L19MUD Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Is there anyway I can restore this back to former glory? Only thoughts are some compound? It is the centre of a light bar and was previously covered with some white vinyl plastic to cover this up (bought used but refurbished a few years ago) but that had also aged. I would prefer to clean the plastic up rather than do that again as it should show up red when the lights inside are turned on towards the rear The inside is still bright white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 I would try a fine wet and dry to start then a polishing compound works well on polycarb headlights. but try a little spot first. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 I would also suggest simple polishing. However, there is also the option of flatting it back with progressively finer grades of sanding paper, and then spraying with a lacquer. The lacquer may reduce the UV reaching the plastic, and should certainly prevent the oxidation. It’s the combination of UV and oxygen that causes the “corrosion” of plastics, eliminating one of them should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Cellulose Thinners perhaps - I had some luck with white uPVC windows that I had splashed creosote on. No way was that just wiping off, but the thinners almost melt the surface and take a thin layer off. Try it on a small area first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 A few more of those beers, then you won't notice it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 17 minutes ago, monkie said: A few more of those beers, then you won't notice it Haha! Was well deserved after a long day in the orifice Thanks all will have a play with the options above. Its 6ft 6 up on the top of the truck so it does not need to be perfect but you can see where stickers have been before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nonimouse Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) tooth powder, moistened and used as a polish, or in fact any fine abrasive polish, like brasso or chrome cleaner Edited May 13, 2020 by Nonimouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 The abrasive polish/cleaner used on glass oven doors (forget the brand) is pretty good, we used it on a polishing mop for headlights. To get a really fine polish jewellers rouge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Lacquer won't protect from UV unfortunately, you could just paint it and be done with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Farecla G3 compound. Sorted. Or if you don't want to have it lit at any point in the future then just spray it white, or silver etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 51 minutes ago, Bowie69 said: Lacquer won't protect from UV unfortunately, you could just paint it and be done with it? Don't be so defeatist 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 46 minutes ago, Happyoldgit said: Farecla G3 compound. Sorted. Or if you don't want to have it lit at any point in the future then just spray it white, or silver etc. It just laughed at the G3, time to break out the wet and dry to take a layer off (or thinners as mentioned above) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 I used to do a fair bit with lightbars from the States back in the day, I used to buy a product from one of the big suppliers over there that was specially formulated to revive and restore domes that has discoloured, yellowed, tarnished or gone mat through dust and sand abrasion. For the life of me I can't recall what it was called just now but it would work like no other compounds, abrasives or other plastic re-finishers. Clear domes that had been used for years on NYPD or other PD vehicles that had turned beige and mat would restore to virtually new appearance, and what's more they would stay that way too. Some of the segmented Federal Signal domes on the old Aerodynics were stupidly expensive to replace so this stuff was really useful. So, wet and dry followed by buffing with G3 it is then 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 26 minutes ago, Happyoldgit said: I used to do a fair bit with lightbars from the States back in the day, I used to buy a product from one of the big suppliers over there that was specially formulated to revive and restore domes that has discoloured, yellowed, tarnished or gone mat through dust and sand abrasion. For the life of me I can't recall what it was called just now but it would work like no other compounds, abrasives or other plastic re-finishers. Clear domes that had been used for years on NYPD or other PD vehicles that had turned beige and mat would restore to virtually new appearance, and what's more they would stay that way too. Some of the segmented Federal Signal domes on the old Aerodynics were stupidly expensive to replace so this stuff was really useful. So, wet and dry followed by buffing with G3 it is then 😉 How to build excitement and then dissapoint! 😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 I would have thought G3 is a bit coarse for plastics. Also needs to be used wet to get the best of it. Screwfix or Toolstation (cant remember which) do a glass polishing kit which works a treat on scratched windscreens. Its very fine and might work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 8 hours ago, smallfry said: I would have thought G3 is a bit coarse for plastics. Also needs to be used wet to get the best of it. Screwfix or Toolstation (cant remember which) do a glass polishing kit which works a treat on scratched windscreens. Its very fine and might work ? The issue is getting rid of the discoloured layer on the top first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 15 hours ago, L19MUD said: How to build excitement and then dissapoint! 😂 He’s a bit of a tease, isn’t he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 13 hours ago, smallfry said: I would have thought G3 is a bit coarse for plastics. Also needs to be used wet to get the best of it. Screwfix or Toolstation (cant remember which) do a glass polishing kit which works a treat on scratched windscreens. Its very fine and might work ? A lot of paints are just a layer of plastic. But anyway, it works well on plastics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I’ve not done any coloured plastics, but I did the ex’s headlights with the 3m polishing kit and that was night any day compared to various other methods I’d tried in the past. It comes with the backing pad for the drill ad a selection of different grits. All I’d say is keep a squirty bottle of water to hand to keep it wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 ...still easier to paint it. Some conventional lightbars, especially the USA stuff like the Federal Signal Jetsonics and Streethawks from the '90's had a black strip painted across the top section of the domes to prevent the sun washing out the flash patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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