Back to polishing plastic...

[lspencer534]

Several weeks ago I posted about polishing out some fine scratches on my El Camino steering wheel emblem. I used tooth paste, but I still have scratches:

http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww22/lspencer534/plastic002.jpg

http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww22/lspencer534/plastic001.jpg

Any ideas?

[Cybercowboy]

Get some real plastic polish already. It would also help if you had an orbital buffer with a "fine" polishing pad.

[lspencer534]

Get some real plastic polish already. It would also help if you had an orbital buffer with a "fine" polishing pad.

That's what I was thinking. The tooth pat made it a bit shinier but did nothing to the scratches.

[sanchez]

Fresh squeezed animal semen.

[lspencer534]

Fresh squeezed animal semen.

Just any old animal?

[kingpin]

The Novus stuff I linked you earlier should work.
A buffer would help you just have to make sure you don't burnish the plastic.

[sanchez]

Just any old animal?

I'd pick a younger one rather than an older one and the bigger the better.

You'll get way more polish from one good sized bull than you will a bunch of gerbils. And I know you are a busy man that doesn't have all day to be jacking off gerbils.

[lspencer534]

I'd pick a younger one rather than an older one and the bigger the better.

You'll get way more polish from one good sized bull than you will a bunch of gerbils. And I know you are a busy man that doesn't have all day to be jacking off gerbils.

:seasix:

[Cybercowboy]

I'd pick a younger one rather than an older one and the bigger the better.

You'll get way more polish from one good sized bull than you will a bunch of gerbils. And I know you are a busy man that doesn't have all day to be jacking off gerbils.

Oh man, you should have been here last night. I have a friend, Alan, who is from Tennessee and has been working here in Joplin for the last two years as the engineering manager at a large manufacturing plant. Alan is a funny guy. He's straight-laced in many ways, very traditional, very polite, but also a good guy to hang with. We were at our mutual friend's pool party yesterday and later in the evening one of our friend's friend (a woman) was talking with Alan and she asked him if he had a GF since he has been here in Joplin. He said no, my last GF was three years ago. I've just been too busy pretty much.

She said "Wow, you must be really backed up. Would you like a blow job?" I know this girl. She was totally serious. The look on Alan's face was priceless. I said "You know, you should go for it. Even a bad blow job is a good one." She said "Let me know." and walked off. I just about died laughing. :lol:

[sanchez]

Oh man, you should have been here last night. I have a friend, Alan, who is from Tennessee and has been working here in Joplin for the last two years as the engineering manager at a large manufacturing plant. Alan is a funny guy. He's straight-laced in many ways, very traditional, very polite, but also a good guy to hang with. We were at our mutual friend's pool party yesterday and later in the evening one of our friend's friend (a woman) was talking with Alan and she asked him if he had a GF since he has been here in Joplin. He said no, my last GF was three years ago. I've just been too busy pretty much.

She said "Wow, you must be really backed up. Would you like a blow job?" I know this girl. She was totally serious. The look on Alan's face was priceless. I said "You know, you should go for it. Even a bad blow job is a good one." She said "Let me know." and walked off. I just about died laughing. :lol:

Lol! That's freaking classic. You got good friends brother!

[Sea Six]

Larry, the way polishing works is that you have to start with a polishing grit that is coarse enough to get the larger scratches out. Then, work your way up with finer and finer grits of polish, which actually are getting the scratches out which are left by previous grits.

Eventually you get to the point where you can neither feel nor see the scratches left by the finest grit of polish.

You started too fine, with the toothpaste. That's why the larger scratches never left, but it appears very shiny because the toothpaste did get rid of all the scratches that it was able to get rid of.

Go to a crafts store or an automotive paint supply store, and get a series of paste polishes. They should be able to recommend a good range for your project. Than, start over and you'll be pleased with the results.

It won't take very long with each polish. Couple of minutes with each, as long as you have good coverage, should be overkill.

Enjoy that minty-fresh smell, though, for now! :cheers:

[mike100]

Get $8 and order a bottle of that Novus #2 polish. /thread.

[Fasglas]

BRASSO didn't work?
Did you try it?
SEMICHROME, motorcycle shop, should do it, as well.

[lspencer534]

I appreciate everyone's advice...but obviously I'm trying to keep this project cheap. I hate to buy an orbital polisher just for this. I'm going to try Simichrome (Thanks, Fasglas!), and if that doesn't work then I'll have to spring for a polisher.

[Cybercowboy]

I appreciate everyone's advice...but obviously I'm trying to keep this project cheap. I hate to buy an orbital polisher just for this. I'm going to try Simichrome (Thanks, Fasglas!), and if that doesn't work then I'll have to spring for a polisher.

