Plastic car parts: how to polish them perfectly? Grinding and polishing of plastic products.

Plastic has become almost irreplaceable material. It is found in every home and office. Household items, dishes, toys, household appliances, car parts are made from it, and it is also widely used for interior decoration. Plastic has many advantages, such as:

• ease;
• cheapness;
• ease of use;
• unpretentiousness of content;
• resistance to temperature changes.

All these qualities allowed him to gain a strong foothold in the commodity market. However, plastic is susceptible to external influences, as a result of which scratches and abrasions often appear on it, and the original gloss of the object is lost, which will certainly upset everyone. And an item such as a car headlight, if worn, significantly ruins the life of car owners. Replacing headlights is quite an expensive pleasure, and not every driver is willing to spend money on it. But in fact, wear and tear of plastic is not a reason for frustration, because returning your favorite item is practically original appearance, you can even do it at home with your own hands.
Content

• Where to begin
• Sanding plastic
• Polishing plastic
• Manual polishing of plastic
• Polishing

Where to begin

First, let’s decide what exactly needs to be revived? After all, the processing may differ for different plastic items. Plastic polishing can be:

• mechanical;
• chemical;
• thermal.

Depending on the nature of the abrasion, if there are deep scratches, it is worth sanding before polishing. If there are no deep scratches, polishing will solve all the problems.

In fact, having high ductility and a low melting point, plastic is quite easy to both grind and polish. Therefore, if you approach this issue correctly, polishing will allow you to breathe life into even the oldest objects.

Sanding plastic

So, if you need to renew an item that has been severely damaged as a result of external influences and has many obvious scratches, prepare the material. It is necessary to clean the plastic from dirt, greasy marks, and remnants of special coatings.

It is worth noting that if the plastic is framed by another material, then it is worth covering it with masking tape so as not to scratch it while sanding the plastic.

After the material is ready for processing, take a waterproof sandpaper, initially of a fairly coarse texture, and start sanding. The main thing here is accuracy. Work the surface slowly, centimeter by centimeter, making sure that the material does not overheat. It is very good to sand plastic in soapy water. If possible, you can use a special grinding machine, this will significantly reduce the time spent on this stage, but in this case you should refuse water!

When you see that the deep scratches have become even, you should replace the sandpaper with a finer one and continue in the same way. It is worth changing several types of skins, moving from coarse to smaller ones, before you get the desired effect. In order not to miss any errors, after each stage, wipe the plastic with a dry cloth, so you will see all the shortcomings and be able to correct them in time.

Polishing plastic

So, we got rid of the scratches. The next stage, no less labor-intensive, will be polishing, which will make the product practically new. How to polish plastic so as not to ruin the thing with your own hands?

After grinding, the surface became smooth and matte, and when polishing, it is necessary to achieve smoothness and shine of the material. IN modern world Many car dealerships and companies offer plastic polishing. However, a special paste is used for this, which can be bought at every auto store and simple devices. The choice of polishing pastes is quite large, the first thing you should consider is the choice of paste specifically for plastic! Keep this in mind when you buy it, otherwise, due to inexperience, you may not revive the item, but completely ruin it. Contact a consultant in the store, he will certainly recommend the one that suits you.

Also, many advise using GOI paste, which is used to polish the plaques on soldiers’ belts. But this option is more suitable for large items that do not require special transparency. For small parts that require maximum polishing quality, it is still worth using specialized pastes, because they are the ones that can restore the shine and transparency of the plastic.

There are many methods of polishing - some do it with their own hands, some with a drill, some with a grinding machine.

Manual polishing of plastic

So, you have decided that you will polish the surface by hand. Option suitable for small surfaces and small parts. Let's start with the pasta mentioned above. Such a paste should be absolutely homogeneous, without any grains or impurities; to give it more gloss, you can add a little oil to it. It is better to apply it using a piece of felt or felt. Having covered the entire surface of the object, we begin to polish. Using light circular movements, with slight pressure, polish the surface for 15-20 minutes. If the part was not badly damaged, then you will like the effect. But if the wear was significant, then it will take much longer to polish.

How to polish plastic with a drill attachment.

The second method - polishing with a drill, implies the presence of this very tool in your arsenal. If you have a drill, it works, and you know how to use it, then feel free to go to the store for a special polishing attachment. Such a nozzle is quite inexpensive and buying it is not difficult. However, do not forget to tell the seller that polishing will be done using the attachment. It easily attaches to a drill and allows you to quickly achieve desired result. Using this technology, you can polish a variety of products, and most often it is used for car headlights, which makes them transparent and smooth. In this case, it is also worth using special pastes, because it is they, together with do-it-yourself processing, that give the ideal result.

