Polishing plastic - How to inside
#1
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Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 335 TPI Stroker
Transmission: Tremec TKO 500
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Polishing plastic - How to inside
I restored the parking lights from my Camaro today. Here's what was needed:
-sandpaper (600 grit, 1000, 1500, 2000)
-Drill
-Soft buff wheel
-Emery, Tripoli, White rouge
-Blue Magic aluminum polish (or any other alum. polish)
-A good wax (I used Meguiars Gold Class)
First sand the plastic with 600wet, under running water. Repeat with 1000, 1500, and 2000 grits (wetsanding). You must wetsand otherwise the plastic clogs up the sandpaper, and leaves a dull finish to the plastic. After that its time to buff. Buff them with the Emery compound first, then wipe off excess. Then buff with Tripoli compound, etc etc. Repeat with the white rouge.
Then you can use a rag and polish them with the aluminum polish, I experimented and it takes out alot of fine scratches. Finally when you're done, wax the plastic with a good name brand wax to protect it, it also gets rid of some very fine scratches. Here are the results
Before-
To this...
I have yet to try any true "plastic polishing" compounds, but from what I hear they work pretty good. Although Tripoli compound is recommended for buffing plastics.
-sandpaper (600 grit, 1000, 1500, 2000)
-Drill
-Soft buff wheel
-Emery, Tripoli, White rouge
-Blue Magic aluminum polish (or any other alum. polish)
-A good wax (I used Meguiars Gold Class)
First sand the plastic with 600wet, under running water. Repeat with 1000, 1500, and 2000 grits (wetsanding). You must wetsand otherwise the plastic clogs up the sandpaper, and leaves a dull finish to the plastic. After that its time to buff. Buff them with the Emery compound first, then wipe off excess. Then buff with Tripoli compound, etc etc. Repeat with the white rouge.
Then you can use a rag and polish them with the aluminum polish, I experimented and it takes out alot of fine scratches. Finally when you're done, wax the plastic with a good name brand wax to protect it, it also gets rid of some very fine scratches. Here are the results
Before-
To this...
I have yet to try any true "plastic polishing" compounds, but from what I hear they work pretty good. Although Tripoli compound is recommended for buffing plastics.
#3
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
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you got great results, and not to upset you or anything..
but i did mine by wet sanding with 1000 grit, and then used alum polish.... results came out outstanding....
sand paper and the polishing compounds are cheap, but i just did mine with what i had and it came out excelent...
so anyone worried about foobaring your headlights by polishing too much, you may be able to just sand and finish polish..... its pretty much foolproof... jsut dont use a electric sander, lol....
but i did mine by wet sanding with 1000 grit, and then used alum polish.... results came out outstanding....
sand paper and the polishing compounds are cheap, but i just did mine with what i had and it came out excelent...
so anyone worried about foobaring your headlights by polishing too much, you may be able to just sand and finish polish..... its pretty much foolproof... jsut dont use a electric sander, lol....
#4
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Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 335 TPI Stroker
Transmission: Tremec TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt / 3.42
Originally posted by MrDude_1
you got great results, and not to upset you or anything..
but i did mine by wet sanding with 1000 grit, and then used alum polish.... results came out outstanding....
sand paper and the polishing compounds are cheap, but i just did mine with what i had and it came out excelent...
so anyone worried about foobaring your headlights by polishing too much, you may be able to just sand and finish polish..... its pretty much foolproof... jsut dont use a electric sander, lol....
you got great results, and not to upset you or anything..
but i did mine by wet sanding with 1000 grit, and then used alum polish.... results came out outstanding....
sand paper and the polishing compounds are cheap, but i just did mine with what i had and it came out excelent...
so anyone worried about foobaring your headlights by polishing too much, you may be able to just sand and finish polish..... its pretty much foolproof... jsut dont use a electric sander, lol....
One tip - Don't keep the drill in the same spot at high speed for too long, heat will build up. Just move it around slowly and you'll be fine.
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That process looks like it worked well...BUT...there is a little easier way that could give similar if not better results.
Try plastic polishing compound from eastwood. All you need is a polishing wheel and the compound.
Here are the results from polishing my 3rd brake light on my other car....
Try plastic polishing compound from eastwood. All you need is a polishing wheel and the compound.
Here are the results from polishing my 3rd brake light on my other car....
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#8
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Looks great!
I really don't see why you would use aluminum polish after, it is much more abrasive then rouge. Rouge should have gotten the fine scatches out.
Anyway, who cares, they look great
I really don't see why you would use aluminum polish after, it is much more abrasive then rouge. Rouge should have gotten the fine scatches out.
Anyway, who cares, they look great
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Car: Camaro
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You just sved me money! I was gonna go buy new front lights because they look like yours did in the before pics! I want to leave work now and try it now! Thanks for the info! I will post before and afters when I get done but it might be a day or so.
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You can get it from the Eastwood Company. Here's a direct link:
Plastic Compound
I just did my rear lenses w/ it...and some sand paper...I tell ya, like lookin' in a mirror!
Plastic Compound
I just did my rear lenses w/ it...and some sand paper...I tell ya, like lookin' in a mirror!
