Polishing Plastic

roadrunner · Nov 30, 2003

Does anyone have experience with this process. I have a plastic trim piece (pretty sure it is ABS) that has been scratched up a bit. I was hoping to see if I could sand it down and then polish. I've seen a few 3 stage polishing kits but I question if they will yeild good results.

Chris B. · Nov 30, 2003

Maybe a dremel tool with one of it's cotton wheel and polishing compound would work. I have it to polish wood with great results!

Ferb · Nov 30, 2003

I assume the three-stage kit you've seen is the Novus 1-2-3. it works well, but as with any polish, don't start with the harshest polish first.

I've also had good luck using ordinary auto paint compounds and cleaners on my paint, but i don't really recommend that. Use a plastic polish for plastic pieces.

ferb!

Mike_dup1 · Dec 1, 2003

I would not do it. It could be base coat/clear coat finish.

bretfraz · Dec 1, 2003

I've seen a demo of Meguiar's Plast-X polish and it worked very well. It takes some time and effort to polish the plastic but it did provide results.

Plast-X is a fairly new product so it may be tough to find locally but try all the usual stores or buy online.

Ferb · Dec 1, 2003

quote:

Originally posted by Mike:
I would not do it. It could be base coat/clear coat finish.

But if it's scratched as much as i assumed, he would have chipping paint and see the substrate. Agreed, though, since we don't know EXACTLY what it is he's dealing with.

Roadrunner, any chance you can tell what the part is? if it's clear, painted, or what.

ferb!

roadrunner · Dec 2, 2003

It's uncoated. I know it's not painted just a bare black plastic piece. At First I thought it was rubber since it's one of those long pieces that runs down the side of the vehicle to protect the doors, but there is no flex in it and it acts like plastic. The vehicle is a 94 Explorer and honestly others I have seen aroudn town look to have a rubber piece there. The vehicle was wrecked so it could have been replaced with something different. I was just weighing my options of polishing it or trying to find a good condition rubber replacment.

bretfraz · Dec 2, 2003

If it's textured plastic that looks sorta like the strip on this Explorer:

http://www.internetautoguide.com/reviews/1994/1994_Ford_Explorer_Limited.html

Then I do not think it can be fixed. Any sanding you do will remove the texture and change the finish. Only fix I know of is replacement.

Dr. T · Dec 12, 2003

Mother's plastic polish...available everywhere...

SteveD2 · Dec 12, 2003

quote:

Originally posted by Chris B.:
Maybe a dremel tool with one of it's cotton wheel and polishing compound would work. I have it to polish wood with great results!

That probably wouldn't be a good idea on plastic...it might get too hot and start to melt it.

Polishing Plastic

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