You can save some money with this option by replacing the sanding attachment with a piece of felt that is inserted into the drill chuck. Polishing with felt is very effective, but you need to secure the material well enough, otherwise the fabric will pop out and cause you a lot of inconvenience.

Polishing plastic with a polishing machine

And the third option is polishing polishing machine. Not every home has such a device, but it is quite a useful and convenient thing. Car enthusiasts will always find it useful for polishing plastic and headlights with their own hands. And in the house you can always easily polish any item, spending just a few minutes on it. Therefore, if your budget allows it and you are sure that this thing will be useful to you, that is, you will have to polish it often, it is worth purchasing such a machine. You can find it at any power tool store.

Before final polishing, you should walk over the plastic surface with a damp polishing attachment, this way you will get rid of any remaining dirt and prepare the surface for the final stage. On final stage You should use special pastes and a special foam rubber circle. Polishing the plastic. This process takes 2-3 minutes, so you are guaranteed to save time and effort.

Polishing

After each type of polishing, it is worth covering the surface with a special polish for plastic. Using any of the devices, apply a small layer of polish to the plastic and rub thoroughly with a nozzle or cloth, and then go over the surface with a tool. This small nuance will allow you to complete the process and consolidate the result. After all this, you will be satisfied with the result.

It is also worth remembering that if a plastic item is exposed to water, the layer created by the paste and polish will be washed away over time. Therefore, polish the plastic yourself as soon as you notice that the object has begun to fade. This will help keep the effect long enough.

Like this, with the help simple devices, special tools and a little skill, you can give a second life to many plastic items. You just have to approach this issue responsibly and take into account all the necessary nuances. Polishing sometimes allows you to save quite a decent amount of money, and if you have time, even earn money. Because now you know how to polish necessary item and you can do this not only for yourself, but also for others.

Plastic is used in the production process of the most different products. It is stable, unpretentious in operation, and has a low cost. However, scratches may appear on the surfaces if handled carelessly. How to polish plastic so that it regains its original appearance? This largely depends on the surface that needs to be treated.

Headlights

Most often, polishing plastic is necessary for car owners. Plastic headlights can become cloudy and scratched over time. And in order to return them to their former attractive appearance, you can use the advice of the experts.

You need to purchase sandpaper(very fine), abrasive polish (coarse and fine), masking paper tape, polishing sponge, polishing machine (or drill with a special attachment).

1. Before starting work, cover the surface next to the headlight with tape - this is necessary so as not to damage it during work.
2. Now carefully sand the surface of the headlight. As a result, you should get a perfectly smooth matte surface without scratches or other defects. Wipe the headlight with a damp cloth from time to time and dry it.
3. Wet the polishing sponge - it is important that the water is clean. Attach the sponge to the attachment (if you are using a drill). Apply polish to the headlight or sponge in small portions. Remember that the work must be done quickly - if you stop for a long time in one place, the plastic may simply melt. Don't forget to wet the sponge from time to time - it should always be slightly damp. Start with a coarse abrasive polish and then move on to a fine abrasive. Rinse the surface and dry.

Various gadgets, Cell phones, players accompany us everywhere. And over time, the device’s display may become cloudy, scratches and irregularities may appear on it. It's time to start polishing.

1. You will need a piece of soft fabric - flannel will do (you can use flannel or something similar), water and regular cheap toothpaste. Remember that the plastic used to create the screen is very soft, which means you can easily damage it if you use various aggressive substances.

Fold the fabric 3 times, apply a drop of water and a little paste to the glass. Now – patience: gently wipe the surface with a cloth in a circular motion for several minutes. Wipe off the paste and evaluate the result. If the result is unsatisfactory, repeat the process again.

1. There is another option. If you have GOI paste, sold in hardware stores, and the surface is scratched quite badly, you can polish it in the following way. Apply one drop onto the screen machine oil, apply paste to the cloth, and then wipe the surface, pressing lightly. After a few minutes, remove the composition and dry the glass - if the result is not satisfactory, repeat the procedure.

During operation, profiles plastic windows require care. If scratches appear on them, you need to restore the original neat appearance by polishing it yourself.

Some minor scratches can be removed with a dry, soft cloth. You will need patience because this process is quite lengthy. If the scratches are more noticeable, buy a special marker in the store. It is applied directly to the scratch, and then also buffed a little on top with a soft, dry cloth. It is recommended to consult with a specialist who could advise you on the best quality marker.

