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Technical Stewart Warner Speedometer Glass Pitted

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Crew Chief, Jan 7, 2025.

  1. Crew Chief
    Joined: Jan 28, 2020
    Posts: 137

    Crew Chief
    Member

    I am frustrated with this piece of flat glass that came off a perfectly good zeroed out Stewart Warner speedometer. This is one of the metal ones unlike the new plastic ones. The glass seems to be etched. I can't feel any pitting with my fingers. It may be a glass imperfection. I have tried everything to polish it out but nothing is working. I even tried Turtle Wax polishing compound to no avail. The glass is 3 1/8" in diameter. I found a glass place on the internet and they want $50 for the glass.

    What do you all think? I bought what I thought was the right size glass off of Ebay and it was too big. The lady had a no return policy. My fault for not asking. Speedo.jpg
     
  2. continentaljohn
    Joined: Jul 24, 2002
    Posts: 5,806

    continentaljohn
    Member

    I would cut a new piece myself. So what gauge face is the speedo
     
  3. Jmountainjr
    Joined: Dec 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,867

    Jmountainjr
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    How much too big is the Ebay piece? Could you use the old one to mark the edge to size and then sand down to size?
     
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  4. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 15,061

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You can sand that out but not polish it out. Just like polishing metals, die grinder, fine paper (start at 3000 and see if it cleans it up, I wouldn't go more course than 1000 personally to start). Then as fine as 7000 and machine polish. Keep the galss wet with a spray bottle with plain water in it. You may break it or ruin it but what do have to lose? Make a pattern first incase the heat shatters the glass. I have polished glass scratches (gouges) out of t-top panels and an expensive pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. Worth a shot, right?
     
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  5. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,940

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Look further on the internet (possibly eBay?). I had an old vacuum gauge I wanted to fix and found a replacement glass much cheaper than $50. Actually, most of the cost was freight; I ordered two so I had a spare (or insurance). The place I found (about 5 years ago) had a large supply of different sizes and thicknesses.
     
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  6. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,265

    alchemy
    Member

  7. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 6,276

    Fordors
    Member

    Look into jewelers rouge, it comes in different grades and can be used to polish scratches on glass.
     
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  8. Crew Chief
    Joined: Jan 28, 2020
    Posts: 137

    Crew Chief
    Member

    I have already replaced the odometer.
     

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  9. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,940

    tubman
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  10. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 4,194

    rusty valley
    Member

    I had a local stained glass maker/lady cut me some odd shaped turn signal lenses of red glass (provided by me) for 5 bucks each. trimmed and polished edges too.
     
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  11. twenty8
    Joined: Apr 8, 2021
    Posts: 3,406

    twenty8
    Member

    A linishing belt will make short work of getting it down to the correct size. Make sure the belt is not too rough, and keep the glass cool. Have a bucket of water there and dip the glass very regularly. Don't let it heat up very much. It won't need to be perfect. The edges will not be seen. If you want to protect the faces from scratching while you work on it, cover with masking tape and mark the required size with permanent marker.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2025
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  12. Crew Chief
    Joined: Jan 28, 2020
    Posts: 137

    Crew Chief
    Member

    All great suggestions. Alchemy posted a link to Timesavers. To save time, I ordered from them at $2.75/ each plus shipping. Came in at about $10.00 total. Hope it is not too good to be true. Thank you all. I can always depend on you for solid advice.
     
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  13. I have been going to my local glass place for 30 odd years now and a small 3 inch or 4inch piece usually costs €2 or a packet of cookies o_O . Flat 10 inch 3mm glass for round vintage French headlights he does for €5 or €7.50 each, depending on his mood :rolleyes:. He allways uses new scraps. A few weeks ago there was a new guy who promptly went to the PC, did his calculations starting with pricing a new sheet of glass , calculating waste and all sorts of shit and came up with a total of €40. WTF, boss happened to walk in, went to the scrap bin and once again €10 for cutting two 10 inch lenses with their special tool for circles :D.
     
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  14. e1956v
    Joined: Sep 29, 2009
    Posts: 2,546

    e1956v
    Alliance Vendor

    Jeff beat me to it, I always use Time Savers
    They also have convex glass at excellent prices.
     
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  15. Jagmech
    Joined: Jul 6, 2022
    Posts: 242

    Jagmech

    Ronell clock , you can buy flat or convex lenses, 2"-19" very reasonable, used them frequently.
     
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  16. In_The_Pink
    Joined: Jan 9, 2010
    Posts: 950

    In_The_Pink
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    Crew Chief and winduptoy like this.

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