Plastic polishes

[avionic]

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]

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]

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

 

[avionic]

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

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

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]

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

 

[LBPete]

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]

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

 

[LBPete]

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

- Pete

 

[EchoWars]

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

 

[avionic]

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

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...

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

 

[EchoWars]

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]

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.

 

[LBPete]

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]

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

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[avionic]

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

 

[avionic]

Before polish

Heres a couple shots before...

 

[avionic]

After polish

A couple after shots...

 

[Switchblade]

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

 

[LBPete]

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

- Pete