Friday, September 12, 2008
TECH TIP #8... REPAIRING SCRATCHED PLASTIC LENSES
It's been a while since I did a tech tip, so her's one for ya.
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Did you know that if you get a scratch in a plastic lense, even if deep that it can usually be wet sanded out and then buffed back to a shine?.
Plastic buffs like butter. That means that it is really easy to buff out.
If you have a scratched lense, sand it out. Don't sand any area you won't be able to access with the buffer, or you'll have permanent sanding marks there.
Start with a coarse paper, and work your way down to a really fine grit. Then simply buff it up to a nice shine. a fine grit, to polish compound is all you need. If you have no rubbing compound, and don't want to buy any, toothpaste with baking soda will work in a pinch because plastic is so soft, that is all it will take! Oh yeah, and if you don't have rubbing compound, I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and assume you have no buffer either. Elbo grease will work here just fine.
This works, I promise. Over the years back in the body shop days, and even currently, I've saved thousands of dollars doing this on really expensive plastic headlamp lenses etc.
If you have a scratched lense, don't be afraid to try this.
You have nothing to loose!
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6 comments:
Here in Az it's a regular pratice once a year to do the headlights on our buick.
Just as you said.
Great tip
Hmmm...I am going to try this. It works on chrome too, right? LOL!
Thanks for the tip
Big D,
Thanks for backing me up Bro! Now someone might actually believe me.
FLHX Dave,
Yes, it does work on chrome too. If you have a really fine scratch, you can make it dissapear by using a really coarse grit, like 36 grit. You won't even notice the fine scratches anymore. But the 36 grit buffs out a bit harder on chrome. Go on, give it a shot!
(If I could do a reply in fine print, there would be a fine print disclaimer right here. It would state: If anyone who read the above comment reply to FLHX Dave is actually dumb enough to believe what I just said, please be my guest and destroy your chrome. Just don't blame me for being gullible.)
LOL! Gimme back that chrome moron, you don't deserve it son. (glad you made the disclaimer because there are lawyers in the world, and 96 percent of them live in the U.S.)
I don't know if you go back and check sh** so I guess I'll find out. The lense, just did it on my friends 08 pick-up. Thanks for the tip. I had some old compound I found in my basement from hell I don't know maybe the late 60's early 70's. A bit dry but it worked.
Webster World,
Glad it Worked for you!
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