Plastic polishes

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 30, 2007

• #1

Anyone ever try Mcguires "PlastX" or Mothers "Plastic Polishe"? I've got a old VTVM with a very badly scuffed/scratched meter lens. :thumbsdn::thmbsp::thumbsdn::thmbsp:

 

grumpy

Krusty old SOB! Yes, I own Audiokarma

Staff member

Admin

Sponsor

Subscriber

• Oct 30, 2007

• #2

Deep scratches need to be wet sanded out. Light scratches can be taken out with products such as 3M's polish and then cleaner. Never tried the ones you mentioned.

 

Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Peanut Head

• Oct 30, 2007

• #3

I've had great luck with both Scratch X and Color Rx on plastics. Yes, as Dave says, wet sand really bad surfaces.

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 30, 2007

• #4

wet sand with...200,400?600 grit?

 

Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Peanut Head

• Oct 30, 2007

• #5

600, then higher in my experience. There's an open weave paper available that won't clog up. Should be available at Ace or Lowes.

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 30, 2007

• #6

I'll give it a shot..Thanks....................Dave

 

LBPete

Rolling Along

Subscriber

• Oct 30, 2007

• #7

Depending on how deep the scratches are, start with 1200 grit. 600 is pretty coarse for plastic and will take a lot of elbow grease with your polish to clean it up.

Cloth wheels work good too. I mount one in my drill press and buff plastic lenses all the time. Check out this tread.

- Pete

 

Strawman

Addicted Member

• Oct 31, 2007

• #8

Better hobby shops will stock a polishing kit of different grit mylar film sheets.
Very high grits, mainly for final finish work.

 

LBPete

Rolling Along

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2007

• #9

You also need to wet sand it. Use water to rinse the wet/dry sandpaper to keep it from clogging.

- Pete

 

EchoWars

Hiding in Honduras

Sponsor

• Oct 31, 2007

• #10

I agree with Pete...600 is too coarse for plastic. Ask how I know...:scratch2:

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2007

• #11

LBPete said:

Depending on how deep the scratches are, start with 1200 grit. 600 is pretty coarse for plastic and will take a lot of elbow grease with your polish to clean it up.

Cloth wheels work good too. I mount one in my drill press and buff plastic lenses all the time. Check out this tread.

- Pete

Click to expand...

Wished I had snagged a can of Acrylic canopy polish while I was in the Force now that stuff was excellent.None the less , excellent pointers here .Thanks.

I agree with Pete...600 is too coarse for plastic. Ask how I know...

Click to expand...

OK Glen, I'll bite...what did you screw up

 

EchoWars

Hiding in Honduras

Sponsor

• Oct 31, 2007

• #12

Oh...it eventually turned out fine, but the scratches left by 600 paper take bloody forever to get out. Thought my arm was gonna fall off...

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2007

• #13

I,ve got a couple pieces to practice on. Before I try to restore a old Heathkit IM-28 VTVM I built for my father 35-40 years ago.As you can see the meter face is in pretty bad shape.

 

Attachments

• 
  IM-28.JPG

  34.9 KB · Views: 11

LBPete

Rolling Along

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2007

• #14

I have that exact VTVM. Built it in around the 8th or 9th grade, the mid to late '60s. If I remember correctly the kit sold for $29.95. It's stashed away somewhere. That lens is probably styrene plastic. It's softer than acrylic and will scratch and polish easily. Go slow.

- Pete

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2007

• #15

LBPete said:

I have that exact VTVM. Built it in around the 8th or 9th grade, the mid to late '60s. If I remember correctly the kit sold for $29.95. It's stashed away somewhere. That lens is probably styrene plastic. It's softer than acrylic and will scratch and polish easily. Go slow.

- Pete

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing.

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2007

• #16

Last week I was out bidded on ebay for a new "oldstock" replacement meter assembly.It was "cherry" Yeah I was pissed!

 

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Nov 3, 2007

• #17

Before polish

Heres a couple shots before...

 

Attachments

• 
  plastic lens.JPG

  74.9 KB · Views: 82
• 
  Heath.jpg

  42.6 KB · Views: 91

avionic

" Black Knights " F-15 back shop EW avionics

Subscriber

• Nov 3, 2007

• #18

After polish

A couple after shots...

 

Attachments

• 
  DSC00192.JPG

  121.1 KB · Views: 62
• 
  DSC00193.JPG

  78.8 KB · Views: 63
• 
  DSC00194.JPG

  102.1 KB · Views: 54
• 
  DSC00195.JPG

  68.8 KB · Views: 58

Switchblade

Super Member

• Nov 3, 2007

• #19

Meguiar's two part-cleaner and polish is awesome on fine scratches. Worked like a charm on turntable dust covers.:thmbsp:

 

LBPete

Rolling Along

Subscriber

• Nov 3, 2007

• #20

It looks great. Did you sand it or just the polish?

- Pete