Can plastX help?

[mtldetail]

Hey guys, I have a scuff on the headlight of my '03 SL500 and it drives me nutz! I know plastx is good removing yellowing and hazing of healights, mine are in good shape in terms of clarity, but I have a scuff on one of them. Is plastX strong enough to remove it?

THanks!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Can plastX help?

I moved this into Detailing 101 for you as "Hot Topics" is only for moderators to place threads in. Hope you understand!

Thanks

Mark

[mtldetail]

Re: Can plastX help?

I moved this into Detailing 101 for you as "Hot Topics" is only for moderators to place threads in. Hope you understand!

Thanks

Mark

Ah, ok thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can plastX help?

Removing a scuff or a scratch just means removing enough plastic material to level the surface out. PlastX contains a diminishing abrasive and if you work it enough you should be able to remove or at least improve the scuff.

Some plastic lenses have coatings on them so if you abrade them with anything you'll remove the coating.

There are a number of threads on this forum where people have sanded and then buffed their headlights with great success and we also have a new kit out you can use with a drill to do a better and faster job than you can do by hand.


Headlight Restoration Kit

[mtldetail]

Re: Can plastX help?

Removing a scuff or a scratch just means removing enough plastic material to level the surface out. PlastX contains a diminishing abrasive and if you work it enough you should be able to remove or at least improve the scuff.

Some plastic lenses have coatings on them so if you abrade them with anything you'll remove the coating.

There are a number of threads on this forum where people have sanded and then buffed their headlights with great success and we also have a new kit out you can use with a drill to do a better and faster job than you can do by hand.


Headlight and Clear Plastic Restoration Kit

Yes I saw that thread and saw that the kit is effective for cleaning the headlights but wasn't sure if it is strong enough to remove a scuff.

Can I order this kit directly from the meg's on-line store?

[mtldetail]

Re: Can plastX help?

Yes I saw this link regarding the kit but I'm not certain if it was strong enough to remove a scuff.

Is this product available at the on-line store?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can plastX help?

I'm not certain if it was strong enough to remove a scuff.

Removing a scuff means removing small particles of the plastic surrounding and a part of the scuff. This tool and PlastX can be used to remove scuffs.

If it's real deep it would be faster to sand the paint flat, thus sanding the scuff flat and then use the buffing pad with the PlastX to remove your sanding marks.

As posted before, 'some' plastic lenses have a coating and if you buff by hand or machine with ANYONE'S product you're going to remove some of the coating, (if there is a coating? I don't have a list of which headlights have and don't have coatings but I've personally seen coatings on headlights).

What you have to keep in mind is that you come to the point of no return, you can fix the scuff and if in the process you remove a coating at least you have a headlight without a scuff.

The other option is to just buy a new headlight. This is where some people make the value judgment that it's not worth it to them and they remove the scuff and move forward in life.

[mtldetail]

Re: Can plastX help?

The scuff isn't deep, in fact I feel the material that scuffed the lens on top of the lenz, but I don't want to try and scratch off the scuff in fear of scratching the lenz.

Can I get the kit at on-line Meg's store?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can plastX help?

From our Hot Topics forum,

Please read the below article...

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...


All though the title uses the word "Scratch", the same principals apply when removing a scuff.

If a scuff is a major scuff, as in really irregular surface texture from impact with something? Then it may be more efficient to sand the scuff flat and then remove your sanding marks as it can be easier for the buffing pad and PlastX to remove a #2000 grit sanding mark than it is for the buffing pad and the PlastX to remove chunky textured plastic that is the scuff.

Do you have a picture?

It's not as hard or big a deal as you may think and part of the equation is,

"You don't know what you can do until you go out into your garage and try"

Also, I'm pretty careful with the words I choose and use when posting to public forums for lots of reasons, but here again is what I posted previously,

PlastX contains a diminishing abrasive and if you work it enough you should be able to remove or at least improve the scuff.


So again, you don't know what you can do until you try but in a worst case scenario you can usually improve the lens which is better than nothing and for some a better option than buying a new one.

What does a new headlight cost for your car?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can plastX help?

The scuff isn't deep, in fact I feel the material that scuffed the lens on top of the lenz, but I don't want to try and scratch off the scuff in fear of scratching the lenz.

Thanks for more detail, it sounds like just spending some time with the kit and you'll be able to remove or improve the scuff and more than likely remove it completely.

Can I get the kit at on-line Meg's store?

Sure can! Here you... by the way you can click on the Meguiar's.com logo in the upper left of ANY page on this forum and it takes you to www.meguarsdirect.com the logo looks like this but has a black background.




Item # G1900 Headlight Restoration Kit

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can plastX help?

We have a forum just for clear plastics,

Clear Plastic Detailing

Here's some related threads from that forum...

The first one is with a guy using a tool somewhat like you get in our kt.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19255

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20994

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27469

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25365

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25810