Return the plastic to its original form. Do-it-yourself plastic polishing: restoring the surface

To easily remove scratches and scuffs on any plastic surface, you need to act as carefully as possible and follow the instructions for finished compositions, since not all polishes are suitable for plastic. There are many ways to restore a damaged surface to its original ideal appearance. Some of them will only help to mask scratches, while others will get rid of them completely.

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Use of specialized tools

On sale there are a lot of different tools designed to repair damage to plastic surfaces. They can be found both in auto shops and in cellular communication stores. Choose a tool should be based on the nature of the damage:

• Minor scratches and abrasions are easily removed with polishing compounds.
• Deep damage requires the application of a primer and subsequent filling of the scratch with a special paste.

It should be noted that for large scratches, colored pastes to match the surface are suitable, which allow masking the damage without a trace. Minor scratches can be eliminated with colorless compounds.

Methods for polishing watch glass from scratches and other damage at home

How to polish scratches

To polish small scratches, the following tools are suitable:

• Polish for CDs "Disc Repair".
• Means for polishing displays of mobile phones "Displex". Also suitable for watch displays, PDAs, etc.
• Paste for polishing plastic car parts (with the smallest grit).

Before polishing, the surface should be degreased with alcohol. Polish with a cotton cloth until the scratches are gone.

How to remove scratches in a car interior

To remove scratches from surfaces in the car, there are several methods:

• the use of a building hair dryer;
• the use of polishing compounds;
• processing scratches with a special pencil;
• overhaul of plastic parts.

The choice of a specific method depends on the severity of the damage and the characteristics of the affected surface.



Troubleshooting with a hot air gun

First, thoroughly wash the surface with a detergent. After the plastic has dried, you need to turn on the hair dryer, setting the minimum power on it, and direct it to the problem area. If nothing happens to the surface, then the power of the apparatus must be increased so that the plastic begins to melt slightly.

As a result, the damage will either disappear completely or be significantly reduced and can be eliminated by polishing.

This method is suitable not only for car interior parts, but also for plastic parts of a moped and other products.

Polishing

For polishing, you will need an abrasive paste designed for plastic.

Compositions designed for paint and varnish coatings are not suitable for this purpose.

To remove scratches from plastic, you should:

1. 1. Thoroughly wash the surface and dry completely.
2. 2. Apply abrasive paste to problem areas and wait a certain time specified in the instructions, the paste should turn into a hard coating.
3. 3. Polish the surface in a circular motion with a special cloth until the paste disappears completely.

At the end, the plastic should be gently washed with a soft cloth.

special pencil

This is the easiest and fastest way to remove scratches from plastic in the interior and on the bumper of a car or plastic parts of a scooter. If a pencil is purchased for the restoration of colored plastic, it is necessary to choose its tone correctly.

Scratch removal algorithm:

1. 1. Problem areas must be thoroughly cleaned and dried.
2. 2. Fill in all the scratches with a pencil and wait a certain time (according to the instructions).
3. 3. Remove excess, polish the surface.



Repair of plastic parts

If the plastic part is badly scratched and worn, you can resort to a major overhaul. To do this, the damaged panel must be removed from the car, washed and sanded with sandpaper (if the surface of the part is embossed, then it does not need to be sanded). Further:

1. 1. The part should be coated with a special primer, which is available in the form of a spray. It is applied in 2-3 layers with breaks for drying.
2. 2. Next, level the primed surface with fine sandpaper.
3. 3. If the scratches are very deep, they must be filled with putty.
4. 4. After that, the part should be coated with paint of a suitable shade.

How to remove scratches from your phone

If your phone screen is damaged, it's best not to risk trying to fix the display with home remedies. It is necessary to use special compositions for polishing displays. But they will not help to mask only minor scratches.

To remove scratches from the plastic parts of the phone, you can use toothpaste:

1. 1. A small amount of paste or tooth powder, diluted with water to a state of gruel, should be applied to problem areas and rubbed in a circular motion.
2. 2. Wait until the paste is completely dry.
3. 3. Wipe the screen with a cotton pad soaked in clean water.

Another effective way is to use a car polish: apply the product to a soft cloth and rub the plastic until the scratches disappear.

If there is significant damage to the phone, it is better to contact the service center.

Removing scratches from laptop plastic surfaces

In some laptops, the lid is made of glossy plastic. Micro-scratches often appear on such a surface.

