| Author | Message | ||
     Deuceman |
Allright, it finally happened. I went down in a corner on Sunday. The damage is not very bad. I broke a peg and blinker, and I scratched the plastic on the left hand side. I didn't get injured very badly, possibly fractured foot. I am on crutches for a while. Has anyone taken deep scratches out of the plastic? If so, how did you do it? I tried sandpaper on the rear seat cowl to get the deep scratches out and then just went finer and finer to 1000 grit and finally rubbing compound. It took all the scratches out, but it left a little hazy spot where it was sanded. from a distance it looks allright, but up close it's noticable. Anyone had any success polishing out scratches? | ||
| Thepup |
Use the automotive rubbing compound that is in the body work section at an auto parts store ,not the kind that is in the wax section | ||
| Scoobytwo |
You could also try a buffer with very fine polishing compound for plastic. Worked for me, just make sure not to get the plastic hot. | ||
| Cyclonemaniac |
Use simi-chrome for your last polishing step. Get a good quality micro-fiber polishing cloth and buff lightly. Should take away the haze.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Or Novus #3, then Novus #2, then Harley sealer glaze (skip the Novus #1). | ||
| Lovematt |
I strongly recommend using a compound or liquid designed for plastics. Novus is an excellent product that works well...they have been in the business for many years. I have been using Meguiars Plastic Cleaner and Polish myself. The Cleaner is applied as a paste and rubbed on by hand then buffed off. Then the Polish is applied the same way with a faster motion and less pressure. The results are really good. If you are starting with scratches then using sandpaper will work but go to the highest grit you can (~3000 or so) with less and less pressure each time. I have done this with good results with the last sanding I use a "deadened" piece of sand paper by rubbing it on smooth concrete beforehand. The comment about not heating up the plastic is a good one...in my learnings I have found this is okay with paint but plastics being an insulator will cause odd behavior if they are heated up while trying to detail them. | ||
| Tq_freak |
I second the use of the Novus polishes they work really well | ||
| S1lightning |
I had a thread awhile back about this, it seems HEAT is bad---cool is very good as far as plastic goes. I mean if you want your plastic to look factory. Try Novus if you want, but I find Novus to be very trying if you don't use the right cloth!!! Now Meguires has it going as well does Harley in there two step methods of polish. My bike is black and I had a low side on the left and a "ahem" high side on the right, both sides look factory now and I am proud to ride once again!! Watch out for so called magic liquids that promise to get rid of swirl marks, they provide more work without trying. GOOD LUCK! | ||
| Brad_buell |
I second the opinion that Novus can be very Trying if you don't use the right cloth. My next venture will be Meguires. |
