Glass is referred to as one of the most beautiful materials used in almost every object. But just like all materials, it is prone to dust, chemicals, and sun rays. Glass polishing is a method used to ensure the glass has a smooth and nice finish once it has been shaped. This contributes to its aesthetics and its shelf life.
How do Glass Polishing Works?
Polishing is a great way to get rid of scratches, abrasions, and other types of deformities on glass surfaces. By adding an additional layer of protection, polishing aims of achieving a premium quality finish of the glass. Glass polishing machines are prone to damage and needs to be repaired or inspected on a regular basis.
Glass Polishing Additives
The two main key components of glass polishers are abrasive and surface protector. Usually extracted from natural metals, abrasives provide a shiny, scratch-free, and uniform surface to the glass.
A wax substance can also be used to seal surfaces. The wax can either be a natural one or ester, acid, and saponified. This further strengthens the durability of the glass and ensures a shiny and smooth finish to the surfaces. Thus, it’s highly recommended to have a professional do the glass polishing work as the latter has the necessary knowledge to ensure a perfect work.
Things to Look Out For
Polishing requires a high temperature to be applied on the glass and this should be done by an experienced person only. Too much heat can fracture the glass and make it weak. Too much time and pressure at the same time can break the glass as well. This is a high risk when people try to polish glass by themselves, that’s why it is recommended to have professionals do the job instead.
Common Misconceptions
This is a short list of some common wrong thinking people have about glass polishing:
- Glass can be corrected for 100%. No glass can be corrected for 100% as it is still a fragile material to handle.
- Polishing will make the glass act like a fun-house mirror. This is not true as polishing only helps in removing scratches and makes the glass smooth and shiny.
- Polishing causes more damage than good. Unpolished glass remains one of the weakest materials and it is more likely to break.
- Polishing will make the glass hydrophobic when this is not true at all.
Thus, glass polishing is a crucial step in glass fabrication and needthe expertise of professional glass handlers for it to be impeccable.