If you do decide to get a polisher, get the Porter Cable random orbit polisher. It will last a lifetime, there are zillions of different pads and attachments available for it, and you can use it for all sorts of other things. For instance, I use mine to clean my fireplace glass every couple of years using Flitz. And you'll never get your car's outside glass cleaner than using the polisher with something like Zaino window polish or some other type of window polish. You know how the back window on SUV's get flimy? That's the solution.

[lspencer534]

If you do decide to get a polisher, get the Porter Cable random orbit polisher. It will last a lifetime, there are zillions of different pads and attachments available for it, and you can use it for all sorts of other things. For instance, I use mine to clean my fireplace glass every couple of years using Flitz. And you'll never get your car's outside glass cleaner than using the polisher with something like Zaino window polish or some other type of window polish. You know how the back window on SUV's get flimy? That's the solution.

Thanks. Ball-park estimate on the cost? BTW, Flitz is good sheit!

[Barkingowl]

I'd pick a younger one rather than an older one and the bigger the better.

You'll get way more polish from one good sized bull than you will a bunch of gerbils. And I know you are a busy man that doesn't have all day to be jacking off gerbils.

We could've collected semen at BR II.

[Cybercowboy]

Thanks. Ball-park estimate on the cost? BTW, Flitz is good sheit!

Just a bit over $100. You can find plenty of Amazon.com: Porter-Cable 7424XP 6-Inch Variable-Speed Polisher: Home Improvement@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RnkPdvCuL.@@AMEPARAM@@41RnkPdvCuL.

If you decide to get one, I'll give you a link for a good set of pads and accessories.

[Aerovette]

I've used Ajax, then Soft Scrub, then toothpaste then polishing compound, then wax. I did this with some CDs and they play now and would not before.

[GRN ENVY]

Do what I told you in the first place, or better yet if you want mail it to me I'll polish correctly and send it back.

[Olustee bus]

Get some real plastic polish already. It would also help if you had an orbital buffer with a "fine" polishing pad.

I would consider starting with 000 steel wool then moving to 0000 and then plastic polish.

After that, you may wish to contact these folks to see if they can fix it.

Plastic Polishing Experts - Connecticut Plastics, Inc. (http://www.connecticutplastics.com/capabilities-and-parts/process/plastic%20polishing/?gclid=CK7R5uyrpbACFYeR7QodhHjLVw/)

:dance:

[Sea Six]

Do what I told you in the first place, or better yet if you want mail it to me I'll polish correctly and send it back.

Or, he could do what I told him to do.

Larry, I am assigning you remedial homework. Go back and read my post ten times. Then write a 25 word précis on what I told you to do in that post.

There is no need to buy an orbital polisher for that tiny amount of work you have.

You will not spend more than $30-50 using the method I have described. If you try to shortcut the process by only using one randomly-selected "grit" of polishing media, I promise you the job will not get done, for the reasons I outlined in my post above.

This ain't rocket science. But you're doing a danged good job of trying to make it into it.

Keep It Simple, Stupid. :slap:

[lspencer534]

Do what I told you in the first place, or better yet if you want mail it to me I'll polish correctly and send it back.

Thanks for the kind offer! Heres what I did: Polishing compound, followed by Simichrome, followed by tooth paste, then wax. Shiny as new!

[Kerrmudgeon]

I already told ya Lawrence.....Autosol. Works on everything, plastic included. Why don't you try it, you'll be amazed. :yesnod:



I've used it on everything from watch crystals, convertible top rear windows, and last week my plastic yellowed headlights on my truck. Worked great, no scatches.

[lspencer534]

I already told ya Lawrence.....Autosol. Works on everything, plastic included. Why don't you try it, you'll be amazed. :yesnod:



I've used it on everything from watch crystals, convertible top rear windows, and last week my plastic yellowed headlights on my truck. Worked great, no scatches.

As usual my miser instinct took control. I wanted to polish this little piece of plastic without spending any money and , by damn, I did it! Thank you for the tip, though. :seasix:

[kingpin]

As usual my miser instinct took control. I wanted to polish this little piece of plastic without spending any money and , by damn, I did it! Thank you for the tip, though. :seasix:

Alligator arms. :kimblair:
So short they don't reach in to his pockets.

[Madmikeee]

Buy a headlight polishing kit and have at it, hell most even come with a drill bit polishing wheel.


If it can create clear lenses it can polish black.

[GRN ENVY]

Thanks for the kind offer! Heres what I did: Polishing compound, followed by Simichrome, followed by tooth paste, then wax. Shiny as new!

Excellent :cert: