Plastic Spear

[Rooneytoons]

i know these spears should be clear , so my question is has anyone ever tried to clean/polish one if so what n how did you do it ???

[plum55]

Maybe one of those headlight polishing kits?

[Corvanti]

i'd probably go with "wet" sandpaper. start lightly with 400 grit (more pressure if needed). then go to 1000 grit and finish with 2000 grit. after that, some polishing compound and wax to protect it.

hope this helps!

[Rooneytoons]

i did have a go with some toothpaste with no luck , I'm thinking the sand paper route is going to be the way to go

[dean pearson]

How about a cloth wheel and a paste like they do with stainless?

Avoid heat.

Dean.

[Rooneytoons]

How about a cloth wheel and a paste like they do with stainless?

Avoid heat.

Dean.

I'm thinking i'll not use a machine as I'm sure to go too mad id end up melting it

[unclemiltie]

I would do it by hand for sure, that plastic in those is brittle and will melt if put on a buffer I do believe. You might try a good car paste wax, amazing what it can do for plastic parts.

[Warren Webb]

Better yet it would be nice to use a higher grade plastic in the repops. My 63 has an original on one side & a repro on the other. The original is still clear after over 52 years since it came off the line on 11/7/62. The repro went brown in months.

[Rooneytoons]

Better yet it would be nice to use a higher grade plastic in the repops. My 63 has an original on one side & a repro on the other. The original is still clear after over 52 years since it came off the line on 11/7/62. The repro went brown in months.

I've been told that about the repos

[rockne10]

1950 Commander. Why not just buy a reproduction? I don't care how much cleaning, shining, polishing you do; IT WON'T COME BACK, YOU WILL SPEND MUCH TIME AND YOU WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED! IMHO!
Or, make a mold and produce a new one that doesn't discolor.

[mbstude]

What Brad said.. It's discolored throughout, not just on the surface.

DO NOT hit it with a buffing wheel! That old plastic will melt in about 2 seconds.

I once tried to very lightly buff the plastic horn button for the '38 Commander.

Luckily I was able to find an NOS one.

[Rooneytoons]

What Brad said.. It's discolored throughout, not just on the surface.

DO NOT hit it with a buffing wheel! That old plastic will melt in about 2 seconds.

I once tried to very lightly buff the plastic horn button for the '38 Commander.


Luckily I was able to find an NOS one.

As Brad says , I don't want to go through the expensive of buying one shipping it to england to be in the same position as I am now or even worse , (spose I could mold an orange one )

[rockne10]

DO NOT hit it with a buffing wheel! That old plastic will melt in about 2 seconds.

With slight deference, Matt; there is a wheel and compound at proper rpm specifically for plastics, but you are right! Wheels and compounds used for metals, chrome, stainless, etc. will summarily dispatch our tail light lenses and horn buttons to the landfill.
For Sean's intent and purpose, any used original plastic is going to be crazed throughout. This particular piece was straight out in the weather. If he could find an ultimately rare NOS that has been packaged out of the light...well...that's not realistically going to happen, is it?
Who made the last batch of repos? Are more forthcoming? Will the clarity age well?

[mbstude]

With slight deference, Matt; there is a wheel and compound at proper rpm specifically for plastics

I figured as much.. I just wouldn't want anyone to think that any old buffing wheel would suffice. (Like I did!) I learned my lesson the hard way.

That spear looks like a pretty simple part. I'd be really tempted to make a rubber mold and cast one in acrylic.

[rockinhawk]

try scuffing it down with steel wool or Scotchbrite then spraying Rattle can clearcoat on it. That's worked for me a few times.