|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
03-23-2008, 06:03 PM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 73197
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Hong Kong
|
Plastic Polish Question
so i was helping a friend with his headlights trying to get it all shiny again to match his other headlight which is basically new. we hit the headlight with 800 grit, 1000 grit, then finally 2000grit sand paper until it was baby's ass smooth.
then with a random orbiter buffer, terry cloth bonnet and meguiar's plasticx plastic polish, buffed the headlight as best as we can. the headlights looks 1000X better than before, but still not shiny or smooth as the new headlight. i can still see some really fine scratch marks all over the headlight (like swirl marks on old paint) what are we doing wrong? how can we make the plastic as perfect as possible?
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Last edited by disaster999; 03-23-2008 at 09:35 PM. |
03-23-2008, 06:18 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
thanks for posting this, disaster!
i need to get that cowlick under control. |
03-23-2008, 07:12 PM | #3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 99102
Join Date: Oct 2005
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Jax, FL
Vehicle:17 BMW M2 Long Beach Blue 6MT |
looks good to me...
try meguar's NXT wax with the orbital... its a bit more fine... works better imo |
03-23-2008, 08:03 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
i wish we had something that cut a little more (or at all) after the sandpaper.
|
03-23-2008, 08:52 PM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 73197
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Hong Kong
|
next time ill bring the mothers polishing compound and some elbow grease and see if that will eliminate all the fine swirls
|
03-23-2008, 09:28 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 147403
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Richmond VA.
Vehicle:2005 WRX OBP |
Is there originally a coating or film on the plastic acting as a semi anti-scratch layer on the lens.
Last edited by xanderx; 03-23-2008 at 09:30 PM. Reason: I read your first post and got my answere. thanx |
03-23-2008, 09:37 PM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 73197
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Hong Kong
|
i have no idea, but if there was, i think we removed that layer already with the sand paper
|
03-23-2008, 09:40 PM | #8 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
Quote:
there was no protective film from the factory. and there wasn't any when i picked up the car in june 06. |
|
03-24-2008, 12:53 AM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 63330
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:2016 Crosstrek Desert Khaki |
I'd skip on the 800 grit. That's usually for real deep scratches. Hit it again with some wet 2000 grit LIGHTLY. Hand buff rubbing compound on it, then plastix again. Remember, light pressure is the key to get mirror shine.
|
03-24-2008, 07:55 AM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
what kind of rubbing compound do you use?
|
03-24-2008, 11:45 AM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 107000
Join Date: Feb 2006
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Bristow, VA
Vehicle:2015 BMW X1 |
Did you wetsand in any of the above steps?
|
03-24-2008, 11:59 AM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
yes. wetsanded first, then polished with the PlasticX
|
03-24-2008, 01:37 PM | #13 |
Vendor
Member#: 133383
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Socal - 92647
Vehicle:2004 Subaru GDB STI |
when you wet sand apply as little pressure as possible.
That's the key to removing minor scratches and getting a mirror shine. Do this by hand and try to avoid power sander or buffer if possible. Power tools is good but can get you into trouble if not used properly. |
03-24-2008, 02:34 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
has anyone heard of applying a little soap to help the 2000-grit sandpaper "glide" a little easier?
|
03-24-2008, 02:34 PM | #15 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25187
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: So. CA
Vehicle:2020 Forester 2010 Challenger R/T |
Quote:
The ROB (buffer) you're using should be perfectly safe for final polishing. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you wish you had a polish with more cutting ability. As for NXT (as someone else mentioned), it's a wax and will be ineffective against the scratches. |
|
03-24-2008, 02:41 PM | #16 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 66563
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Oregon
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX WR Blue Pearl |
You can also try some micro-mesh sandpaper. It comes in grits from 1500 all the way to 12,000 grit. this place sells it: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/hca/hcahcar3479.htm
or here: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...r=micro%20mesh Its used to restore clarity on airplane windows, which are plastic like our headlights. |
03-24-2008, 03:38 PM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
wow. those sandpaper are pricey.
|
03-24-2008, 04:04 PM | #18 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 19546
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:2009 Honda Fit |
When wet sanding I usually add some soap to it myself.
|
03-24-2008, 05:17 PM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
just to clarify, the next time we try this, which one should i use?
a. polishing compound http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,14 or b. rubbing compound http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,13 |
03-24-2008, 05:37 PM | #20 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 73197
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Hong Kong
|
Quote:
|
|
03-24-2008, 05:39 PM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20872
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rochester, NY
Vehicle:t3h rubber-neckers must die! |
damn, disaster. are you holding out on me?
|
03-24-2008, 05:39 PM | #22 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25187
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: So. CA
Vehicle:2020 Forester 2010 Challenger R/T |
...I've never used either but of the two I would wager the "polishing" compound is less harsh and perhaps a better choice. It sounds like you just need something with a little more cutting power to take out the heavier scratches. ......anything too harsh will only introduce more. I typically test the polishes I have in my cabinet until I find one that is right for the job. As for rubbing compounds, I rarely need them but I currently have a bottle of 3M 39002 (it's a fine cut compound) that I've used with good results. ......I believe that's what I used on my own lenses a while back when I wet sanded them as well.
|
03-24-2008, 09:02 PM | #23 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 73197
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Hong Kong
|
|
03-24-2008, 10:44 PM | #24 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 74700
Join Date: Nov 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Henrico, VA
Vehicle:'06 WRX CGM |
You can also look at novus plastic posish. There is also a plastic polish they sell at lowes that is a spray polish that is an extremely fine polish. I honestly can't remember what the name of the spray one is, but it is about the only one they carry, most people use it to polish the clear plastic sheets they sell at lowes as well. Anyways, those two have worked well for me. Hope it helps.
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Plastic adhesive question | Hotsho111 | Interior & Exterior Modification | 6 | 01-25-2009 07:04 PM |
Plastic Polish to Remove Haze from WRX Headlamp Lens? | Ginseng | Interior & Exterior Modification | 15 | 07-02-2007 12:32 PM |
port and polish question | accord126 | Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) | 16 | 06-16-2005 03:30 AM |
Plastic Polish | Neil Wallerstein | Interior & Exterior Modification | 7 | 12-19-2002 07:29 PM |
URGENT: Need plastic polish @ UCSC | Seraph | Bay Area Impreza Club Forum -- BAIC | 2 | 10-23-2002 10:43 AM |