making hazed plastic clear again (for an instrument cluster)

[brett_celicacoupe]

my MX83 instrument cluster (clear plastic bit) has solvent stains and is hazed, possibly from someone trying to clean it off.

is there any way of getting it back to somewhat how it came from the factory?

im thinking toothpaste might work being a very fine abbrasive but dont want to worsen the situation.

is there a magic solution other then replacing the clear outer face?


brett

[RAd28]

i know that a heat gun works on some plastic panels such as interior kick panels, apparantly it brings the plasticiser back to the surface (that's what gives new cars the 'new car smell') and it works well enough. though i tried it on tail lights (different plastic to the kick panels as you'd well know) and it just burnt it, though i used a heat gun directly at the tail light, may have had more luck by sticking them in an oven on lowest heat and just keeping a close eye on them. from what i've seen plastics 'age' deeper then just the surface, so unless you planning on polishing them with a buffer pad and polish cream may very well be a waste of time.

if you find a good solution do let me know... i have some very faded tail lights

[mrshin]

I've managed to get crap off of plastic things (e.g. spray on wally tint from tail lights) by buffing with the electric sheep, you could always give that a go, if it's too far gone it wouldn't be that expensive to replace anyway.

[CLG]

Yep, replacement will be your easiest option.

If you're determined, you can simply use "wet and dry" sandpaper, in very fine grades - start with 1200ish and step up in grade, finishing with 3000ish

[MWP]

2000 grit is hard to find, never seen 3000.

I used Unick heatsink paste on a soft rag to polish mine up (and other soft plastics).
Always works well.

[Alchemist]

Mcguires PlastX is great for fixing up hazy plastic.

[Andrew162]

Alchy, does the PlastX work on taillight assemblies as well? cos my 162 taillights are looking like shit, and I've wanted to do something about them, but not found a reasonable solution.

[RiceburnaGTV]

Hey guys this is unconfirmed as I am yet to see his car but a fellow I know of,taped up his tail lights between the different colours,clear,red and orange tipped and got a 80/20 clear mix vs colour for each section and aparently turned up a treat. Doesnt really help with a dash facier,but for other lights eg side indicators it may be an option..I myself really dig the sourcing of new shit for these things as they make the car as much as a spray job in my opinion.

cheers
Nath

[ed]

if its a solvent 'stain' youl likely find that the burn goes far deeper than the surface and has altered the material quite deeply - this will never polish out.

you can try though, and id be trying stuff like cutting paste and a lot of elbow work. start with mid grit paste, then hit it with a final cut, and finally, use o good polishing paste. if anything will work, that will

cheers
ed

[oldcorollas]

2000 grit is hard to find, never seen 3000.
.

4000 is a light grey colour, and seems to be about as abrasive as paper
from memory, it is similar in finish to 3micron diamond paste.
you could try colloidal silica, or diamond, or...

for plastic, a buffing wheel, combined with a bit of friction melting and smearing (like with prespex) might do the job... or stuff it completely

[NeoNasty]

The Soarers are well known for having shit plastic head lights. They go hazy and dull.

2 minutes per side for car wax. Comes up a treat. I just do that every few months and they look sexy! Might help, plus you prob already have some of it around the house.

[brett_celicacoupe]

sheesh.

after i started the thread, i tried some tootpaste and holy shit, it works very well.

all the instrument lights (ABS, check engine, cruise etc...) went from blurry to reasonably clear again.

thanks for the suggestions anyway..... but i think its clear enough now

and the good think is, the dash smells like mint

[Andrew162]

wonder what would happen if you tried toothpaste on the rear taillight assemblies... anyone given that a go?

[YLD-16L]

wonder what would happen if you tried toothpaste on the rear taillight assemblies... anyone given that a go?

I used a fine polishing paste on some 30+ year old plastic tail-light covers which were in good condition but hazed and they came up looking like new, toothpaste just seemed to be a bit too fine for the cutting action required. Something in new condition might come up well with it though?

Toothpaste is also good for removing the watermarks on glass.

[broken22]

I had a Mazda Astina once, the instument cover looked like it had been cleaned with windex. Was hazy and shit looking. I took the cover off and spend 1/2 an hour with Brasso (fine abrasive) and it came out looking almost new.