How aggressive can I get here?

[512detail]

First time polishing black plastic/ lights like this

Green pad and essence worked fine on the rest of the lights but this middle area around the dodge (which i plan to clean letters out after work today fyi) is trashed.

Im presuming this is pretty thick stuff and not expecting those deep scratches to come out but wanted to make sure using something like the Rupes Zephir blue compound is ok on these plastic lights.

I plan to coat this area as well.

Thanks.

-Brandt K.

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[512detail]

anyone?
I know I`m not the only person to ever polish black plastic like this

probably being overly cautious anyways

 

[Ronkh]

Dunno

 

[512detail]

Dunno

me either, lol

 

[Ronkh]

 

[512detail]

I guess the safe side would be layers of blackhole and EX

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I would not use the Rupes Zephyr. I would start with the finest polish I had to keep from instilling more micro marring. Rupes white or Menz 3800 (old 4500). I have never polished black plastic, but tail lights respond to this. I would worry about hazing on the plastic.

 

[Poorboy]

I guess the safe side would be layers of blackhole and EX

Professional Polish .. no abrasives on black plastic h34r:

 

[512detail]

Professional Polish .. no abrasives on black plastic h34r:

once again Poorboy`s will save the detail

plan on busing out Master Cut for an initial run on my Nano/blue pad for the isolated deep scratch on the passenger door as well

follow up with SSR2 or Pro Polish (most likely) before panel wipe/coating

-thanks
Probably should have just called your store, lol

 

[Migue]

It already looks trashed, so you can do a small test spot by hand and fine polish to see what you get.

 

[512detail]

It already looks trashed, so you can do a small test spot by hand and fine polish to see what you get.

by hand? whats that? I got over $1k of Rupes tools, lol

 

[Migue]

by hand? whats that? I got over $1k of Rupes tools, lol

Haha true, if you must then rules nano on low speed and see what you get. Is this black plastic the same as the one used on some B Pillars above doors and side view mirrors on some older cars??

 

[512detail]

Haha true, if you must then rules nano on low speed and see what you get. Is this black plastic the same as the one used on some B Pillars above doors and side view mirrors on some older cars??

I`d presume quite similar - except this is on a `new` car of course

 

[Migue]

I`d presume quite similar - except this is on a `new` car of course

Well if it is then I`ve had success with machine polishing those. My car has those black plastic non painted side mirror housings and I`ve compounded them with M105 then M205 with no drawbacks,same with B Pillar trim covers. If it`s a see through type, then I wouldn`t .

 

[512detail]

Well if it is then I`ve had success with machine polishing those. My car has those black plastic non painted side mirror housings and I`ve compounded them with M105 then M205 with no drawbacks,same with B Pillar trim covers. If it`s a see through type, then I wouldn`t .

good point.. I`d say its probably exactly the same type of stuff as on most cars b pillars or whatever

its just gonna look like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the car if I cant tame that some

 

[Migue]

good point.. I`d say its probably exactly the same type of stuff as on most cars b pillars or whatever

its just gonna look like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the car if I cant tame that some

Absolutely, once the sun hits it it`ll be very noticeable. Let us know once you find something that does the trick, I`m curious .

 

[512detail]

Absolutely, once the sun hits it it`ll be very noticeable. Let us know once you find something that does the trick, I`m curious .

I`ll try a few things this eve when the sun goes down

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[ShawnF350]

Finish up with BlackHole

 

[EXPDetailing]

I would try FG400, if you have it. I`ve polished all kinds of plastic on exteriors with it. Secondly, I wouldn`t worry about micro-marring; If you can instill micro-marring, then you can take them out too. Besides, micro-maring would be an upgrade.

 

[Accumulator]

I don`t see how anyboy who hasn`t worked on *that model vehicle of that year* can say what`s safe/not.

The black plastic like that on my Audis is tough enough that I`d just correct it. The black plastic like that on my Mazda cut through a bit with *two* light passes of the old 3M 05937 (very mild stuff on a mild pad). You just can`t predict this stuff without directly applicable experience.

I wouldn`t use M105/M205 though, and not ZAIO either. The abrasives are "sharp" in the sense that they consistently messed up exterior plastics that responded well to other abrasives, and with the M205 things that looked OK even after a wipe-down later looked *awful* when the TSO fully dissipated. Gotta be a bit careful about what you use on exterior plastics (the stuff I usually reach for is old and no longer available, but the HD Cut/Polish are working fine...so far).