You can also purchase a specialized solvent for PVC surfaces. Solvent can be purchased directly from the company where you ordered the windows, as well as at some hardware stores. The solvent will help you remove scratches and even small cracks from the surface. Remember that before starting work you need to put on gloves, and when finished, thoroughly wipe the surface of the profile so that the solvent does not remain on it. Keep in mind that many products are quite aggressive, which means you need to do everything quickly and carefully.

Similar news

The interior of your car is one of the main points in the matter of aesthetics of the entire car. Each car has its own brand, its own interior design.

One of the most popular materials used for interior design is plastic. But wooden and chrome parts are often found. Luxury car brands use a lot genuine leather. And all this requires care.

Proper care of plastic in the cabin

Plastic is not only negatively affected ultra-violet rays, but also cigarette smoke. Due to their influence, it becomes duller, light details begin to turn yellow. Therefore, try not to leave your car in the sun for a long time. Hide him in the shade.

If you smoke in the cabin, then clean the interior with cleaning products more often.

Everyday care of plastic in the salon consists of daily wiping, first with a damp cloth, then dry, so that no streaks remain.

For spring cleaning you can use the most convenient and simplest method today - this is a polishing aerosol in a can, the volume of which is 300 - 500 milliliters. Aerosols not only renew the appearance of plastic, but also protect the surface from dust.

There is nothing complicated in application. Simply apply the aerosol to the surface and rub with a dry soft cloth.

Polishing process

Polishing the plastic of the car interior is necessary to remove any defects that have arisen. Most often these are scratches and yellowing. We can remove all this with our own hands, since there is nothing complicated in this procedure.

Polishing steps:

1. Sand the scratch with medium-grain abrasive sandpaper (this can be omitted if there are no scratches). Wipe the surface.
2. Next, we carry out the processing with sandpaper and fine abrasive. It will remove traces of previous processing. Wipe the treated surface.
3. We finish polishing with felt or pastes without abrasive content.

Polishing should only be done using water. Constantly wet the abrasive sandpaper and treat it with water. Some people perform this process under a constant stream of water. This is simpler, but when working with fine-grained skins, the abrasive may not reach the surface being treated due to a constant water layer.

You can select the abrasive number from the amount of damage:

• P – 400, P – 600 for scratches more than 0.2 millimeters.
• P1000 – P1500 for numerous small scratches, to remove yellowness.
• P – 2000 as well as non-abrasive pastes are used for final polishing

Tools and materials

In order to speed up the polishing process, you can use either a special polishing machine or a simple electric drill with a special attachment for attaching wheels.

There are various pastes available as polishes. But if you have any doubts, you can confidently purchase a set of GOI pastes along with a wax polish. By choosing the correct number of GOI paste, you can eliminate any scratch. We apply it to felt or felt fabric.

It is important to control the work with the power tool, preventing the plastic from overheating. After which it may simply melt. Therefore, do not put much force on the tool, as repairing this damage will be problematic.

But we will also consider the option of removing scratches using heat.

Polishing plastic with a hairdryer

On some car parts, polishing with a machine is not very convenient, and removing the part can be quite problematic. In this case, you can try polishing using construction hair dryer, preheating the part. But if there is paint on the surface being treated, we advise you to abandon this method.

When the hair dryer heats up the damaged area, the plastic begins to melt little by little and thereby heals the scratch. It is not easy to control the process, but it is possible if you are an attentive person. The main thing is not to overdo it and not let the plastic float.

To do this, it is necessary to work with small areas, gradually increasing the temperature and constantly monitoring the process.

Scratches, especially if they are serious, cannot be eliminated completely. And after working with a hairdryer, you will need to finish everything to excellent condition with polishes.

Special or wax polishes are rubbed into the treated area with microfiber or a clean, soft, lint-free cloth.

The video shows how you can remove scratches on plastic using a hair dryer.

Polishing wooden elements

On wooden elements your salon is processed only varnish coating. If the scratches are quite deep and reach the wood, you will have to replace the entire varnish layer. Otherwise, furniture polishes are used.

It is better to pre-treat the scratch with paraffin or wax, since the wax contained in furniture polishes is sometimes not enough.

Perform polishing wooden surface better to do it yourself. If you accidentally damage a layer of wood, it is almost impossible to restore it. Therefore, do everything slowly and with special attention.