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Oh yeah, and Plastic Polish/Wax...pic up some Mothers Plastic Polish. It works great! So far, only place I saw it was at Murrays Auto. I'm sure you could order it. It's like $6 a bottle. I heard Meguiars PlastX is good too, but, I could only find that in little pouches at Autozone.
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Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: 335 TPI Stroker
Transmission: Tremec TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt / 3.42
What all these guys said will work great.
I have yet to use some of the Eastwood plastic polish, I'm thinking about asking for some for Christmas.
I have yet to use some of the Eastwood plastic polish, I'm thinking about asking for some for Christmas.
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Car: 92 RS
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: 700R4
On the discussion of plastics...has anyone used any of these techniques on Lexan T-tops and did it work? The Meguiar's Plastic Kit did not remove any of the inperfections.
Last edited by planman; 11-19-2003 at 06:57 PM.
#21
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Originally posted by CaysE
I used Mothers on my 86 third brake light cover. Matches my black paint now!
I can't make heads or tails of joshp's picture... which way is up???
I used Mothers on my 86 third brake light cover. Matches my black paint now!
I can't make heads or tails of joshp's picture... which way is up???
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Car: 1995 Corvette
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Transmission: 6 spd Manual
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Meguiers Clear Plastic Polish/Cleaner
For people who are looking for some plastic polish/cleaner locally, I picked mine up at Advance Auto Parts about a year ago... It was located in the marine section (where all the small batteries are and everything).. Two separate products, Meguiers Clear Plastic Polish and Clear Plastic Cleaner... Worked great when I polished the plastic behind the instrument bezel to remove fine scratches (how they got there I have no idea but Meguiers took em out)...
#25
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Car: 1992 RS
Engine: 406 Stealth Ram
Transmission: 700R4
When using a buffing wheel on plastic, be sure to move the piece around a lot and do not apply a lot of pressure, or you'll damage your part....Ask me how I know
#27
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Originally posted by ss85tadude
Josh,
That looks great (did you also polish your filler panel)
I need to do this to my tail lights also
Josh,
That looks great (did you also polish your filler panel)
I need to do this to my tail lights also
Also, kind of off subject, but could you downsize your signature picture by about 150-200 pixels? I would appreciate it.
-Josh
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Car: 85 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI (dead) -> building 355
Transmission: 27 spline 700R4 (another one died) -> T5 goin in next
I just used Blue Magic plastic polish found at many local auto parts stores. The difference that I think I found between using this and the compounds you guys are talking about using (with the drill and all that) is that I have to polish my plastic every once in a while (like paint). It seems like the way you guys are doing it will last longer. I have no pics, but I did it all by hand with a cloth. It seems like the results were fairly similar too.
-Jesse
-Jesse
#29
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With the drill and buff wheel, you can get into the finer crevises that a rag just can't reach. I mean, the wheel actually "digs" into the lense and gets out those little imperfections. The compound is like EXTREMELY small sand paper (in my opinion), and w/ high speeds, takes out ALL scratches and marks. I would HIGHLY recommend this method, as opposed to hand buffing.
#30
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Car: 85 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI (dead) -> building 355
Transmission: 27 spline 700R4 (another one died) -> T5 goin in next
......I don't own a drill. Otherwise I would use the buffing wheel!
-Jesse
-Jesse
#32
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Car: Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
At the most $20 at Walmart! I am doing my lights tonight so I will have pics up tomorrow or monday unless I screw em up then I will hide my shame from all of you!!!
#33
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Car: 83 Z-28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 02 WS6 Rear w/3:42
Originally posted by SweetRide45
Check small automotive/hardware stores. I got a 1/2" 3600rpm Impact Drill that is PERFECT for buffing small plastics, etc. w/. And the best part is, it was only $3!
Check small automotive/hardware stores. I got a 1/2" 3600rpm Impact Drill that is PERFECT for buffing small plastics, etc. w/. And the best part is, it was only $3!
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Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Also, kind of off subject, but could you downsize your signature picture by about 150-200 pixels? I would appreciate it.
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Car: Camaro
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Last edited by LUVmy92; 11-24-2003 at 01:38 PM.
#37
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Car: Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Its amazing how much better they look for the small amount of work that it took. I also found a great cleaner to remove the scum that builds up inside the lights after 11 years of abuse and dirty water! Its called Greased Lightning...just put some in let it sit for a minute then shake it like its your.....uh.....well just shake it and its spotless!
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Car: 91 z28
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
i know this is a old thread but when you polished your park lights di you take the lens out? or did you just polish the outside? thanks for any help
Corey
Corey
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Car: Camaro
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Transmission: 700r4
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I took the parking lights out of the car but that was it. I didnt seperate them or anything from the housing. Th main thing was getting a high strength cleaner inside the housing and letting it sit for a while to get rid of the scum inside.
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Car: '91 GTA, '92 T/A Convertible
Engine: GTA: 350 w/Vortec heads, T/A: 305
Transmission: Pro-built 700R4
Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
"....Ask me how I know", ditto on the screw up. Make sure you don't allow much heat to build up.
#42
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Car: Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700r4
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I used Greased Lightning, not diluted at all. I let it sit for 15 minutes each light. It was great. Check out my link to my Cardomain site to see before and after.
Before and after
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