You can deal with them at home as follows:

1. 1. Gently wipe off dust from plastic surfaces, wipe with a damp cloth and then with microfiber.
2. 2. Apply a small amount of Displex or Digitex to the scratch and wipe with a soft cloth or cotton. If the damage has not completely disappeared, the product should be reapplied and polished.

This method cannot be used to process LCD screens. Polishing paste particles can damage the LCD matrix.

How to remove scratches on glasses

The following tools will help eliminate scratches on glasses:

1. 1. Polish for silver products. A small amount of the product should be applied to the glasses and wiped with a fiber cloth until the defects are eliminated.
2. 2. Furniture polish and petroleum jelly. You should purchase a composition for polishing wooden furniture and wipe the lenses with it. After that, apply a little Vaseline to a soft cloth and treat the surface.
3. 3. Means for automobile glasses. The composition should be treated with damaged areas using a soft cloth. It will make scuffs invisible, and the lenses will fog up less in the future.

These methods allow only to make the damage invisible, but not to remove them completely. You can finally get rid of minor defects only with the help of an abrasive for glass, which is used in painting. Due to the presence of hydrofluoric acid in the composition, this product completely eliminates scratches. With this treatment, the anti-reflective coating of the glasses is destroyed, but the lenses themselves are not damaged.

The abrasive is applied as follows:

1. 1. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
2. 2. Put the lenses in a container and fill it with abrasive.
3. 3. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse the lenses under the tap.
4. 4. Items that the abrasive has come into contact with should be thrown away immediately.

As a result, the lenses will become perfectly smooth, and visibility will improve.

Plexiglas is a material that has consolidated its position both in everyday life and in production. Its technical characteristics (strength, transparency, thermoplasticity) are not inferior to those of conventional glass. The operation of organic glass may lead to the need for its polishing. Is it possible to polish the material at home and how? What is included in the preparation and processing process? Everything is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

Features of the material and scope of application

Organic glass is obtained from acrylic acid through various chemical reactions. This material is similar in various parameters to ordinary glass, but its nature is organic (hence the name of the material). There are several synonymous words - plexiglass, acryplast, carboglass, etc.

Among the main characteristics of plexiglass can be highlighted:

• ease;
• softness;
• the ability to easily transform;
• malleability during processing;
• high throughput;
• When exposed to certain chemicals, plexiglass decomposes.

The impact resistance of many types of plexiglass is 5 times greater than that of ordinary

Polymeric transparent material is used in various areas of human life, so the operation of organic glass can lead to a change in its appearance - deterioration of transparency, decrease in gloss, scratches, roughness and other unfavorable moments. Carboglass with large damage from glass turns into ordinary plastic. In this regard, the question often arises of the need for polishing plexiglass at home.

Ways to polish plexiglass at home

It is possible to give plaxiglass products their original appearance without resorting to complex tools or expensive materials.

There are several effective methods of dealing with the "non-marketable" type of plexiglass:

• Felt + GOI paste.
• The use of dichloroethane.
• The use of polishes.
• Home recipes (wine vinegar, toothpaste, etc.)

Using GOI paste, sandpaper and felt (with detailed video)

You should know that there are coarse, medium and fine types of GOI paste

Algorithm:

1. Isolation of plaxiglass from other structures and elements. If possible, separate the plexiglass from other structures (glue the adjacent areas with adhesive tape, detach the plexiglass parts, etc.)
2. Using 2000 grit sandpaper, sand the organic glass, periodically wetting the surface with water (under running water or using a spray bottle). Uniformity and slowness are the main characteristics in the performance of this work. A matt, uniform surface should be the result of this time-consuming step.
3. The part wiped dry is polished using felt with GOI paste applied to it. This should be done slowly, achieving the highest quality result.

This method of repairing plexiglass is suitable for plexiglass with large scratches on it.

By following the step-by-step instructions in the video, you can easily cope with the task of eliminating plexiglass defects.

Home helpers (toothpaste, chalk and others) + video

As a polishing agent, some craftsmen use chalk or toothpaste, applying these substances to a felt or other soft cloth. How to polish - manually or with the help of technology - each specialist decides independently. The main thing is to get the result in the form of a smooth and shiny surface.

You can use ordinary towels made from natural materials. Apply a little dentifrice paste on them and rub it in a circle into the surface to be treated. After that, rinse the plexiglass with plain water.

Below is a video demonstrating how to polish car headlights with toothpaste.

