DIY: plastic polishing - Honda-Acura.net

TypeG · 11-20-05, 04:25 PM

*note* only polish hard plastic. it will turn into power when sanded. the softer plastic will not powder and will be difficult to polish. if it is flexable it is to soft. there are not a lot of things on the car that are hard plastic. most of the interior is soft plastic. test on unseen areas first.

for headlights, you shouldn't have to sand. that is usualy only for sanding the texture off the interior pieces. only sand your headlights in extreme cases(deep scratches, nicks, blemishes, ect.) you can use mag and aluminum polish first, then use the plastic polish to make it crystal clear.

materials:
-plastic polish
-sandpaper (600g-1000g)
-cotton polishing cloth

this is to show you how to polish plastic in and around your car. this is the plastic blank in the dash trim. to polish it, begin by sanding the texture off of it with 600g sandpaper til the texture is smooth. then follow with 1000g to knock it down some more and smooth it further.

this is what it will look like after sanding

now you are ready to use the plastic polish. apply it to the polishing cloth and buff til all the fine scratches disappear and a reflective finish appears. it should look like this when done.

_______________________________________________________ _______

here are some more: the seat levers. a before pic\/

after\/

a side by side comparision of before and after.\/

the sticker is metal, so i polished it.

_______________________________________________________ _____

an oem blinker i did

plastic polish also works good on corner lens, tailights, scratched cd's, gauge clusters, ect. later

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raiden571 · 11-21-05, 10:06 AM

damn ice job man. never thought of polishing plastic before

**randomtask77** · 11-21-05, 10:49 AM

I'm really impressed on how that blank trim piece turned out. Looks like a highly polished metal piece.

alanMI88 · 11-21-05, 10:33 PM

Hey, just want to say thanks for actually posting a DIY in the DIY forum. Good Work!

TypeG · 11-22-05, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanMI88

Hey, just want to say thanks for actually posting a DIY in the DIY forum. Good Work!

well, its not rocket science. later.

raiden571 · 11-22-05, 10:14 AM

just tried it on my black interior. didnt turn out to good. so, i wouldnt recommend doing it on black

TypeG · 11-22-05, 12:16 PM

is the piece you tried it on flexible? there are ''softer'' hard plastics that are hard to work with and take a bit of effort to get looking good. look for the plastic to ''powder'' off when you sand it. if it doesn't do that, it's to soft. test on useen areas first. a majority of the plastic on the inside is a softer plastic. later.

tientruong · 11-23-05, 03:19 AM

i tried it with another method, but the results are the same.

jesseunvoas · 12-23-05, 10:03 PM

that mothers works wonders!!!!!! did mt speedo and my headlighs

SP00NFed · 12-23-05, 10:06 PM

that looks awesome, i should try it on my jdm headlights

ek3_rs · 12-28-05, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tientruong

i tried it with another method, but the results are the same.

But i noticed that your headlight are clearer than before.

ek3_rs · 12-28-05, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesseunvoas

that mothers works wonders!!!!!! did mt speedo and my headlighs

Hi, did you sand your headlights or you just use mothers plastic polish and polishing cloths? would like to clarify before doing up my headlights.

TypeG · 12-29-05, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ek3_rs

Hi, did you sand your headlights or you just use mothers plastic polish and polishing cloths? would like to clarify before doing up my headlights.

you shouldn't have to sand. that is usualy only for sanding the texture off the interior pieces. only sand your headlights in extreme cases(deep scratches, nicks, blemishes, ect.) you can use mag and aluminum polish first, then use the plastic polish to make it crystal clear. later.

MiloReaper87 · 01-18-06, 04:12 PM

NICE man this Technic make everything like new i got to try this on all my OEM Lights THANK MAN

eboi · 01-30-06, 06:33 PM

Does is fade once its polish?

bluetwo · 01-30-06, 06:51 PM

That is pretty crazy. I never would have thought it could come out like that.

On a side note someone once told me that for some plastics you can spray clear coat on them for a nice shine but of course it would have to be plastic that you didn't expect to flex at all while in use or the clear coat would crack.

808nakoa · 01-31-06, 12:54 AM

jeez, i cant find any plastic polish in town, i really wanna do my headlights

ek9cusco · 01-31-06, 06:13 PM

damn those are some nice bling bling plastics!! nice!

TypeG · 02-01-06, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eboi

Does is fade once its polish?

nope.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808nakoa

jeez, i cant find any plastic polish in town, i really wanna do my headlights

www.mothers.com
later.

PacificDude · 02-01-06, 08:12 PM

Would the 3M Rubbing Compound work just as good?

IDK if it has the protectant qualities of Mothers Plastic Polish. I'm having some trouble finding MPP locally, instead of ordering it.

TypeG · 02-02-06, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacificDude

Would the 3M Rubbing Compound work just as good?

i don't know, i have never tried it

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacificDude

IDK if it has the protectant qualities of Mothers Plastic Polish. I'm having some trouble finding MPP locally, instead of ordering it.

you can sometimes find it at car paint stores. later

96accordexcoupe · 02-03-06, 11:18 PM

i tried this with a different type of plastic polish and didnt get good results... i had to sand down my headlight covers because there were a lot of nicks and scratches. it kinda seemed like there was a layer or real thin sheet of plastic over the covers that peeled off over time. so i decided to sand these down and apply plastic polish. now i have foggier covers. should i use only mothers brand?

