John Morrison Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Anyone any ideas on 'Cleaning' plastic headlamp lenses? Looked at a kit in a factors - £25ish! but wondering if its just T Cut in a different bottle? John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Bracher Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Would the Renovo soft top window cleaner/polisher/restorer be any good? Have never used it, but their other products seem to do the job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alfrom Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Check out the use of tooth paste . . . . . . I know it sounds improbable, but there are reports of it working quite well in many cases. Same idea as T-cut but much less abrasive. I tried it on some 16 year old headlights and was quite impressed with the results. (Edited to correct spelling error.) Edited October 7, 2015 by Alfrom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Hi John, depending on the type of plastic . . . . . http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Greygate-Plastic-Polish-/121390936349?hash=item1c4376b11d excellent on Bakelite too . . . . . Cheers Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ctc77965o Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 + 1 for toothpaste Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) I have this headlight restoration kit from Griot's Garage on my shelves awaiting a chance to try it. It has one thing I've not found in any other -- a UV-cured clearcoat for the freshly-polished headlight lens. Polycarbonate plastics used in headlights have terrific impact resistance but don't have very good weathering properties -- hence their tendency to yellow and craze (which in PCs is accelerated by water). Simply polishing the lens without protecting the fresh polymer will give a short term fix only. At the very least I'd advise anyone polishing their lenses to apply a clearcoat -- rattlecan acrylic clear would be better than nothing. The UV-cured spray in the Griot's kit seems like just the ticket for durable protection of the polymer surface. Coating has the additional advantage of leveling the surface of any remaining polishing marks. Note that the Griot's kit recommend a fine grit wet sandpaper. Edited October 7, 2015 by Don H. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
McMuttley Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Novus ? Brasso ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlejim Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) The air force used to use toothpaste for polishing perspex canopies in the Vampire days. dentists use stuff called whiting for polishing acrylic, and jewellers' rouge also does the trick. Suspect the 'modern' compounds contain similar ingredients. Edited October 7, 2015 by littlejim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted October 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Thanks guys, Don, hear what you say about needing to treat the lens after cleaning. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) Hi John just cleaned the plastic lenes on my sons Renault Clio. Use 2000 or 2500 wet and dry then use good quality fine car polish and a suitable electric mop. You can do it by hand but its slow. Came up crystal clear and as new. I'm sure I've read you need to seal them to stop oxygen reacting with the polycarbonate, but cant remember what was recommended. Just remember to put some marsking tape around the edge of the lens to protect the paint. And dont use tooth paste, its not fine enough, consider the lens the same as paint to get high polish. Mark Edited October 8, 2015 by MRG1965 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cmdr19 Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Plastic lens can only be rescued if not too far gone, dull and cloudy is ok, badly yellowed and crazing can't be rescued. Use something like 'G3' on a damp microcloth or an electric mop with plenty of water. Once they're clear again protect with a decent polish but you WILL need to keep up the maintenence every six months or so. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodbr Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Hi John, Check Utube and lots of good advice re technique Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trevor Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Tried Tooth Paste on my old MX5 and worked a treat. . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted October 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Well guess what I'm doing this fine Autumnal Morning? Yep taking the TR out, sod the euro box's headlights, do that another day! John. P.S. Tips welcome, thanks all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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