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MG MGA - polishing scratches in perspex

Does anyone have a tried and tested approach for removing scratches in perspex sidescreen and hardtop windows?
dominic clancy

This is a factory bulletin on scratches to the rear plastic window.
Image attached.

Mick

M F Anderson

That just talks about soft top windows and uses wax to fill the scratches. I am looking at scuffs etc that need polishing out of hard perspex
dominic clancy

Dominic

I have always used Duraglit brass cleaner wadding. I use it regularly on my perspex sports windscreen. If you are worried it may be too coarse you could try their silver cleaner wadding.

It is also good on glass. A tried and tested (by me) method for watch faces etc.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Find Aviation products and methods. The windows on private planes are made of similar materials. LP Plastics makes aircraft windshields here is their advice. http://www.lpaero.com/CAREINS.html
R J Brown

Dominic,

http://www.novuspolish.com/

Works well on my plexiglass racing windscreen.

-Martin Straka
Martin Straka

Yamaha makes a cleaner/polish for the clear plastic windscreen fairings used on motorcycles that I have had good luck with on my MGA's wind wings. Try a motorcycle shop.
Keith Lowman

Dominic
Try Renovo.
Bruce
Bruce Mayo

Hi Dominic,

Micromesh is the best thing there is for removing scratches in plastic transparencies. I have used it many times in the aviation world to recover damaged aircraft canopies. The kit is not expensive and will last for years, it does need a bit of elbow grease though.

http://www.flightstore.co.uk/micro-mesh-acrylic-restoral-kit-kr70.asp

Regards

Paddy
P Reardon

Paddy

Just looked at your link. It gives me the impression that it is a selection of wet and dry paper, followed by a finishing polish. Is this correct?

Cheers

Steve
Steve Gyles

Meguire's is advertising in the US a kit that includes a "polishing pad" used in a drill I think, and some liquid that they claim will clean up (i.e. "polish") fogged headlight covers as used on many cars these days. Don't have any personal experience with it myself however....

George
G Goeppner

I have used the Mequire product called "PlastX on side curtains, rear window and headlight covers. While it does seem to help it seems better at removing "cloudiness" than scratches. Lot's of "elbow-grease" required.
Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

I second Paddy's recommendation. Here's a description from another vendor's website:

"Micro-Mesh™ features tiny abrasive crystals on resilient cloth-backed latex. These gentle "cushioned" particles generate less heat and friction than ordinary finishing papers, don't load up as quickly, and last up to 15 times longer. Use Micro-Mesh with soapy water to produce a scratch-free mirror shine.

The kit includes:
18 Micro-Mesh abrasive sheets (two 3" x 6" pieces of each grit):
1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12000-grit
Foam sanding block"



Ken
k v morton

I took a look on the Scientific Instrument Services web site and see there are a number of Micro-Mesh Kits for a variety of purposes. Is there one in particular for top and side-curtains that would be preferred?
Tx
GTF
G T Foster

Aircraft Spruce's kit for aircraft windows actually only goes to 6000 grit:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/micromeshstd.php

Ken
k v morton

Hi Steve,

You are correct, Micromesh is just vey fine wet and dry paper. The polish is not for finishing. it is just an antistatic polish to help the fine dust to be dispersed. The kits come with instructions but basically you choose a grit to start depending on the depth of your damage then work through each paper, first dry then wet, each cut at 90 degrees to the last until you get to the 1200 grit or you are satisfied with the finish.

We used to finish with 8000 on things like side windows and go all the way to 12000 for the bits the seat to stick interface looked through.

A good scratch can be removed in about 2 hours. Quicker if you have one of those small (hand sized) electric sanders.

Paddy

P Reardon

I used Micromesh on the back window of my hardtop with a perspex window. The window when I started was so cloudy that I could not see through it. Now it looks like glass. Micromesh is what the small airplane pilots use on their windshields and it is also what I use to polish the acrylics that I use for pen turning.
JP Jim

Where can one get the "elbow grease" mentioned by a couple of people above? Does it come suitable for both, or must one buy the left elbow grease tin, and the right elbow grease tin?
I desperately need some of this because I think my elbows are wearing out.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Peter

We have Elbow Grease for sale over here! Someone had to do it. http://is.gd/IXSU9K

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks for all the tips. I now have all the bits for the top so I can take it to the bodyshop next week. Just have to decide whether I want it black or OEW like the car. I have just ordered the Micromesh stuff. Thanks to Paddy for the link.
dominic clancy

This thread was discussed between 23/04/2011 and 14/05/2011

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