Buff/remove scratches in plastic (GP Tailight)

[Freebeer187]

I picked up a passenger tail light today from a junk yard. It is in good shape but does have a few minor scratches. Does anyone recommend a kit, product, or method to remove minor scratches from plastic? There are kits at the auto store for $25 but I just wanted to see what ppl recommended.

BTW I picked up the tail light for $40. Other than the minor scratches it has very little bubles and looks better than my orig driver side one.

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[Fish]

Wet sand with very fine sandpaper. Then spray with clear.

 

[Freebeer187]

I picked up some 1500 grit sand paper. It scratches them up even worse(wet and dry). Makes them look blurry (I tested it at the bottom). What grit do you recommend that will not make them blurry?

 

[DanJ]

PlastX by meguiars

 

[James]

MAAS Metal Polish Creme works great because it is a super fine grit, find it at Home Depot. I use it on plastic headlight lenses, cell phone screens, car stereo headunit screens, works flawless. And it works pretty good polishing up metal.

 

[DanJ]

Enticing

 

[smug]

i use rubbing and polishing compound like for paint and it works ok.

 

[Freebeer187]

Damn I went to home depot and they do not cary maas anymore... gotta go to walmart

 

[dmc6996]

3000 grit at least for wet sanding.

 

[Freebeer187]

damn wal mart didnt have it ether!

 

[James]

According to Google and Walgreens store availablility they all should have it.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/prod...=frgl_614783&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=sku301221
A little dab of paste goes a long way and a tube will last forever.

 

[E]

According to Google and Walgreens store availablility they all should have it.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/prod...=frgl_614783&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=sku301221
A little dab of paste goes a long way and a tube will last forever.

any tips on application? I may have to do this to mine in a few years

 

[98GTPDriva]

It's not local (online only), but Plexus Plastic Cleaner works great. It's not cheap either, but I do know that NASA uses it as well. Spray on, wipe well and buff to a shine.

Otherwise, wet sand with 1500 grit and follow-up with an abrasive polish and a machine polisher (i.e. PC 7424). Then follow-up with a mild polish and a machine polisher.

 

[James]

^
use that on my paintball mask for years, and clean off bugs and shine my motorcycle helmet visor, bodywork, etc etc- good stuff and is optically clear. But it's more like Pledge for wood or Windex for glass, it won't do anything for scratches- I know you know this, just making it clear for others.

E,
I just sqeeze a tiny bit onto a small napkin folded up and swirl it into the surface, back and forth for a minute or two, then use a clean part of the napkin and wipe the haze away until it's clean, sometimes spit helps with it.

 

[Freebeer187]

Thanks ill stop by walgreens and pick some up.

For about an hour today I used some tutrle wax rubbing compound that is for minor scratches. I used allot on it with a buffer it is basically gone. Some of the scatches chipped some of the clear coat so those are the only ones visible. Looks allot better now.

 

[Mychel]

ok so i have some blackout tail lights that look horrible right now due to scraches and paint wearing away. should i do the same thing to mine?

 

[James]

^
that'll be tough. IMO once you spray paint plastic lenses there's no going back, they're unsalvageable.

 

[Mychel]

not even repairable? fine wet sand? anything?