Polishing Plastic Tail Lights

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BJM250

New member
I've got an old porshe and the tailights extend all the way across the back of the car. And, they are in pretty sad shape...cloudy is the best way I know to describe them.



What are your suggestions on how to get them back to the original shine? I've used NOVUS with an orbital buffer and they came back a little but still pretty sad.



Is there a specific thread or "how to" you can point me to, please? Should I be looking at some wet-sanding? I'd really appreciate some step by step suggestions.



Thanks!
 
When I read Aluminum polish bells went off in my memory. Here's a couple of pics of the first results of Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish applied per the other link, buffed out with a microfibre and one thin coat of Meguiars paste wax (all I had). I'm REALLY happy!
 

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My tail lights are in good shape,not great but good, so i used top of the lines light cut on them with a white polish pad, and they look like glass now.
 
...sorry noob question...what's "top of the lines light cut?" White polish pad if for ur buffer correct? Where can I look to find out about the different grades of buffing pads and what each is used for?



Thank you.
 
BJM250 said:
...sorry noob question...what's "top of the lines light cut?" White polish pad if for ur buffer correct? Where can I look to find out about the different grades of buffing pads and what each is used for?



Thank you.
Click to expand...



I assume he's referring to Light Cut, sold by TOL (Top of the Line). It's a polish I would think.



There has been talk about putting together a list of all of the pads availiable and their use (Cutting, polishing, finishing, etc...) I don't know if a new one had been made, but there was something mentioned about one already on the site some where. Do a quick search and see what you get.
 
BJM250 said:
When I read Aluminum polish bells went off in my memory. Here's a couple of pics of the first results of Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish applied per the other link, buffed out with a microfibre and one thin coat of Meguiars paste wax (all I had). I'm REALLY happy!
Click to expand...



WOW, MOTHERS mag and aluminum polish for plastic tail lights? :confused: Have to try that out myself. What about using plastic polish?
 
I have had good sucess polishing the "yellow" out of a few friends plastic head lights with Megs PlastX by hand with a terry applicator. Followed up with AIO - perfecto!
 
First, I'd always try a chemical cleaner to see if it will work. Next, Zaino has a lightly abrasive plastic polish that is perfect for that. It would be worth a try before doing the drastic dangerous polishing as shown by GR. Mothers is one of my favorite products so it doesn't suprise me that it would work too, I think mothers has light abrasives and strong chemicals. Maybe it would be worth giving mothers a shot by itself in similar situations. Seamed like it worked well.
 
TheShinyMama said:
WOW, MOTHERS mag and aluminum polish for plastic tail lights? :confused: Have to try that out myself. What about using plastic polish?
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++ Exactly. It was suggested in the thread by GSRstyleZ who after some reading of his posts, I've gathered a lot of respect for. I had tried NOVUS plastic polish which I've used on other cars for several years repeatedly on these lights and never could break the haze on/in the plastic. This one worked the first time.



I've since used it on the taillights of an 87 Bronco II with the same great results. I'm sure there are other products but I very much appreciate GSRstyleZ's suggestion and Wayne for pointing me there. :up
 
I've used Mothers Plastic Polish on my Alfa and a few cars that I've detailed.



It removed all the dulling/hazing and most of the scratches. It left the surface with a glossy polymer finish.



I'll have to give their mag and aluminium polish a go.
 
As a member on another forum (Buick Reatta), I am surprised not to see any mention of AeroShell Flight Jacket Plexicoat. Has anyone used this on their tail light lenses, and the result?
 
You gotta break down the polish and use an orbital to get great results. I've had mixed experience with PlastX. I usually just use whatever polish I'm working with at the time and follow with an AIO or sealant. There is no one special polish to get plastic looking great (as shown by others using metal polishes).
 
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