Is it possible to polish with your own hands using dichloroethane

The use of this substance is appropriate when processing small areas of plexiglass. Dichloroethane dissolves the top layer of plexiglass, thereby improving its appearance, leveling the surface and eliminating scratches. The chemical is applied with a spray gun to the acryplast and wait for complete drying.

But using this method requires a good work skill, because when removing scratches, you can add bumps to the glass, and chemicals are not useful for a craftsman who changes the appearance of plexiglass.

Other scratch remedies

To give a smooth and shiny look, the product can be treated with any automotive polishing products.

1. It is advisable to test the action of auto polishes by trying to process a small area first, so as not to spoil the entire product.
2. If the result is satisfactory, then feel free to get to work. To do this, apply auto cosmetics to a soft cloth and wipe the product in a circular motion many times.

You can speed up the process with the help of power tools - a polishing wheel, grinders. When using such devices, do not forget that the rotation speed should not be too high so as not to “burn” the surface.

The Japanese Compound paste received good reviews in terms of polishing carboglass.

Also included is a special polishing pad.

The choice of chemicals for cleaning glass is a very important process, because some chemicals, instead of being useful, can cause severe damage to the surface, simply destroying it. Therefore, be very careful when using these tools.

Any action to improve the appearance of acrylic glass will be in vain if it is harmful to your health. Therefore, when working, it is necessary to remember the safety precautions:

1. When working with a sandpaper or a grinder, wear protective goggles so that possible dust particles do not get into your eyes.
2. Do not neglect the use of gloves, they are indispensable for safe work (when sanding the surface, when using chemicals). Match them to the size of your hand to avoid getting excess cloth into the polishing wheel.
3. When using chemicals, do not forget about the supply of fresh air to the room in which the work is carried out.
4. When working with special devices, be sure to check their serviceability and reliability of electrical wiring and sockets.
5. When spraying dichloroethane, use a respirator or medical personal mask.

The process of polishing plexiglass at home is time-consuming and time-consuming, especially if you work manually. But the result will surely reward you for your efforts. The surface of the plexiglass will become smooth, even, without nicks and scratches and will please you for a long time.

Everyday use of plastic items inevitably leads to defects on their surface. To eliminate scratches, chips, scuffs, and other damage to the material, it is worth figuring out how to polish the plastic. With the help of simple and affordable methods, it is quite possible to cope with the problem on your own, without seeking help from specialists.

Choice of plastic polishing solutions

To choose the right tool to eliminate defects on the plastic surface, it is worth evaluating the complexity of the damage. Depending on this, in the future it will be necessary to give preference to one or another polishing method.

You can work in the following ways:

• mechanical;
• thermal;
• chemical.

If the plastic is covered with small scratches, delicate manual polishing using chemical abrasives will help. Special substances for polishing coarse and fine grain sizes are useful here. When dealing with sufficiently deep damage, the thermal effect on the material, as well as rough mechanical grinding, will eliminate the problem.

grinding wheel

Polishing technology in this way involves the presence of a drill. It uses a special grinding nozzle, which can be easily purchased at any hardware store. With its help, cleaning of any surfaces can be performed, not only plastic, but also toothpaste and other things.

If you need to save a little, then a piece of felt can serve as an alternative to a special grinding nozzle. A piece of material must be rolled up into a roller and inserted into the drill chuck. felt is quite effective. The only thing that is required to achieve the expected result is a reliable fixation of the material. Otherwise, the felt will jump off the drill, causing a whole lot of trouble in the process.

Application of toothpaste

To polish plastic, it is not at all necessary to spend money on the purchase of specialized chemicals or resort to surface treatment with an electric tool. Eliminate the tarnishing of the material and remove minor scratches from its surface allows the use of ordinary toothpaste as an abrasive. The use of such an affordable household product makes it possible to return plastic products to their former brilliance. As practice shows, it is especially effective

The polishing process involves the following:

1. Surfaces are cleaned of dust and dirt. Any household detergent that has a neutral chemical composition is used here.
2. Plastic is degreased, rinsed and dried.
3. Toothpaste is applied to a clean flannel cloth. Surfaces are polished in a circular motion in one direction.
4. The resulting slurry is washed off. The operation is repeated.
5. Residues of toothpaste are removed with a damp sponge. The plastic product is wiped dry.

Heat treatment

How to polish plastic, the surface of which contains deep enough defects? To do this, it is worth subjecting it to heat with a hair dryer, which will greatly simplify the subsequent grouting of damage.

