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Anyone have suggestion on how I can get my wet windshield to bead the water, rather than just leave a sheet that sticks to the window? I just had the window replaced and with the rain, the water doesn't bead like it use to. I prefer a cleaning method, than to use Rain-X, etc. I think there's some residue from the manufacturer/installer. I've already tried carwash soap and windex, next step might be clay.
Clay would be worth a try. Einszett has a glass polish called (of all things) 1Z Glas Polish. This stuff has some real cutting power and smells like crap, but it really works good. Once you get the film off you can then wax it. I use my Prima Epicand it beads very well and last a long time. For cleaning I just use Prima Clarity.
I've also noticed that the water beads very well after using Stoner's "Invisible Glass". I don't know if it's beading because the Stoner's does a really good job of cleaning the glass, or if it leaves some kind of a coating behind.
Thanks for the suggestions... I bought the Stoners Invisible Glass, in a spray can (they also had the liquid spray, is there a difference?)...
Well, after washing the windshield and applying Stoners to the passenger side four times, then waiting until the rain came back, the result was the same.
I did try claying/detail spray the driver side and it did bead, but only lasted until many uses of the wiper washed it away.
I also waxed a small area and it bead, but the beads were small, refracting light too much. Again, it wore off after many uses of the wipers.
So, the sample pic below, the right side is how my 'view' looks in the rain even in light sprinkle; with the old windshield it looked like the left. Using the top two speeds of the wiper helps, but not ideal to my satisfaction. I hope whatever is on my PPG windshield wears off!... again, I prefer not to use Rain-X.
i don't like using rain-x either, but haven't found anything like it yet. i think i will try a coat of Epic on my car's windshield today and see how things workout.
question for OG or DP,
how long should i let the Epic dry on the windshield??? Its super dry air here and about 20 degrees.
you were able to appy in 20 degrees? is that celcius?
i would let it dry for a few days.
btw, use rainx as a cleaner, not as wat they adverise. just wipe
the glass completely with water after the app. it will even make
your wiper blades to last longer. no more smears when the
blade swipes.
OK, I'll bite, what do you guys not like about RainX used in the advertised way? Been using it for years with no issues... but I'm old and don't know all the new stuff.
I agree, I love using RainX, you just gotta make sure the glass is clean when you apply it. I drive in the rain all the time without turning on my wipers.
I have never had any problems with RainX either . I haven't actually applied it to my Mini windshield but I do use the RainX brand windshield washer fluid & I clean with Clarity each week.
__________________
Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic...
OK, I'll bite, what do you guys not like about RainX used in the advertised way? Been using it for years with no issues... but I'm old and don't know all the new stuff.
YD
it's got a very noticable hazy smear while driving at night.. unless
you remove it real well with water (which i do). but when you remove
the haze real well the life of the application becomes significantly shorter.
so i use it as a "cleaner" than for its sheeting properties to make myself
feel better, i suppose.
rainx is a pretty cool product if they advertise it as an "external
winshield cleaner + super sheeting properties," imho.
I don't use water when I buff it off. I just buff a lot and over and over again, but it works for me and no haze.
I use the stuff out of the bottle. I use a really heavy application, and usually do it twice and let it dry or haze a long time.
I am getting annoyed with all the little pits I'm getting from little rocks or sand or whatever. At this rate in another year my windshield will look like the back wall of Sadam's firing squad practice range.
i checked the forcast and it called for more snow tonight so i decided against the wash for the Jeep and to skip the Epic. It seems that ohio doesn't want me to detail my car. O well.
I hate how rain-x leaves the haze, and my Jeep windshield is very very vertical so i have to be going at least 45 for it to begin runing off. Well i live in a residential area and 45 is hard to attain without getting pulled over or running over a pack of deer.
However, I do think that sometimes you have to remove it, clean the windshield or polish it then re-apply. Currently, my latest application of it isnt working as well as my previous one. I think I am going to let it wear off a bit, then give it a vigorous claybarring and clean, then reapply. I dont know if the claybar will remove the rainx. that is some strong binding stuff. polish of course removes it instantly, but I dont have any and I am spending way too much on supplies the past couple of months.
I agree, I love using RainX, you just gotta make sure the glass is clean when you apply it. I drive in the rain all the time without turning on my wipers.
Me too. I use it even on my boat! I just make sure I buff it good with a clean towel after applying. No streaks or haze what so ever.. Treat it sort of like waxing the glass...
Stopped using Rain-X as it leaves a haze on the windshield at slow wiper speed. I now use Aquapel, a much better product in my opinion; no haze The only down side is that it is much more expensive, even buying it on E-bay.
its like A LOT more expensive. 3 dollars or so at this 5 and 10 near me for a years supply of rainx. that bottle goes a long way.
im assuming this aqua pel is the best as I think even jwardell used it with much success. I might give it a go, but I would assume you ahve to strip 100% the old rainx to get it to work properly.
Aquapel is what I use too. It is considerably more expensive but also lasts much longer and doesn't get the "haze" and smearing effects that Rain-X gets. I think I put Aquapel on six months ago and haven't had to reapply yet.
Thanks for the suggestions... I bought the Stoners Invisible Glass, in a spray can (they also had the liquid spray, is there a difference?)...
Well, after washing the windshield and applying Stoners to the passenger side four times, then waiting until the rain came back, the result was the same.
I did try claying/detail spray the driver side and it did bead, but only lasted until many uses of the wiper washed it away.
I also waxed a small area and it bead, but the beads were small, refracting light too much. Again, it wore off after many uses of the wipers.
So, the sample pic below, the right side is how my 'view' looks in the rain even in light sprinkle; with the old windshield it looked like the left. Using the top two speeds of the wiper helps, but not ideal to my satisfaction. I hope whatever is on my PPG windshield wears off!... again, I prefer not to use Rain-X.
Kirk,
Since you have, I believe, the same windshield as me:
I washed my windshield with ammonia (being very careful), then used and old wad of Clay bar. I then applied the Rain-X (and I don't mean a little bit) and let it haze for ~20 minutes, wiped clear and repeated. The rain beads small, but it quickly slides off.
Aquapel is what I use too. It is considerably more expensive but also lasts much longer and doesn't get the "haze" and smearing effects that Rain-X gets. I think I put Aquapel on six months ago and haven't had to reapply yet.
I use Invisible glass for cleaning the windshield, I used to use the rain-x additive int he wiper fluid but the leaky rear wiper stopped me from using it any more, and the canister of baby-wipe rain-x applicators, it was clearing itself if I was moving, and I always buffed things out to a no haze state. Heck I never even consider flicking the wipers on driving through Wilma. I found the key to survinal was minimal use of the wipers. I got ot the point where I'd go weeks woth out using them at all because I'd stop and take the extra 10 secods to use the invisible glass.
Right now cause its so cold I'm just using the invisible glass and its been that way since about November (last Rain-X application was in Spetember), doesn't bead as much as I'd like, but it still does bead well enough that I can see out the window without needing the wipers. Next time we break 40 I'll be adding more Rain-X.
I really don't know why people have such an adversion to it anymore, witht he baby wipe application there is no mess, and I can to the whole car in about 10 minutes and be set for a few months (but I'll get anal about keeping that window clear if I have any forward motion and applyi it after my weekly detailing in the summer)
In short the Invisible class cleaner (spray on wipe off) is sufficent to keep a bead, but I do use Rain-X to go the extra step so I never need to use my wipers
no more smears when the 
. I haven't actually applied it to my Mini windshield but I do use the RainX brand windshield washer fluid & I clean with Clarity each week.
