[Moderator David@stives]

I have posted this video here not to show the virtues of so called self clean glass but to give newbies a glimpse of the difference between sheeting and beading glass



http://www.selfcleaningglass.com/movie01.asp

[JM123]

fantastic stuffthat isn't it??

even in the marketing video is ain't clean - approx 20% of our customers have Pilkington self cleaning glass - doesn't stay clean as long as normal glass!! You can't squeegee it so the only thing you can do is wfp it.

An absolute con.

[Jeff Brimble]

In the pic they show on the left "conventional glass" its beading. Conventional pristine glass not messed about with by polish etc, does not bead it sheets perfectly everytime with a wfp, is faster to clean and uses less water. Its glass that has any sort of polish coating on that beads and causes us problems.

If you look at the self clean glass (that doesnt) as the water dries you will notice what I call the "rainbow efect". As the water is pulled down by gravity along the top leading edge for about 1- 1/2"you may notice a rainbow/oil effect. That effect is also  evident on Glass that sheets.
So pilks have put on a photo applied coating to the glass to MAKE it sheet, pity we cannot yet find something in a bottle to do the same.

To confuse further, is a 3rd type of beading glass that beads but for some reason does not leave spots. Now if we could find out why we might go some way to converting the beading glass that leaves spots into the beading glass that does not 
Good topic Dave, one thats interested me for years.

[Mike_G]

Why cant you squeegee it? I do

[Jeff Brimble]

Makes the guarantee null and void.

[Pat Purcell]

The self cleaning glass we deal with over here in the US actually recommends using a solution of window cleaning soap and Vinegar on the initial clean ( to activate the glass) and then squeegee off, Its almost impossible to do an acceptable job though so maybe your manufacturer has got it right, Its absolutly impossible to wash in the sunlight and even when you do what looks like a marvellous job in the shade the second the sun comes around it looks embarrasing

[dai]

When I first went over to WFP I was able to do windows over conservatories that had not been done before.
These windows sheeted perfectly. A couple of months later they started to bead.
This has only happened on 2 or 3 houses. Any explanation for this?  Dai

[Jeff Brimble]

Maybe the householder has been at them now they are clean, or maybe you could have wrongly assumed they were sheeting but they were always beading ?

[Mike_G]

OK I dont then, wink wink nudge nudge say no more!

[JM123]

Mike G

I don' know what effect on the warranty it will have but beware - its very easy to score and cut the film.  Hence why wfp is more suited.

[Lee.]

I see the diffrence between the glass sheeting and beeding, but why is it important? I haven't been on any courses so I dont know could somebody help?
Some windows that I have done beed but still look fine. Is there anyway to stop them beeding? questions, questions, questions.


Lee

[s.hughes]

I am still flipping confused!!!!

[Jeff Brimble]

About what ?

[s.hughes]

No I'm not confused but if the glass beads after its been wfp'd does it make any real difference to the end result when its dried?

[Jeff Brimble]

It can do. I find there are 2 sub types of beading glass, one dries ok but the other has droplets that dry with  milky white spots about 8 per 4" square