Restoring plastic lenses?

spy007 · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:54 am Post subject: Restoring plastic lenses?

I want to clean up the plastic lens on my 76's heater/fan controls. It has some scum on it and also some light scratches. Is there a way to polish this or something that will "sand" some of the surface off but still leave it clear to see through? I tried some fine emery cloth on a test area but that left small scratches. It's a 4th gen part so of course no one makes a repro.
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-AC
1976 El Camino Classic - Rebuilt HO 305
1981 El Camino - sold

72ss454Florida · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:25 am Post subject:

you can try this product kit from Eastwood....

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=1019&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=plastic+polish

they have lots of good polishing stuff. Hope this helps.

a73elkyss · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:27 am Post subject:

You can also check out Janvil Plastic restore.
I have some other stuff at home that polishes plastic. I'll double check the name after work.
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JW - NECOA #768 2011 El Camino SS - http://elcaminocentral.com/users/a73elkyss/.
Watch for the 6th gen Elco's

72ss454Florida · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:33 am Post subject:

that looks like real good stuff Jay...

I think I am gonna try that stuff on MY lenses Laugh

ldj1002 · Wrench Necoa #: 2545 Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 51

Use toothpaste and a soft cloth. I have used that for other things, example the clear plastic over speedo and other gages. Worked good for me and you already have it

a73elkyss · Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:21 pm Post subject:

You can also check out Novus Plastic Polish. I used to use this on my motorcycle windshield and it worked great.
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JW - NECOA #768 2011 El Camino SS - http://elcaminocentral.com/users/a73elkyss/.
Watch for the 6th gen Elco's

greywolf · Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:53 am Post subject:

I've had good success with non-abrasive home cleaner, like soft scrub.

dave1987SS · Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 9:19 pm Post subject:

Try getting a model car polishing kit, available at most local hobby shops, made for polishing paint jobs on plastic models. the kit contains about 6 different cloth pieces with fine grit ranging from 2400 all the way down to 12000 grit. Also a foam block is included. You start with the roughest grit, and work your way down. By the time you get to 12000 grit, you will have a mirror shine and all of the scratches will be gone. I used it on my passengers side dash bezel on my 1987, the black plastic had some major scratches and spots, but now looks as good as new.
Dave
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1987 El Camino SS Choo Choo customs package w/ Monte Carlo SS tranny, 3.73 rear end, sway bars, alloy wheels & exhaust system, SS dash & S-10 dual piston brakes - Soon to come - 350 roller cam... all emissions legal!

Tommy · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:43 pm Post subject:

I use a Chrome cleaner to get the heavier stuff, then follow up with a plastic polish I got from the military.
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78 Camino SS, 355,built 700r4,3.23
Gallery78 Camino SS, 355,700r4,3.23
MSGT 145 AW
NECOA #14

spy007 · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:42 pm Post subject:

I went to the hobby shop and came back with about 15 small sheets of that ultra fine sandpaper in the 10,000's range and some "polishing compound" all for less than 10 bucks. The different papers didn't do to well for me, they ended up leaving the surface a little hazy on some test material. The polishing compound worked great, I noticed that when I rubbed hard enough to get the plastic warm it worked even better. It didn't remove the deeper scratches but that's ok. unfortunately I got lazy rubbing and tried to use a buffing wheel with the compound. A little slip and it go too hot and melted part of it. I ruined it. Keep an eye out in the junkyards for me guys, this was the heater lens for a non-ac 4th gen. Sad

The good news it that the stainless steel insert I laser cut for the heater controls turned out excellent. The black piece that was behind the lens was all wrinkled and messed up, the stainless looks really slick.
_________________
-AC
1976 El Camino Classic - Rebuilt HO 305
1981 El Camino - sold

dave1987SS · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:35 pm Post subject:

A tip on the polishing cloths - start with the roughest grit, and it will really dull down the plastic, but use it to remove the surface down to the scratches. Go up one grade at a time, by the time you get to the 10,000 grit you should have a decent shine, then some polishing compound will give it the final high gloss, as long as all of the scratches are smoothed out by the previous grades. The finer grades will smooth out the haze from the rough grades used before them. Takes time and patience, but when done properly looks like new when done.
Dave
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1987 El Camino SS Choo Choo customs package w/ Monte Carlo SS tranny, 3.73 rear end, sway bars, alloy wheels & exhaust system, SS dash & S-10 dual piston brakes - Soon to come - 350 roller cam... all emissions legal!

Elky77 · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:05 am Post subject:

Just buy new ones!

All the stuff your talking about buying and all the work isn't worth it. You'll still have brittle and cracked lenses.

They are pretty cheap, and you just screw them in and they are good for another 20 or 30 years.

Thats what I did.

Elky77

spy007 · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 11:37 am Post subject:

Where do you get new ones?? I thought they didn't make them!
_________________
-AC
1976 El Camino Classic - Rebuilt HO 305
1981 El Camino - sold

TyBo · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:04 pm Post subject:

What I have always had good success with when polishing plastic parts is 3m medium cut polishing compound, and that will "haze" the plastic slightly and then I finish it with fine cut 3m show car polish, I've done this on my tail light and most of my interior chrome. Even tho the crome is just a thin layer of plating on plastic, with a light touch and only the show car polish it all looked like new. But that's just my 2 cents.

If you want instructions on how i used the polishes just let me know and I'll post that information too.
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"AIN'T SKEERD" Cause if you ain't ever been scared then you weren't going as fast as you could.

"Over steer is when the passengers are scared, under steer is when the driver is scared."

crazymike67 · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:45 pm Post subject:

Meqires make a plastic polish that works really well for this, it comes in a grey small bottle, i use it on my glasses and it works. It will buff out scratches really well, and leaves a good clean plastic. I used it on the factory guage plastic for my speedo, and it looks like brand new! Try it man. its cheap too.
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PAINT!!! MY KINGDOM FOR NEW PAINT!!!! and wheels, and chrome, and a new radiator, and so on, and so on, and so on..............hehe!