This morning I discovered a thin, 4" scratch near the middle of the screen of my 3-week old Panasonic TH-42PZ85U plasma (which has been near-perfect so far). Against all sound judgement, I decided to try to repair the scratch using some Micro-Gloss liquid abrasive solution that I'd used on other similar surfaces. As you would expect, I a) only slightly repaired the scratch and b) removed the anti-glare coating around it. Now instead of having a barely-visible scratch, I have a very visible thumb-sized area on the glass with no anti-glare coating. I know I probably don't deserve it, but has anyone come across a good fix for this? I have read about or discovered two potential remedies so far:

1) GlareBuster coating spray (as seen on TV), sold on Amazon and its own website
2) Beeswax (not kidding)

I'm highly skeptical about both, since a review of the former said that it degrades the picture quality, and the latter was used to repair the anti-glare coating of a damaged CRT computer monitor (and it would be weird watching TV and knowing I'm looking through something made by bees). Any tips/advice/admonitions greatly appreciated.

Anti-glare coating repair???

Doesn't exist, it can't technically.

The greatest challenge of all is the fact that due to the way you are using this surface it has to be surface perfect. These coatings are like paint jobs yet unlike the normal concept of paint this super duper high tech coating is so thin that when you scratch it you remove all of it so it is not something you can sand out and buffing is sanding at an extremely fine level... as you figured out.

There isn't much you can do that I know of that will return it to like new condition. Something needs to be added back. The product most likely to duplicate that is the GlareBuster but it is different from what you have considering it comes in a low tech spray can and is removed with a razor blade. The beeswax is interesting but this is not a CRT with scratched and missing glass in which case the beeswax is acting as an optical putty - scratch filler. Either way it doesn't sound good either even for that application

About all you can do is change how it looks or how visible it is but it will always be visible. If the manufacturer provides the protective outer glass separately that is an option although an unfortunately expensive one.

BTW, don;t use any chemical based cleaners on anti glare coatings. Water and wiping/buffing with a soft cotton cloth or a weak mixture of a little dish soap and lots of water if needed.

Mastertech Repair Corporation
My Audio and Video Systems
"Inspect what you expect!" US Marine Corps

Yea, that's what I figured, just wanted to see if anyone had stumbled on a good fix. It's a shame that manufacturers are producing something that so delicate--hopefully engineering advances will make it more hardy/repairable in the future.

Thanks anyways!

I am thinking this is something you might not notice if you can control the light facing the screen....but I am an old hacker - from mechanical to software and have jumped off many cliffs in attempts at long shot fixes.

That being said, IF and only if the situation was intolerable (and your credit card doesn't have a support plan for this....), perhaps polishing the whole screen would be a way out. It might take a skilled glass person but if the whole screen were evenly polished, it'd be equivalent to many Plasma screens. Of course, you'd have to control light again.

I do not recommend this as I have never done anything like this. I'd be interested in finding if anyone has though. I mean, after a set is used, or failing in some other way - but still watchable - it might be an interesting exercise.

The other way out, get a Wii, smash the controller into the screen and justify a replacement. (no not an April Fool joke - Halloween).

Hello ....

I.M.O. - - It's NOT the manufactures' fault or responsibility to ... make certain ... that each & every person buying a new HDTV has taken the time to "READ" that Owners Manual!

All come w/ one & they DO explain how to properly use / treat / clean! ... very same as any now-complex, very-highly-computer-assisted, New Vehicle, etc..

eli

Someone reads the car manuals? It must have the LA lane changing instructions ( turn signals are a warning to the enemy ).

I just ruined a perfectly fine Brand new Notebook computers LCD screen also,

It Makes sense to me to continue removing the rest of the coating, to at least create a uniform appearance

https://discussions.apple.com/message/608958?messageID=608958#608958?messageID=608958

Here is the Full story on what Happened,

I purchased a Getac, which is the ultimate notebook,

Its a touch Screen tablet PC, and after my first full day of messing with it, (touching the screen etc.) the screen was all smudged up, I wanted to clean it, so using my favorite all purpose cleaner (isopropal alcohol) I gently cleaned the screen, only to discover some serious looking streaks and discolored areas, Man,, I was devastated, and felt really stupid.

I read the owners manual, and noted without any form of Special WARNING etc. it reads "do not use alcohol to clean the display.

Well, I was so bugged, that I tossed the notebook into the corner and left it there, then thinking to myself, if I started to remove the coating, why not remove it completely, But before attempting any more "Damage" to the LCD, I searched the net for advise. Of course the smarty pants users who are afraid to try anything out of the ordinary, Insisted that it was ruined, and there is absolutely no way in hell to improve the appearance of such a mess.

Then I found the post about some special Stove top cleaner meant to Glass top stoves, and the logic behind it all is to continue to remove the coating to create a uniform appearance again.

Now, being that I used alcohol to start with, I figured its best to keep on going, and so I covered the display in a thin coat of it, and let it set for a few minutes, drained it off, and then dried the screen, WOW, just like new, maybe even better. Now I did need to dry it off thoroughly, which meant using a dry clean towel, in a almost sort of buffing way to completely remove any chemical residue, but it worked, In fact, the display actually looks better now, and the colors seem a little more bright.

So NO PAIN, NO GAIN.

Im happy, My notebook's LCD display looks like new again, and best of all, the next time the screen is full of smudges, I wont hesitate to reach for the alcohol bottle to clean it again.

-V-

vehicros

THAT may be "O.K." for yourself ... BUT - - - A perfectly-horrible "Suggestion & Recommendation" for Others!

Never ever use anything other than distilled or deionized water "spritzed-lightly" onto a scratch-free, soft, "Microfiber" ..... NEVER run & rub, etc..

What's great you personally is none-of-anyone's Business, of course!

... However, best to NOT recommend it to Others, especially when it defies 100% of the known, published, practice!

eli

eli, He was referring to an already damaged screen. I was very glad to read that no only did the drastic fix get attempted, that it actually worked. Besides in the end, it's only money. Unless it was the of the money....we all have a way to recover.