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polishing plastic - tail light lenses #66049 05/30/08 09:53 AM 05/30/08 09:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 697 Central IL 70Sbird OP mopar
70Sbird OP mopar Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 697 Central IL	Happy Friday everyone, This has probably been covered a million times, but here goes anyway... I'm going to be taking the tail light assembblies out of the 'Bird this weekend to replace the leaky housing to body gaskets. while I have them out I want to take them apart and polish the plastic tail light lenses. They are just slightly hazy and scuffed, but not very badly. I have some Meguires plastic polish for convertible top plastic windows I'm thinking of using, but I've also heard of people using things like Brasso metal polish, toothpaste etc.... any recommendations? Last edited by 70Sbird; 05/30/08 09:54 AM.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: 70Sbird] #66050 05/30/08 10:01 AM 05/30/08 10:01 AM
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,195 Snowing in the north! D Dart 340 moparts member
Dart 340 moparts member D Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,195 Snowing in the north!	Quote: Happy Friday everyone, This has probably been covered a million times, but here goes anyway... I'm going to be taking the tail light assembblies out of the 'Bird this weekend to replace the leaky housing to body gaskets. while I have them out I want to take them apart and polish the plastic tail light lenses. They are just slightly hazy and scuffed, but not very badly. I have some Meguires plastic polish for convertible top plastic windows I'm thinking of using, but I've also heard of people using things like Brasso metal polish, toothpaste etc.... any recommendations? Depends on how bad they are. I used to make prototype lenses for Auto Meter gauges for years. If the scratches are deep you will need to use something to "remove" a little plastic. If they are not deep a little elbow grease and a good gentle polishing compound will work well. There are several "scratch" hiding products available for plastic but be careful and try in a very small area first. On older resins you never know what you are going to get. You can PM me if you want details on removing deeper scratches etc.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: Dart 340] #66051 05/30/08 10:14 AM 05/30/08 10:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 13,601 md M mopars4ever I Live Here
mopars4ever I Live Here M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 13,601 md	Mothers aluminum mag wheel polish. Works wonders. I even use it on faded plastic headlights. Mike

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: mopars4ever] #66052 05/30/08 10:32 AM 05/30/08 10:32 AM
A Anonymous Unregistered
Anonymous Unregistered A	I use a basic rubbing compound like 3M.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses #66053 05/30/08 10:35 AM 05/30/08 10:35 AM
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,831 Kirkland, Washington Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts
Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,831 Kirkland, Washington	Quote: I use a basic rubbing compound like 3M. As do I. I have also had great success with 600/1000/2000 grit paper then a buffing wheel, but you have to be VERY gentle when putting plastic on a wheel.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: Pacnorthcuda] #66054 05/30/08 10:50 AM 05/30/08 10:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,861 Riverside, Ca R70RUNNER master
R70RUNNER master Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,861 Riverside, Ca	plain old tooth paste... '70 lenses are super easy to clean basically flat once you have them apart. Rub the paste with your fingers to clean, rinse well, then finish with your choice of liquid wax. Did mine this way and had excellent results. Plus, if you use the right type they'll be minty fresh too Current cars: 2000 Dak Quad Cab, 2012 Challenger,1970 Road Runner, 1994 Firehawk 1966 Coronet post sedan, 1988 Corvette, 2005 Magnum RT all SOLD R70RUNNER<---VP Inland Empire Chapter of the MPM

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: R70RUNNER] #66055 05/30/08 11:10 AM 05/30/08 11:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 957 MI, Lapeer M maximus super stock
maximus super stock M Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 957 MI, Lapeer	I agree, have been using toothpaste for 20 years on plastic restoration. Make use it's white paste not gel. Makes teeth whiter and plastic brighter.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: maximus] #66056 05/30/08 12:18 PM 05/30/08 12:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 885 alberta Publicbottle super stock
Publicbottle super stock Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 885 alberta	Micromesh!!!A nice kit you can buy at hobby shops, comes with many gtits of sand paper (1500-6000grit i think) coems with a polish and everything you need. We use it in Aviation to polish out damaged acylics...ithink its $30 for a kit.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: Publicbottle] #66057 05/30/08 12:33 PM 05/30/08 12:33 PM
A Anonymous Unregistered
Anonymous Unregistered A	Done both the Mothers Alumium Polish and Toothpaste. Take your pick!

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses #66058 05/30/08 01:23 PM 05/30/08 01:23 PM
A Anonymous Unregistered
Anonymous Unregistered A	Been using paint polishes on them for years.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses #66059 05/30/08 01:28 PM 05/30/08 01:28 PM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,443 ME 79machocharger master
79machocharger master Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,443 ME	I use a special string wheel on a low rpm buffer with blue compound. Works awesome just make sure your buffers going at a low rpm. I think eastwood may sell wheels that are simular to the string wheel I have.

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: 79machocharger] #66060 05/30/08 04:52 PM 05/30/08 04:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 9,066 Eugene, Oregon M minivan master
minivan master M Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 9,066 Eugene, Oregon	Quote: I use a special string wheel on a low rpm buffer with blue compound. Works awesome just make sure your buffers going at a low rpm. I think eastwood may sell wheels that are simular to the string wheel I have. I have the eastwood string buffer and their plastic polish.. Mine came out looking brand new....

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: 70Sbird] #66061 05/30/08 05:10 PM 05/30/08 05:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,445 N.Wilkesboro,NC D DusterKrazy master
DusterKrazy master D Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,445 N.Wilkesboro,NC	I used this stuff called meguiars plast x on my '69 charger lenses and they turned out amazing!

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: DusterKrazy] #66062 05/31/08 03:26 PM 05/31/08 03:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 697 Central IL 70Sbird OP mopar
70Sbird OP mopar Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 697 Central IL	Thanks everyone for all the responses! The taillights are out and I'm going to try polishing tonight or tomorrow. I see how well they polish up!

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: 70Sbird] #66063 06/04/08 03:06 AM 06/04/08 03:06 AM
A Anonymous Unregistered
Anonymous Unregistered A	Toothpaste works. it'a made with diatoms....those little microscopic shelly creatures that live in the ocean, and have a mild abrasive quality..... Can make your gold tooth shine...hehe

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: DusterKrazy] #66064 06/04/08 12:51 PM 06/04/08 12:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,761 Windsor, ON, Canada D Diplomat360 top fuel
Diplomat360 top fuel D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,761 Windsor, ON, Canada	Quote: I used this stuff called meguiars plast x on my '69 charger lenses and they turned out amazing! I also used this product, came out very nice looking in no time at all...

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: Diplomat360] #66065 06/04/08 01:00 PM 06/04/08 01:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,728 places 7 79powerwagon Too Many Posts
79powerwagon Too Many Posts 7 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,728 places	Doesn't everyone have at least one sample packet of Flitz laying around? That stuff is great on lenses!!!!!!!

Re: polishing plastic - tail light lenses [Re: 70Sbird] #66066 06/04/08 01:13 PM 06/04/08 01:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 119 Minnesota I IEAT4DS member
IEAT4DS member I Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 119 Minnesota	Someone told me clear coating works wonders. I have never tried it yet. I am planning to experiment on a couple of old ones. Good luck! Scott

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