For uniform stripping of plastic products, large areas are processed with a hot air stream. As the material melts, the scratches will gradually heal. You should work with a hair dryer carefully so as not to overdo it, because with excessive heat, the plastic can be deformed.

By resorting to this method, one should not expect the complete, rapid disappearance of defects. It is enough to heat until the edges of the scratches on the plastic begin to melt slightly. Then it is necessary to immediately proceed to their grouting with a grinding wheel or manually using abrasives.

Plastic polishing paste

Ideal for removing scuffs, chips and scratches on the plastic surface. There are several types of this product. Each of them has a different grain size. Therefore, the main thing here is to choose the right number of the substance, starting from the nature of the existing defects.

For rough, rough grinding, a substance with an index of 4 is suitable. Such a GOI paste, the price of which is about 200 rubles for a 100-gram container, will allow you to remove major damage to the material. In this case, you will have to resort to mechanical surface treatment using

To eliminate medium damage, a tool with an index of 3 is suitable. The presented GOI paste, the price of which is up to 180 rubles, is the ideal solution if you need to grout enough textured scratches.

As for fine polishing, here it is worth using a paste with an index of 1 or 2. These products are the least abrasive and are ideal for finishing surfaces.

Polishing

How to polish plastic to perfect condition? To do this, you should use a special polish designed to work with the presented material. It is recommended to apply the substance on the surface in a thin, uniform layer. To make the surfaces smooth and shiny, it is enough to rub the polish thoroughly with a piece of flannel cloth or a soft sanding nozzle. Such a seemingly insignificant nuance will allow you to consolidate the result, regardless of the method that was used to eliminate defects from the plastic surface.

It should be noted that polishes are not protected from moisture and water. Over time, they simply wash off. Therefore, if tarnishing of the plastic is noticed some time after polishing, the surfaces should be wiped from dirt and re-coated with the substance. This approach will avoid the appearance of new defects and preserve the shine of the product for a long time.

Finally

So we figured out how to polish plastic with our own hands at home. As you can see, for this you just need to use the usual tools at hand, as well as available tools that can be easily found on sale. Thanks to a combination of polishing methods and a competent approach to the task, any plastic object that has noticeable defects on its surface can be brought back to life.

Self-polishing products makes it possible to save a decent amount. With a little practice, relying on the above methods, you can learn how to restore plastic objects with high quality, not only for yourself, but also for friends and relatives.

TYPE: multi-purpose cleaning and protection agent for interior plastics with neutralization of unpleasant odors and aromatizing effect.

MANUFACTURER: MISAL AREXONS S.p.A., Italy.

SCOPE OF USE: dashboard, plastic interior trim; all types of plastics, vinyl, rubber, dense woods inside and outside the car; tire surface; exterior plastic trim elements such as spoilers, decorative strips; bumper.

PURPOSE: It is intended for cosmetic daily and major monthly care, deep and superficial cleaning, protection from ultraviolet rays and ozone.

CERTIFICATION: hygienic certificate No. 77.01.30.238.P.13764.06.3 (serial issue), certificate of conformity No. ROSS IT.AYU64.V04892 (serial issue).

PACKAGE: an ergonomically shaped plastic bottle with a trigger-type sprayer, volume - 500 ml; aerosol packaging, volume - 400 ml.

CONSUMER ANALYSIS

PECULIARITIES: the product quickly removes dirt and dust even from textured recesses and micropores present on the surface. It is best suited for the dashboard, giving the surface the desired shade: glossy or matt. The matte shade of the instrument panel is ideal for modern design vehicles where the windshields are placed at a large angle. The matte tint of the dashboard significantly reduces sun glare and eases eye strain in sunny weather.

The product brings a natural fresh aroma of citrus, vanilla, ocean into the salon. However, for those who wish, there is a product without smell. The product contains up to 5% non-ionic surfactants; the formula dissolves and neutralizes dirt, leaving a protective film on the treated surface. The use of the agent gives the surface an antistatic property.

The product does not cause allergies and is safe for the skin of the hands.

MODE OF APPLICATION: shake the bottle before use. Apply to a clean, soft cloth or sponge. Surface treatment should be carried out with a cloth impregnated with the composition, and work in sections. For best results, the product should be used regularly.

SUMMARY: Cleans plastic parts without leaving any greasy residue. With regular use, the plastic does not change its original color, that is, it “does not age”. The product has a pleasant aroma, it is economical and easy to use; The trigger bottle is comfortable to hold in your hand.