10/29/2016 5,66,889 views

Surfaces made of all kinds of plastics surround us. They are comfortable and practical, but are subject to deformation. Therefore, the question of how to polish plastic from scratches is always relevant. To ensure that your favorite smartphone, window sill or TV retains its attractive appearance, you need to familiarize yourself with our tips and, with the help of simple steps, transform them into almost their original appearance.

It is enough to look around to see how indispensable plastic has become in Everyday life. It is made from: Appliances, means of communication, kitchenware, automobile parts, finishing materials.

This material is light and cheap, easy to use and unpretentious, and is also resistant to temperature fluctuations. The only negative is the relatively low density, which is a consequence of the appearance of abrasions and scratches on it. Because of this, changing the entire product is too expensive.

Preparation

When starting work, we must first decide on what we are actually going to do and what available means we will use. Polishing is not difficult, you just need to know how. To begin with, you should understand that jacks of all trades distinguish at least three various types such actions:

1. Thermal (using a hair dryer).
2. Chemical (that is, by exposing the plastic to toothpaste, polish or GOI paste).
3. Mechanical (using a drill or other polishing machine).

Initially, we assess how great the damage has been caused, and based on this, we choose a method for further work:

1. Scratches from plastic should be removed by hand polishing.
2. Deeper damage can be overcome using thermal effects.
3. The coating acquires an ideal shine after chemical treatment, and your headlights will shine like new.

Once the future strategy of action has been determined, all that remains is to carefully prepare the product for work. Using the most common dishwashing or glass cleaning products, you should carefully remove accumulated dirt and greasy spots. Surely the plastic has a frame made of a different material. These places are covered with masking tape, which will be removed after finishing the work.

Sanding plastic

This method of mechanical treatment of a plastic surface is used if there are deep scratches that cannot be effectively removed by any other method. The material lends itself well to grinding, having low temperature melting. As a result of leisurely, careful work, we should get a uniform matte surface where there were previously deep scratches. Here is the subsequent range of actions:

• We place the pre-cleaned material where it will be convenient to work with it;
• preparing workplace, remove all unnecessary items;
• as a processing material we take several waterproof skins of different textures;
• a special grinding machine is useful as an auxiliary tool;
• If you don’t have a machine, you should keep in mind that sanding using soapy water has a good effect.

We begin the work using sandpaper that has a coarse texture. Sanding is a slow process and requires care. We process the product in a slow mode, monitor the temperature, it should not overheat. We methodically move from the coarse texture of the skins to smaller ones. After using each of them, we wipe the treated area with a dry cloth, this allows us not to miss any remaining imperfections.

How to polish plastic from scratches yourself?

There are several ways by which eliminating scratches and abrasions will no longer be an impossible dream. At home, with the help of simple devices, you can make a shabby product perfect with your own hands.

If the plastic surface that yours has kitchen table, has stopped sparkling and is covered in scratches, then polishing it to its original shine will not be difficult.

The same method will allow you to do window slope as textured as it was a few years ago. A few hours of dedicated work will save you significant money.

Hand polishing

After getting rid of the scratches, it's time to move on to the next labor-intensive process - polishing, which makes the old part almost new. Services involving the removal of scratches are widely provided by car and mobile phone dealerships, as well as specialized cleaning companies.

They are not cheap, and the same work can be easily done with your own hands. After all special means and the devices used by professionals are sold in all auto stores. The main thing when choosing a polishing paste: do not forget that we will be processing plastic; In order not to miss the choice, you should consult with the seller, who will give professional advice.

By the way, GOI paste has proven itself well with the chosen processing method. It should be familiar to those who served in the army and polished a belt plaque. With this product you can ideally polish objects that do not pretend to be pristinely transparent.

If we are talking about a TV that has scratches or a phone that has significant abrasions, then it is better to use special pastes. They may cost more, but the effect will be desired.

Hand polishing:

• optimally processes small parts and small surfaces;
• We take a homogeneous paste, impurities and grains are excluded;
• The oil will give it a special shine;
• apply the paste to the surface with felt or felt
• use circular movements;
• the hand moves easily, the pressure is light;
• the whole process takes from 15 to 20 minutes.

We use a polishing machine, which in the most budget version consists of a drill with a special attachment:

• an inexpensive polishing attachment is sold in the store;
• the best use of such a machine is the surface of the headlights;
• Replacing the nozzle with a piece of ordinary felt gives a good saving.

This material requires thorough fastening so that it does not come off.

