polishing plastics

[david095]

now here's a hypothetical question......
 
if one was to wash their bike and were to use a cloth not quite as soft as they thought it was, what would be the best way of restoring any  'minor multiple abrasions' to any previously more shiny pieces of plastic, hypothetically speaking .........

[Andy FZS]

Hypothetical pictures might help as I would assume hypothetically smooth plastic would different to a grained plastic and painted plastic different again, hypothetically.

[Yamazer-92]

I was an absolute div this year and managed to get super glue on both of my rear seat panels near the grab rail and getting it off left a lot of small abrasive scratches. I used meguiars quik clay cleaner stuff and their 3 step wax and polish afterwards and you can now literally not see the scratches in sunlight, the panels are super smooth and shiney and the only time they are very slightly visible is if you stare directly at them in the shade from about 6 inches away. Great stuff, expensive for what it is but worked a treat. I got mine from halfords when they were doing a 3 for 2 on cleaning products. I did a thread on here about it but can't remember what it's called, I'll try and send you the link.

[Yamazer-92]

Found it 


http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,7343.msg70601.html#msg70601

[david095]

Hypothetical pictures might help as I would assume hypothetically smooth plastic would different to a grained plastic and painted plastic different again, hypothetically.

 
lets say that the hypothesis today would be regarding plastic fittings of the shiny, black, metallic painted type?

[david095]

Found it 


http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,7343.msg70601.html#msg70601

 
 
great, thanks will have a look at this later

[midden]

I have a friend who likes to dress in womens clothes.  I mean hypothetically speaking if I had


Sorry, couldn't help myself 

[david095]

I have a friend who likes to dress in womens clothes.  I mean hypothetically speaking if I had


Sorry, couldn't help myself 

strange that, not even I've got hypothetical friends like that 

[mickvp]

well, there is a few different ways to tackle this depending on the severity, and what panels it is that are affected. Meguiars PlastX is a fairly competent product, just be sure to work it fully until the abrasive breaks down properly otherwise you will leave micro-marring behind which will need re-polished out.

If you have access to a DA or rotary, it can make the process much more efficient and a bit quicker.

I tend to find that the finish left after PlastX is usually not amazing (It does a bang up job of taking the scratches out, granted), so I tend to go over the top with a much finer diminishing polish, such as Menzerna Final Finish, or 3M Ultrafina. It depends just how shiny you want it afterwards (and of course, if you do go to this level, you will probably need to do the rest of the bike with a finishing polish as well, or else one panel will stand out more).

Dotn forget once you have used plastX etc you will have stripped any wax/protection you have laid down, and so you may want to consider firing something over the top to give some UV protection and make the bike easier to clean

Oh, and dont forget to take plenty of pics!

[david095]

ok so the cat's outa the bag, guilty guvnor,  tried photos but don' t seem to show damage, really minor 'scouring' nothing beep just makes it look dull, hopefully nothing a little bit of elbow grease can't work out...
 

[dBfazer600]

If its a haze type that looks like a gaffer tape has left its adhesive behind and there is no scoring or scratches then I advise Autoglym paint restorer. It is more abrasive than the Mags products already mentioned by Yamazer-92 but be careful not to use too much elbow grease and lift off the paint work to keep checking you have not taken all the lacquer off as you will need to then deal with another problem.

Daz

[david095]

cheers all for your advice, thankfully  in the end it all polished out with some old autoglym polish I found in the garage (and before I read your post Daz    )
 
Have to say I'm very relieved and extremely happy to have that beautiful shiny black paintwork back again - and I didn't have to lay out any dosh either = bonus 

[Hamos]

I have used Brasso to get rid of scratches on the clear plastic speedo screens.  Worked a treat.  No scratches left and the plastic remained clear.

[david095]

brasso eh, yup got some of that I think, will have to try it and if it doesn't work I just might invest in a bigger screen anyway to get rid of some of the windblast on my commute