TypeG · 02-04-06, 03:30 PM

use this

with this:

then use the plastic polish. the metal polish has a heavier cut and will smooth the plastic faster. the mequier's polish should work the same. later.

adva7328 · 07-03-06, 11:44 AM

very clean i am going to have to try it

TEAM0260 · 07-31-06, 11:28 PM

Damn Dude Thats Some Nice Work Thanks For The Tips....never Thought About Polishing Plastic....beats Fiberglassing..

fastback · 08-01-06, 03:34 PM

I've done this on many cars, always with good results. I use the McGuiar's stuff - it works great. The guy I bought my DA from f*ed up the tail lights; not sure what he did, but with a little 600 and some polish, they look all nice and shiny again

11-21-05, 10:06 AM	#2
raiden571 turning u inside out Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: cortland, ohio Posts: 2,543	damn ice job man. never thought of polishing plastic before __________________ soon you will feel the power of the darkside. -turdbo ...

11-21-05, 10:33 PM	#4
alanMI88 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 115	Hey, just want to say thanks for actually posting a DIY in the DIY forum. Good Work! __________________ ~96 Civic LX~ 106 hp, hell yeah!

11-22-05, 10:14 AM	#6
raiden571 turning u inside out Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: cortland, ohio Posts: 2,543	just tried it on my black interior. didnt turn out to good. so, i wouldnt recommend doing it on black __________________ soon you will feel the power of the darkside. -turdbo ...

12-23-05, 10:06 PM	#10
SP00NFed FuK JDM Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Left Lane, CT Posts: 2,493	that looks awesome, i should try it on my jdm headlights __________________ I <3 my Honda. 98 Integra RS 180whp 130 Trq

01-18-06, 04:12 PM	#14
MiloReaper87 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 32	NICE man this Technic make everything like new i got to try this on all my OEM Lights THANK MAN __________________ JDM ALL THE WAY

11-21-05, 10:49 AM	#3
randomtask77 Wanderer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Not so Sunny Cali Posts: 10,750	I'm really impressed on how that blank trim piece turned out. Looks like a highly polished metal piece.

11-22-05, 12:16 PM	#7
TypeG Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 90	is the piece you tried it on flexible? there are ''softer'' hard plastics that are hard to work with and take a bit of effort to get looking good. look for the plastic to ''powder'' off when you sand it. if it doesn't do that, it's to soft. test on useen areas first. a majority of the plastic on the inside is a softer plastic. later.

11-23-05, 03:19 AM	#8
tientruong Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 17	i tried it with another method, but the results are the same.

12-23-05, 10:03 PM	#9
jesseunvoas Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 86	that mothers works wonders!!!!!! did mt speedo and my headlighs

01-30-06, 06:33 PM	#15
eboi Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 20	Fade? Does is fade once its polish?

01-30-06, 06:51 PM	#16
bluetwo Relevance is irrelevant Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 6,056	That is pretty crazy. I never would have thought it could come out like that. On a side note someone once told me that for some plastics you can spray clear coat on them for a nice shine but of course it would have to be plastic that you didn't expect to flex at all while in use or the clear coat would crack. __________________ ________________________ 00 Honda Civic EX daily driver 84 Honda Nighthawk CB700

01-31-06, 12:54 AM	#17
808nakoa Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: teh 808 state Posts: 1,554	jeez, i cant find any plastic polish in town, i really wanna do my headlights __________________ rawr! XBL tag: MNakoaM

01-31-06, 06:13 PM	#18
ek9cusco got milk? Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: norcal Posts: 148	damn those are some nice bling bling plastics!! nice! __________________ Daily Commuter: 2000 CIVIC Coupe EX (White) & Modded New Edition: 2010 ACCORD Sedan LX-P

02-01-06, 08:12 PM	#20
PacificDude Sharkbait OOHAHA! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Held hostage :o Posts: 2,828	Would the 3M Rubbing Compound work just as good? IDK if it has the protectant qualities of Mothers Plastic Polish. I'm having some trouble finding MPP locally, instead of ordering it. __________________ Scallops...teh other white meat Wanna fight bishes? Resident Deep Sea Diver Real CRX enthusiasts = Dying breed.......haters

02-03-06, 11:18 PM	#22
96accordexcoupe Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 34	i tried this with a different type of plastic polish and didnt get good results... i had to sand down my headlight covers because there were a lot of nicks and scratches. it kinda seemed like there was a layer or real thin sheet of plastic over the covers that peeled off over time. so i decided to sand these down and apply plastic polish. now i have foggier covers. should i use only mothers brand?

02-04-06, 03:30 PM	#23
TypeG Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 90	use this with this: then use the plastic polish. the metal polish has a heavier cut and will smooth the plastic faster. the mequier's polish should work the same. later.

07-03-06, 11:44 AM	#24
adva7328 BOOST PROJECT 99 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,247	very clean i am going to have to try it

07-31-06, 11:28 PM	#25
TEAM0260 I GOTZ VTEC DU.... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: GILAS CALIFORNIA OR SJ Posts: 12	Damn Dude Thats Some Nice Work Thanks For The Tips....never Thought About Polishing Plastic....beats Fiberglassing..

08-01-06, 03:34 PM	#26
fastback Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Santa Clara, Ca. Posts: 336	I've done this on many cars, always with good results. I use the McGuiar's stuff - it works great. The guy I bought my DA from fed up the tail lights; not sure what he did, but with a little 600 and some polish, they look all nice and shiny again __________________ 93 DA* (GS) Koni Yellows, Eibach Sportline, Volk LE-37, short shift, DC 4-2-1, DC catback, Momo wheel, AEM Tru Power Pulleys, etc.. 93 DA (GS) stock, 91 DA (LS-SE) stock Gone: '00 ITR #1171 (R.I.P.) 95 GSR (sold) 93 S13 Fastback (sold)

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