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How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

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  • #1

    How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

    There's a scratch at the door panel probably because of my mom's shoulder bag whenever I pick her up at work (she's a bit careless when she gets in to the car but I don't want to get mad at her). The panel I think it is made from plastic.

    Since I was repairing some paint scratches at that time, I was also tempted to apply Quixx Scratch Remover (step 1 and 2) on the door panel scratch. I gave it a good rub and here's what I've got







    As you can see here, the spot became glossy - I just made it worse and I would rather have a scratch than having a glossy spot. It's really annoying specially when you are viewing it in an angle. I tried to clean it using dawn but still no good.

    My car is a 2008 Civic Sedan. Any ideas sirs? Can you recommend a Meguiar's product/dressing that would restore its matte finish? 'Coz it became glossy and the scratch is still there *sigh*

    Detailing gurus, need your help badly, thanks much!
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  • #2
    Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

    Well, what you discovered is that all a matte finish needs is polishing to smooth it out and make it glossy.

    The finish was similar to what paint would look like after 3,000 wet sanding- matte and hazy. Then you polish that sanded paint and it becomes glossy.

    As for your situation, the only option that I can think of now is to polish the rest of the trim to at least make it match. Just be careful not to be too aggressive and remove too much of the paint.

    Anyone else have ideas? (Aside from buying a new panel)

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    • #3
      Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

      Even applying that product didnt help the scratch.....

      If you just applied some oils, and they will wear off, then the spot might match. Could even try a cloth with some Dawn on it, to try and remove oils.

      If as mentioned, you knocked down and smoothed out the texture..... then you have a permanent problem, and either have to match it all up, or geta new piece.
      2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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      • #4
        Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

        The trim should be cheap to replace of you can find it at a salvage yard. Beside that, as Mark said, would be to make the rest of the trim glossy, or just live with it.

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        • #5
          Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

          Originally posted by Mark Kleis View Post
          Anyone else have ideas? (Aside from buying a new panel)
          ....not many other recommendations I can make here. If you removed a surface finish there's no product in a bottle that will magically put it back on. Same as if you burned through the clearcoat. Your options at this point are to buff the remaining trim on the car so it all matches or purchase a new panel for that door section.

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          • #6
            Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

            *gulp* looks like i have to buy a new panel or buy a portercable to polish it O_o you think, polishing the plastic trim will get rid of the scratch?

            what polish should i get? this is getting scary !

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            • #7
              Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

              Originally posted by 4gothow2playwc3 View Post
              *gulp* looks like i have to buy a new panel or buy a portercable to polish it O_o you think, polishing the plastic trim will get rid of the scratch?

              what polish should i get? this is getting scary !
              Applying a product isn't going to restore the original texture of the surface, rubbing something over the surface more and more is just going to make it more and more glossy.

              If it's important that the car look uniform and original then the best bet is to replace it or have it replaced.

              See this thread in our Hot Topics forum it describes pretty much what you're trying to do...


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


              Note this sentence in the above thread,

              "Some materials and/or surface coatings don't lend themselves well to being abraded with the end-result looking good or looking like the original appearance"


              Mike Phillips
              760-515-0444
              showcargarage@gmail.com
              "Find something you like and use it often"

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              • #8
                Re: How to restore my plastic trim to its matte finish?

                good news i just called honda and told me that it's actually an adhesive tape not a plastic moulding. i thought i'm totally screwed up

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