PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

[alexajs]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Hi,

I applied PlasticX to the headlights on my 1994 R33 Skyline first by hand (not an increadile result) so I tried applying it with my makita 9227 set on slowest speed, with almost no pressure. Worked a treat, now I have to clean the insides of the plastic covers as you can see how dirty they are. So off come the headlights and into the oven at 80 degree's C when I get some time that is...


Alex

[ianrayburn]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

After my last post re. PlasticX & an electric toothbrush I have had another thought. Unfortunately what I thought I had solved seems to have reappeared, the hazing, albeit somewhat mild has returned. I spoke to a friend of mine today who is an associate professor of chemistry at the local university & he feels that this is simply the result of air pollution etching the plastic. His conclusion was that you can slow down the effects but not stop it. I have to admit that in my somewhat 50 years of owning cars I never saw this happen to glass lenses.

[the_invisible]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

As I have mentioned previously, M105 itself is able to finish up my headlights with a smoother surface than PlastX.

However, we must keep in mind that PlastX is a relatively aggressive product that can be used by hand with a 100% cotton cloth to remove severe oxidation, weathering, hazing, and other severe plastic defects. A product as powerful as PlastX should not be exepcted to polish plastic surfaces to a perfect finish. Cleaning it up with a very very light polish is a must.

The fact that PlastX is now being sold as a part of a kit with a drill-operated wool pad. I wonder how well that turns out. If I am unable to get an ultra smooth, swirl-free finish from PlastX using a polishing pad, I wonder what the result would be like if used with a wool pad.

[invertalon]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

I had this issue with PlastX as well... I used it with a terry pad, then microfiber (slowly relieving pressure until product was about dry) and removed. I noticed with my Xenon light, that it left very faint "swirls" if you will. So I just grabbed some #80, went over with a microfiber and it cleaned it right up. Then I topped with NXT 2.0...

Love PlastX! Just remember, it may not finish flawless on every lens, as stated above.

[the_invisible]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Yeah, that's what I thought too !

Though, it smells idenitcal as well!!! I think the stove cleaner is a buck cheaper.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

YES.
I have a glass stovetop cleaner as well, and it smells and feels in texture almost identical to PlastX.

Is PlastX simply a rebadged Glass Stovetop Cleaner???

Meguiar's Staff. Could you explain the striking similarity? Pure coincidence?

They are both abrasive-based liquids... of course there is a similarity

[the_invisible]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

My greatest nightmare are the plastic headlight covers on my Honda. PlasticX is not bad but no more so than toothpaste or even glass stovetop cleaner. Answer seems to be in the method. My current method, with the greatest amount of satisfaction, is a cheap ($5) battery operated toothbrush

YES.
I have a glass stovetop cleaner as well, and it smells and feels in texture almost identical to PlastX.

Is PlastX simply a rebadged Glass Stovetop Cleaner???

Meguiar's Staff. Could you explain the striking similarity? Pure coincidence?

[ianrayburn]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

My greatest nightmare are the plastic headlight covers on my Honda. PlasticX is not bad but no more so than toothpaste or even glass stovetop cleaner. Answer seems to be in the method. My current method, with the greatest amount of satisfaction, is a cheap ($5) battery operated toothbrush

[the_invisible]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Plastx seems to work better for me if i don't apply too much pressure... seems that the abrasives breaks down very fast.... resulting in swirls that might be caused by the applicator dry rubbing the surface..

I learned that the wasteful way after using a lot of PlastX

the finish comes out relatively better with less pressure. Using an orange LC cutting pad doesn't help either. I thought you're supposed to use passion when applying this stuff...

[zaidgreat]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Plastx seems to work better for me if i don't apply too much pressure... seems that the abrasives breaks down very fast.... resulting in swirls that might be caused by the applicator dry rubbing the surface..

[imacarnut]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Since the LC yellow pad is aggressive, you could always follow it up with a polishing pad to help remove any leftover swirls, etc...

[Megafast13]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Yeah, I don't see any swirls. No headlight is going to ever look perfectly clear and flaw free!

I have pitting and other notches and nicks in my Headlights. PlastX and M105 can't really remove those.

Those Headlights look pretty darn good to me!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Hmmm, I'm not really seeing swirls?

I see some pitting, which is to be expected (from normal driving, and not something polish can really help), but no swirls..

In the first picture I do see one isolated scratch slightly above and to the right of the amber light- but that's it.

Can you point them out?

[the_invisible]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

Well I could remove the swirls quite easily with products such as ScratchX, M105 or M205 by hand, etc...

I am just surprised that PlastX would leave scratches on the headlights, especially since that it is a product with diminishing abrasive technology.


Seeing that PlastX is such an aggressive product to remove oxidation and inclarity, it is bound to leave some swirls on the surface despite the DAT. Since I went with the wetsanding route, PlastX could have been avoided by simply using a polish such as M105. Using PlastX after M105 simply makes things worse.

[Murr1525]

Re: PlastX leaving extremely small Swirls on Headlights?

If you felt like trying again, I'd say start without the high pressure.

Or you could try something like the Cleaner/Wax worked in and removed. You'd have to wait until it wore of a bit to see if it really removed the swirls.