugs... I didn't think it was anything special. My regular thing is to spray down my bike,
wait a couple of minutes and then spray it again... a couple of iterations and all the detritus
on it is generally softened and the big grit washed off. The up-and-down with the windshield
cloth is right on, circular motions is what gets you those swirl marks you see in a lot of windshields.
I probably have 75,000 miles and over ten years on my Clearview, no swirl marks...

-Mike

[MarkT]

H₂O₂ is hydrogen peroxide.  Typically 3% solution at the retail store.  So cheap it's practically free.  Like a buck for 2 quart bottles at Costco.  It positively MELTS bugs and quickly too.  MUCH more effective than anything else I've used.  I always have a spray bottle with me - forgot it for the Asheville trip so immediately stopped at Walgreens and got another.  Had two bottles of H₂O₂ with me.  Try it - you then won't use anything else.  BTW H₂O₂ in stronger solutions is also rocket fuel.  Oxidizing agent, very dangerous in high concentrations.  But you can use this stuff as mouthwash. Antiseptic for cuts - it will foam as it reacts with the blood cells and bacteria.  It will turn your skin white if you don't wear gloves - oxidizes your skin cells.  Goes away in a couple hours.  Store it in the shade - sunlight degrades it.  It's sold in a brown bottle for that reason.  If you used it and it wasn't effective - may have been old and degraded.  Fresher is better but it keeps well in the original bottle and shaded.  I have bottles that are a couple years old and still viable.  A little lasts quite a while.

Oh I should mention.  There's been a run on H₂O₂ due to covid, as it's an antiseptic.  Walgreens didn't have any, and where it was, was a sign saying "one per customer".  I just got a spray bottle there, I already had 2 quarts with me - expecting to share it.

[CoreyP]

For deep scratches you do it like buffing a car. You sand the area and then polish with finer and finer grit. There are videos on you tube to do this.

[Beer van Huet]

Thanks for all the comments

The hydrogen peroxide tric was new to me, great suggestion!
After using fine sandpaper, I buffed the hazy spots on the screen using a car polish/ scratch remover.
I used an electric buffing pad and the spots are nearly gone. Using your hands will not do the job, at least not by me. You will not notice the difference if you don't look closely.
The coating is gone, obviously but that doesn't matter since I wax my screen very regularly.
That way most of the bugs slide away from the screen and the ones that stick are much easier to get rid off.
Glad I could keep my OEM screen. I have a spare Clearview screen now but somehow I like the OEM better.

[Madmike]

I used to work for a company that did logging with helicopters, the use this stuff on the helicopter bubbles etc., if it is good enough for an aircraft it should work on a Valk.

https://sumnerlabs.com/

I have also used a product called Clear to Sea on the plastic windows on boat tops, removes hazing and restores the plastic windows.

https://ca.binnacle.com/p6250/Klear-to-Sea-Cleaner-16-Oz./product_info.html

[RonW]

Was the helicopter's bubble poly carbonate? There's a protective film that's laminated on the oem Lexan windshield, and actually the object is to get rid of the scratches on the film itself. Perhaps, the products you linked would take out the scratches. Or fill the scratches. Just have to try them.