Polishing

Among the products purchased in a specialized store, do not forget about polish. With its help, the result of your work will be glossy plastic, no different from the one we purchased in the store. The operating technology is as follows:

1. The product is applied to the surface in the form of a small uniform layer.
2. It is necessary to thoroughly rub it with a special cloth or attachment.
3. Then the actual work process begins, by which the required result is achieved; the plastic will be brought to a mirror shine by the polish.
4. If the surface of the phone is polished, then, subject to periodic exposure to moisture, the transparent plastic will lose its achieved result over time, and the process should be repeated.
5. Repetition is necessary in any case if you see that your plastic is again black and worn.

Conclusion: to avoid frequent updates, protect household items from moisture.

Using a polishing machine

This is quite professional tool, allowing you to bring the restoration of the product to the ideal process. This tool is useful and convenient. It is especially recommended for car enthusiasts who from time to time improve the headlights of their car, as well as its plastic surfaces. The main convenience lies in speed; in a few minutes, a volume of work is done that would probably take more than an hour to do manually.

The consideration that guides a person purchasing such equipment is the need to clean up his mess from time to time. household. Such a polishing masterpiece is not that expensive; it is available in stores that sell power tools.

A few nuances that should be observed when using the tool:

• before using special products, it is necessary to remove any remaining dirt using a damp nozzle;
• when the action is nearing its end, one of the special pastes purchased in the store is used;
• To bring a special shine to the product, a special foam nozzle will help.

The entire method takes a few minutes.

Video: how to polish plastic from scratches with a polishing machine?

Hairdryer

Another pretty one original method getting rid of scratches is to use a regular hairdryer. The meaning of the method is simple: plastic reacts quickly to sudden temperature changes, so heat treatment is in the best possible way“heal wounds” on the surface of your phone.

Two types of tools are used for work: a regular hair dryer, used for drying hair, and a special construction unit.

1. Before work, contaminants are removed from the plastic.
2. It is best to start the process with minimal power.
3. We direct a stream of hot air to the desired area.
4. If scratches continue to remain, the power must be gradually increased, but without fanaticism.
5. The main expected result is that the area with scratches will acquire a matte surface, and the scratches themselves will disappear.
6. After cooling, polishing of the plastic begins.

Toothpaste

In some cases, there is no need to purchase expensive products. As practice shows, such improvised means as ordinary toothpaste can serve as an abrasive for polishing the same headlights. Despite the low cost and extreme availability, the surface shine, in the end, is no worse than when using a proprietary product from a specialized store.

The principle of working with this tool:

• with help detergents get rid of contaminants;
• the composition of the product must be neutral;
• after degreasing, the product is washed and dried;
• the paste is applied to a piece of flannel;
• circular movements, clockwise or counterclockwise;
• periodically it is necessary to wash off the resulting slurry;
• The remaining paste is best removed with a damp sponge.

It is obvious that, using simple methods and a budget arsenal of funds, you can save significant money and get a truly brilliant result.

5 methods of polishing plastic from scratches and abrasions

The interior of a car is no less susceptible to mechanical damage than the body. One awkward move and a scratch appears on the plastic. How to eliminate this annoying defect with your own hands, without resorting to expensive car service services? The most common and effective way is the restoration of interior plastic using restorers and gel plasticizers and subsequent polishing of the plastic. The effectiveness of the procedure depends on the depth of the scratch, the type of plastic and the type of surface. Let's take a closer look at the subtleties and nuances of car interior restoration.

You can remove scratches on plastic using the following methods.

Restoration using plastic restorers

Polishing and restoration of the plastic of the car interior with your own hands is carried out in the following order.

1. Clear plastic parts car interior from pollution.
2. Cover with masking tape the interior parts adjacent to the workpiece that fall into the polishing zone.
3. Apply a restorer appropriate to the type of plastic to the scratch area. Wait until it is absorbed.
4. Carefully polish the surface with fine-grained sandpaper, removing excess restorative compound.
5. Make an impression of the texture of the undamaged area using a gel plasticizer.
6. Transfer the surface pattern to the area to be restored. Lightly press the cast onto the scratch so that the design is imprinted on it.
7. Spread the polish over the plastic and sprinkle it with a small amount of water.
8. Polish with a machine at low speed, rubbing the polish into the entire surface of the part.
9. Polish the interior with anti-hologram polish (if the plastic is dark in color)
10. Wash the surface of the restored area of ​​the interior.

At making the right choice materials, restoration and polishing of a car interior with your own hands can be successfully completed even by a novice. If you use improvised means, such as a plasticizer gel and a hairdryer, then good result provided in the form of an updated car.