Removing Scratches in Plastic

Xtreme V6 · 03-01-02, 09:32

I am wondering if there is a way to remove scratches in colored plastic. Somehow my 4-wheeler got several deeep scratches in the plastic. Would wet sanding and using a polish like Finesse-IT II work? I have a PC and a direct drive buffer, so machine polishing would be a problem.

I applied 3 layers of SG when I bought the 4-wheeler back in November. Everytime I take it in the woods, the plastic never gets scratched, only the SG.

carguy · 03-01-02, 09:37

You need different abrasives for plastic. You have to be EXTREMELY careful if you use a machine - especially a rotary - because a little too much heat won't just ruin paint (if it is painted as opposed to molded-in color), it will melt the plastic. Then your're SOL.

Talk to a body shop that repairs plastic bumpers - these are painted - see what they use.

Certainly wet sanding will be safe. But I'm not sure what to recommend to bring the shine back up. Anything by hand should be OK at least as an experiment - (3M fine Cut rubbing Compund is supposed to remove 1200 grit sanding scratches) but be very, very careful if you try it by machine,.

Jngrbrdman · 03-01-02, 09:40

Plastic is a lot different than paint. If they are just small scratches like from driving too close to a pine tree branch or something then you could probably polish them out like on your car. But if these are scratches that you can feel with your fingers then you have a different situation. Carguy's advice applies 100% if that is the case.

SC5spd · 03-01-02, 10:26

i'm using novus 3 step ... it's giving me a lil improvement... anyone else use it?
i chose it over plexus and maybe i made the wrong choice?

Xtreme V6 · 03-01-02, 10:45

I am working on it this weekend so I will take some pictures and experiment. I don't have much in the way of plastic polishes (besides Plexus), so I will see what I can do with it.

puterbum · 03-01-02, 10:59

that most plastic is textured and you will lose the texture of it if you wetsand.

SC, how do you like the Novus stuff? How well does it work on plain black interior plastic like doorsills and such? I am curious about the 1-2-3 system and would love info from anyone.

Fine Cut Rubbing Compound made some black plastic I have kind of hazy. I bet an application of FI II or comparable would help this, but 303 covers it up until I buy more abrasives.

Pats300zx · 03-02-02, 05:42

Puterbum

I have been using Novus 1 and 2 for a while now and I really like it. I use the Novus 1 on my show car to detail all my plastics (ie Speedometer lens cover, plastic taillight lenses, etc.). It is really good. The Novus 2 contains more abrasives and removes alot of scratches when you follow up with Novus 1.

SC5spd · 03-02-02, 11:12

I've got this scuff/haze on the rear tailight of my coupe. I've used Novus 1,2,3 and it helped a little bit - especially on the lightly scratched parts. But on the deeper ones, it did pretty much nothing. I havn't used it much, i guess upon more applications, better results will follow. But as of now, i kinda wondered what Plexus could've done for me. Has anyone used both?

puterbum · 03-02-02, 11:32

If Novus #3 won't remove it, I would imagine options are to live with it, replace it, or wetsand / rubbing compound and move your way down the abrasives ladder to less and less abrasive until its perfect.

Okay, addressing your concern, a rubbing compound seems more in line with what you need. Do you have Finesse-It II or Meguiar's #2? Someone compare abrasiveness of Novus 3 (most abrasive) with one of these products? They work on plastic too.