Another stupid question

[mas3372 14]

Perhaps the stupid question is the one not asked. So I am sucking up my pride and asking. for so long I have heard the work etching and have just assumed I knew what it meant. But the truth is, I am not really sure what everyone means by etching. I really am somewhat intelligent, I mean it. I am just not exactly sure what etching is.

Can anyone explain?

[Barry M 73]

Do you mean like etching concrete? This is done with muratic acid to prepare the concrete to be sealed. The muratic removes a microscopic layer of concrete and lets the sealer better adhere to the concrete.

Etching windows by allowing chems to dry on them is another thing.

[mas3372 14]

Windows?

What actually happens to the windows?

How do you fix them if possible?

[aquabob 14]

glass is a mineral, a transparent mineral. acids will etch the glass. acid (ph wise) will eat itself into the element..(glass).

you are better off replacing the glass than trying to fix it since glass is transparent...if it is minor it can be fixed but from my own experience you will spend alot of time trying to fix it...and it still wont be perfect.

glass restoration is a specialized area, nothing is as simple as it seems, matter of fact use your search

engine. trying to fix it to perfection (is like asking how to put fillings in rotten teeth) ya know, dont even attempt it unless you are hell bent on becoming a glass restoration specialist, in which you wont make a living

because there is not much of a demand because glass replacement is the solution. if you really want to fix it, go into the glass replacement business. hope this helps.

[mas3372 14]

Thanks bob,

Is it possible to etch glass with alkaline as well.

I have some spots on my truck windows, nasty, nasty streaks that I can not seem to get out. I sprayed my truck by mistake with e plus and 12% , though I had my truck wash mix in the bucket and now I have these streaks. Thought this was perhaps what was meant my etching. but etching is more the destruction of glass my removing material is what I understand you to mean.

[plainpainter 217]

Mike, no offense - but why don't you just look up something in the Dictionary when you don't understand a word? Or at the very least pop the word in google or yahoo and do a search - you'll usually get the definition that way. Heck I wonder if I spell a word correctly, so I'll pop that into yahoo. And it will spit back a definition if it's spelled correctly or give me a word that it thinks I should search instead - which is usually the word spelled correctly

-Dan

[mas3372 14]

Dan,

It is not that I don't understand a word and I do know how to google things and look things up in a dictionary. The reason I ask here is simple. Words can be given their own meaning in certain trades, ie. powerwashing, in which those words take on different meanings that good old webster may not publish. I just wanted to clarify what it is meant by in this field.

[aquabob 14]

Thanks bob,

Is it possible to etch glass with alkaline as well.

I have some spots on my truck windows, nasty, nasty streaks that I can not seem to get out. I sprayed my truck by mistake with e plus and 12% , though I had my truck wash mix in the bucket and now I have these streaks. Thought this was perhaps what was meant my etching. but etching is more the destruction of glass my removing material is what I understand you to mean.

if the truck wash mix was acid, chances are it has etched. try brushing the truck wash mix on the glass and see if it will get the spots off. rinse it off before it dries.

i dont know what e plus is, but some alkalines like

butyl can mess up glass if it dries on it. best way to clean dried butyl off glass is with more butyl, and scrub and rinse before it dries. try brushing the e-plus on

the glass, scrub and rinse before it dries.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Etching can also be on concrete from to much pressure. No chemicals needed.

[mas3372 14]

Thanks guys, The streaks on the glass dosn't seem to be in the glass, just on top. I will try the eplus again and see if that works. Thanks

[Littlefield 65]

by the way, if you think you've etched some glass with stripper or acid, try scrubbing with 4 o steel wool before you buy new glass. I've yet to encounter "etching" with my solutions that I can't get off with that.

[James 624]

Glass is porous any chemical left on will oxidize and ectch. I have seen sticker's left on windows (marvin) for 6 months and the name was etched in the glass, Also Hurd, Anderson ect.. I have seen a painter distroy all the windows on a house with bleach ( 35000 dollars) worth! Hard water from sprikler's etches glass or it builds up. Over time anything dripping off you house and onto your glass will effect it.

If I'm cleaning a house over 4000 sqft with allot of glass. I have one person brushing glass. Take the time and go around and brush off the dried chem's.