Polishing Plastics.

[Free Citizen]

Hi guys,

 

I learnt this from the zoss list and I thought you all may benefit from it. For all of you who have pens made of plastic and are dull through extended use. Here are some products that might help.

 

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=113&

 

Let me know the result if any of you care to try.

[TheNobleSavage]

This is some of the same stuff that is used to clean and polish the exterior of aquariums. I used to work right next door to TAP plastics in the early 90's off the Alameda in San Jose CA. They can make anything you want as long as you have the money and a design. They do incredible work!!! Products are good stuff because plexiglass scratches so easy you need a special cloth and solution. This stuff is it!!! No scratches!

[Free Citizen]

Thank you Noble Savage, I'll take your word for it

[Gerry]

Here's another reference from Zoss - the polishing films are finer than those I have been able to find, though the liquids referred to above work remarkably well...

 

Any idea of Canadian Sources (this person does not ship to Canada)

 

 

If you want to try your hand at polishing those scratchy nibs into smoothness, you need to use a very fine grit polishing paper. I have had great success (after some practice) in using the following fiber optic polishing sheets from 3M.

.10um 3M polishing film.

.05um 3M polishing film - This is the finest grit available on the market, used to do what is called a "Super Ultra Polish" for high end reference fiber optic cables used in labratories.

 

 

Price adjusted

$1.50/each for a 4.5" sheet for .1um

$2/each for a 4.5" sheet for .05um

 

3, 6 & 15um also available for regrinding nibs into differnet types, $1.50/sheet.

 

All prices plus .75 (for up to 10 sheets) for mailing in CONUS only. Paypal address: PenHobbs@adelphia.net

 

Gerry

[Keith with a capital K]

Gerry -

 

I can get you all the polishing film you'd ever want. My jeweller's supply carries an immense selection of polishing materials that are infinitely suitable for pen work.

[rsilver000]

I have used the novus plastic polishing compounds for years. They work great in restoring the plastic lens on cars or the bendable plastic in convertible tops. It does however take time and elbow grease. Use all 3 grades to get the best surface. It is not cheap but will last a long time. I used it on a very oxidized pen barrel and was very surprised to see it get the "green color" out, and get the black color back.

Rob

[georgem]

Slightly off topic, can this stuff be used to polish plastic lenses in glasses? My glasses have accumulated a number of scratches and I'm wondering if they can be removed.

 

Thanks.

[KCat]

Slightly off topic, can this stuff be used to polish plastic lenses in glasses? My glasses have accumulated a number of scratches and I'm wondering if they can be removed.

 

Thanks.

i meant to respond to this before george. I'd confirm with my optometrist but I was told "no" on this. Too much risk of altering the shape of the lens. Just a small change in shape can create vision problems supposedly.

 

But as I said - confirm this with your optometrist. I asked because my glasses are badly scratched but i have vision insurance anymore. I try to look past the scratches (and hopefully when I do get new lenses, I'll be more careful in how I treat them... naaaaaaaaaaaah)

[georgem]

KCat,

 

Thanks for the reply. I do have the polishes on order and they should arrive in a day or so (plus or minus snow!!)

 

I've lots (well some) other things that could benefit from the plastic polish. As far as the glasses go, well, I'll try it out on an older, spare pair that are in much worse shape than the ones I wear daily. I'll let you know how it works out. Also, I'll check with the optometrist.

 

Once again, Thanks!

[georgem]

Girn, Grimace, Intemperate language and exaggerated getures. At least that's what I feel like. Just as I posted may last reply, my computer froze.

 

I "think" it has to do with an error writing to a logfile.

 

Anyway, I see that my last post did make it onto the board before the computer stopped functioning.

 

Pardon the outburst.

[KCat]

George! Such Language!

 

every now and then there's a glitch - gremlins in the ether i bet. Like I meant to say that I have *no* vision insurance anymore.

[Gerry]

George, Perhaps you'd be interested in some actual experience. Perhaps others would as well <grin>.

 

I wince when I think what people will think when I reveal that I actually gave in to the temptation and did polish out the scratches.

 

Your plan to start out on your second pair is great. Keep thinking that way.

 

Try to remember whether your glasses are scratch resistant coated. Mine were, and the job is quite a bit harder if they are. Although it sounds like a macabre joke, it seems that those annoying accidental scratches occur easily, but the polishing you want to do will be substantially hindered by the coating.

 

That behind us, it's not a job that is as difficult as one might think. The worst part was my concern that I couldn't actually duplicate the final clarity required meant that I always was way too cautious when trying to deal with the scratches. I mean there's no point trying to remove scratches with 12,000 grit anything. Remember, if you do believe you have polish that will allow absolute clarity in the end, you can start with something more aggressive when you need it. Just remember that you will have to work up through the grits as WIM suggests for polishing nibs and plastics.

 

Do it wet, do it in measured steps, and finish with the finest acrylic polish you can get. It will take some elbow grease. I finished up with my favorite plastic polish on a wheel 'cause it was easier, but I don't recommend a wheel before the final step.

 

That's it - worked for me...

 

But not without a few cold sweat periods <grin>

 

Gerry

 

PS: Why? - I was scheduled for an eye test, and new glasses anyway. Turns out my prescription hadn't changed all that much anyway....so I'm still using them almost a year later....

[georgem]

Gerry,

 

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't even thought about whether or not they were coated with scratch resistance. I don't believe they are.

 

I'm still waiting for the polishes so I'll be reporting on this some time in the future.

 

KCat,

 

Yes, glasses are expensive. I'm retired so no longer have vision insurance. My wife has a flex spending account through her work which we plan on using for glasses, among other needs.

 

My Norton programs write to logfiles, usually without incident. Every once in a while, there's an error writing to one of the files which freezes the web browser and, in fact, the entire computer.

 

Then, getting everything restarted and running normally....