Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

[demonds]

I started to detail my car past sunday and I decided to start wit the engine, interiors anp plastics since I still dont have my order of all my mirror glaze products. The engine is perfect and the interiors as well. The problem is the lights, there are still swirls on there, I can barely see them but I can. I've been using plastx and yellow foam pad over and over in a overlaping circular motion. I dont know if it is that I'm using to much product, too much presure or that there are not 100% swirl free surfaces. Any tips would bee appreciated. I'll be buying a completly new applicator just to make sure is not the pad. Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Alex C.]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

You can buy a buff wheel that attaches to a cordless drill. That and some PlastX should work better than working it by hand. If you already have a drill all you need to buy is the buff wheel, about 4 bucks.

Of course a DA would work too....

[demonds]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

I did try the attachment that came with the restoration kit but it didnt seem to do the job, thats why I started using my hands. Maybe I was doing it wrong but is too simple to be messing it up.

[Alex C.]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

They must be deep then. I've always used a buff wheel on a drill and it hasn't let me down yet. I'm sure there are more aggressive methods to attack this, but it's beyond my experience. Hopefully someone else will chime in soon.

[demonds]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

I'm gonna try to post some pics but like I said they are barely visible. Maybe I'm too demanding.

[I Shine]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

My wife's car has huge plastic tail lights that were covered with swirls. While I was polishing her car with my G110, yellow polishing pad, and Ultimate Compound I went ahead and polished the taillights also. They now look brand new! I was worried that it might had been too aggressive but they came out perfect.

[demonds]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

I was thinking in going with something more agressive than plastx but I'll wait for some advice from the members before I do something wrong.

[Nappers]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

PlastX is a great product and I use it a lot, but when it calls for a more aggressive product, I choose M105! Gets the oxidization and swirls out of my taillights.

This photo although no before was the result of M105. The taillights were oxidized and swirled. IIRC, I used M105 a couple of passes by hand and finished with PlastX, yellow applicator.

[yalerd]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

Since you have PlastX I would try PlastX a terry cloth towel, no circular movements, just back and forward motion and follow with a pad applicator pad to see if you have any improvements at all.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

I agree with Nappers. PlastX is seriously great at what it does, but it is a relatively safe/gentle product. That said, if you can't dent the swirls with PlastX, you can try M105 by hand, and then go back and finish it out with PlastX.

[02zx9r]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

i used UC on a buddies car, cleaned them right up

[Eddie6th]

Re: Swirls on plastic (tail lights)

I started to detail my car past sunday and I decided to start wit the engine, interiors anp plastics since I still dont have my order of all my mirror glaze products. The engine is perfect and the interiors as well. The problem is the lights, there are still swirls on there, I can barely see them but I can. I've been using plastx and yellow foam pad over and over in a overlaping circular motion. I dont know if it is that I'm using to much product, too much presure or that there are not 100% swirl free surfaces. Any tips would bee appreciated. I'll be buying a completly new applicator just to make sure is not the pad. Thanks in advance for the advice.

Great stuff plstX.I use it on a multitude of things.It can leave ultra fine scratches.i found the best method is to work with a little pressure and a moderate amount of liquid,and as you rub stop when it starts to stick or the liquid is dissappearing.Wipe off with terry or micro.(for this purpose i have a favour for the terry).Repeat until you get rid of your problem.To get rid of the micro fine swirls,add more liquid and apply with your terry.This time rub gently and stop well before the liquid is dissappearing,then wipe off withyour clean terry.I used this method on my civic instrument panel and it worked fine.I had to do the inside aswell as it was very contaminated.The microfibre comes in handy here for removing any static lint.Hope this helps.