Tape Makes Frosted Glass Transparent?

Here is a forehead scratcher....why does scotch tape make frosted glass turn clear?

That glass must have just had condensation on it or something. That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

Hell, its probably real.

my guess, is that the glass is frosted due to the way the surface is spreading light out (it's obviously transmitting through, it just gets spread out), so the tape fills in those imperfections. *shrug* ( i really am guessing here though)..

easy way to test that theory is to put the glass horizontal and pour water or oil on it and see if the same thing happens. Hey if oil can make a "frosted" burger wrapper transparent why not glass?

The adhesive on the tape is transparent and fills in the uneveness of the frosting, allowing the light to pass through.

Yes the glass is frosted because of tiny scratches in its surface that refract light. the adhesive on the back of the tape squishes down into those cracks fillign them, and is transparent, so the light goes right through.

Heh, my click was too slow.

The roughness of the surface scatters the light and gives the "frost". The glue on the tape grabs on to the roughness and sinks in a bit filling in the gaps allowing light to go through without being scattered.

Similar to how old scratched up cars and bikes look good when they are wet. Let them dry and the color fades from the surface dispersing light instead of reflecting.

Originally Posted by Chiplg

The adhesive on the tape is transparent and fills in the uneveness of the frosting, allowing the light to pass through.

This is pretty much the answer.

Don't all run out and try this on your neighbors bathroom window... you perverted bastages. I know that is what you are thinkin :P

the tape fills in the uneven surface allowing the light not to be scattered. Hence why it appears transparent.

This is why you can "erase" scratched CD's and glass with filler compounds.

However, water will not work to fill the divits. It's surface tension is too great to penetrate the rough surface.

It's obviously black magic. BURN THE WITCH!

Originally Posted by DigitalGriffin

the tape fills in the uneven surface allowing the light not to be scattered. Hence why it appears transparent.

This sounds logical to me too. But wouldn't this only work if the other side of the glass is not frosted? I would assume both sides of the glass are frosted, but I guess not.

Originally Posted by staknhalo

It's obviously black magic. BURN THE WITCH!

how do you know she is a witch?

Originally Posted by staknhalo

It's obviously black magic. BURN THE WITCH!

How do you know she's a witch?

Originally Posted by Manaknight

how do you know she is a witch?

Well she looks like one...

Damn you Manaknight!!! Damn you!

Originally Posted by Manaknight

how do you know she is a witch?

she turned me into a newt.........


......i got better...

creepy steve. my fiance says if you dont stop putting tape on our windows were calling the cops

You are kidding me right? I thought this was quite common sense. It's like waxing a car or wetting something and it becomes more clear/smooth.

Your frosted surface is a sandblasted surface which is a coarse surface which pushes light in every different direction, the tape's adhesive is at play here filling up the texture to a smooth surface.

This will not work with all clear tape, I'm assuming he's got quite some gooey tape there.

Originally Posted by Ockie

You are kidding me right? I thought this was quite common sense. It's like waxing a car or wetting something and it becomes more clear/smooth.

Your frosted surface is a sandblasted surface which is a coarse surface which pushes light in every different direction, the tape's adhesive is at play here filling up the texture to a smooth surface.

This will not work with all clear tape, I'm assuming he's got quite some gooey tape there.

I want to add that homes frosted windows are blasted from the inside so no, this trick will not work for the bathroom peepers. This video the guy has a single pane he has to work with so he can approach from the textured side.