But remember that the appearance of the car is not the most important thing. It is more important that it is technically sound. We recommend buying high-quality spare parts for foreign cars here

In the production of modern cars, not only metal is used, but also plastic, which loses its properties and attractive appearance over time. First of all, this applies to external parts, such as headlights. Sand, pebbles, precipitation lead to damage to external elements, plastic fades. Headlight glass becomes less transparent, which increases the risk of accidents. Cigarette smoke and ultraviolet light can seriously spoil the appearance of car interior elements, they become dull, and the white color turns yellow. Not only does the view of the car become not as attractive as before, but the lighting of the road is also deteriorating. However, there is a way out of this unpleasant situation - to polish the plastic parts of the car either in a car service or at home.

The choice of means and features of polishing

Processing plastic car parts has a number of undoubted advantages:

• ease of use;
• it is possible to apply at home without the use of special devices;
• antistatic properties acquired by plastic, which do not allow dust to collect.

Plastic allows the use of various methods of working with it, but conditionally they can be divided into the following groups:

• processing with medium-grained abrasive compositions;
• work with fine-grained polishes;
• non-abrasive treatment.

The greatest efficiency can be achieved by combining these methods. The process of working on restoring the appearance of plastic parts can be divided into the following stages:

1. composition processing;
2. actual polishing.

In order to successfully polish the plastic of a car, it is necessary to choose high-quality compounds in packaging that is convenient for application and storage. For independent daily car care at home, products presented in the form of aerosols, sponges or napkins soaked in the composition are best suited.

• Sponges, for example, the British CarPlan, are inexpensive, allow you to quickly remove dust, perfectly polish plastic parts, and leave a pleasant citrus smell.
• Napkins, an example - Carwet, Russian-made. Cheap, take up little space, effectively remove dirt, scratches and stains.
• Aerosol, in particular, Italian Lucida Cruscotti, Polish Atas Plak - these and other products are quickly applied, eliminate minor damage and add shine. Polishing with them is a real pleasure.

For more thorough work on the restoration of plastic parts, more complex compositions will be required.

Among the tools that allow you to put the plastic elements of the car in order at home and polish its surfaces with high quality, it is worth highlighting the gel-plasticizers and restorers.

The effectiveness of their use directly depends on the quality of the compositions themselves, the type of plastic and the degree of damage. The presence of paintwork and glass also require special attention to the polishing process.

For example, for updating and even restoring plastic, as well as vinyl upholstery, a restorer is best suited. After application, it penetrates deep into the scratch, completely filling the space. And the plasticizer gel, with the help of which the textured pattern of the part is obtained, is applied to the damaged elements, which makes it possible to make the plastic homogeneous again.

At the second stage, you can polish the plastic - the choice of rags for work is important here, which must be clean, preferably without lint, so that there is no sticking to the surface.

Work technology

So, the scope of work is outlined, the composition is selected. It's time to get to work. In the process of putting the headlights in order, the following stages can be distinguished:

1. The headlight glass is cleaned and dried, and the area around is sealed with masking tape. It is not necessary to remove the headlights.
2. The degree of damage, the depth of scratches is assessed. Then, with the help of the skin, the surface of the headlight is made matte. The degree of graininess depends on the depth of the scratches, the more, the coarser the material is used at the beginning. So gradually move on to fine grain. When working with the machine, it is recommended to use sanding paper from P 320 to P 1200. If everything is done correctly, the headlight glass will be smooth to the touch and cloudy.
3. In the final, you can polish with a grinder in a car service or manually at home. By the way, the orbital sander will reduce the time of work by 4 times, while ensuring high quality.

Work on the details of the car interior takes less time. In the beginning, the selected composition is applied to the plastic, and then they try to polish everything to the desired state. In total, the order is:

1. Clean the parts from dirt and seal the adjacent surfaces with masking tape.
2. Apply the restorer or gel to the plastic, following the instructions. In the first case, after the restoring composition is absorbed, remove its excess with a fine-grained skin. In the second, apply a surface pattern to the area to be restored, made as a cast from an undamaged area using a gel.
3. After spreading the product, sprinkle with a small amount of water and polish with a machine, using it at low speed or manually. If the plastic is dark in color, then it can be polished with an anti-hologram composition.
4. Remove residues by washing the surface.

If you follow the instructions and follow the simple rules of work, then even at home an inexperienced driver will be able to achieve excellent restoration of parts. The car will retain a fresh, well-groomed appearance for a long time, the glass is transparent, and the headlights are bright, which is very important for safe driving in the dark and foggy hours of the day.