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Plastic Restoration #2342233
07/24/17 12:40 AM
07/24/17 12:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 18
Silver Spring, MD
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GardnerJamesW Offline OP
member
GardnerJamesW  Offline OP
member
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 18
Silver Spring, MD
Just wondering if theres anyone out there that actually restores plastic items... I have a set of tail lights for my 71 demon that need a little help.
I just don't know if theres things that can be fixed such as hairline cracks and scratches in the lenses...
Any help is appreciated!

Re: Plastic Restoration [Re: GardnerJamesW] #2342252
07/24/17 01:24 AM
07/24/17 01:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Lenses are typically made of acrylic, invisible repairs are basically impossible. Plastic repair in general is quite labor intensive/expensive, usually finding NOS or nice used replacements will cost you less with better results.

Light scuffs and scratches can be polished using todays plastic headlight polishing kits or similar.

Re: Plastic Restoration [Re: GardnerJamesW] #2342278
07/24/17 02:49 AM
07/24/17 02:49 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,550
Sacramento CA
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Morty426 Offline
master
Morty426  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,550
Sacramento CA
Originally Posted By GardnerJamesW
Just wondering if theres anyone out there that actually restores plastic items... I have a set of tail lights for my 71 demon that need a little help.
I just don't know if theres things that can be fixed such as hairline cracks and scratches in the lenses...
Any help is appreciated!


There is no way to fix hairline cracks.

Minor (and I do mean minor) scratches can be polished out as Scott said

Re: Plastic Restoration [Re: GardnerJamesW] #2342358
07/24/17 11:56 AM
07/24/17 11:56 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,876
Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
Don't question me!
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,876
Ontario, Canada
Any acrylic crack CAN be fixed with carefully applied methyl chloride. This and an applicator can be purchased from plastic supply places. For cracks you would want the thinnest available so it flows into the crack. Once it sets/evaporates you can and will need to polish the surface.

Methyl chloride is what is used to fuse all acrylic - display cases and stuff like that. It is NOT a glue - it melts and fuses the plastic.

Done carefully and buffed out you'd never know the crack was there.

https://www.industrialplasticsnyconline.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Acrylic+Solvent







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