Brightening ABS/Polypropylene plastics easily and safely?

[ErikFinn]

OK this a long shot I suppose but I give it a try.

Is there an easy and safe way to do it? Google gave some links but I trust CF more..

The piece I'm looking at currently is a pump cylinder for a Jabsco manual toilet. lots of different shades of colors..

Its already had a hydrochloride acid bath. It may have added some brownish "patina"..

Anyone tried brightening / whitening? Is it worth it?

Thanks

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by ErikFinn

OK this a long shot I suppose but I give it a try.

Is there an easy and safe way to do it? Google gave some links but I trust CF more..

The piece I'm looking at currently is a pump cylinder for a Jabsco manual toilet. lots of different shades of colors..

Its already had a hydrochloride acid bath. It may have added some brownish "patina"..

Anyone tried brightening / whitening? Is it worth it?

Thanks

You can buy the whole pump. It will be white and contain all the parts to renew your toilet. Somewhere around $70, I believe. This is a far quicker and easier repair than trying to rebuild it yourself.

Soaking it in acid was probably not something you should have done.

[ErikFinn]

Originally Posted by rwidman

You can buy the whole pump. It will be white and contain all the parts to renew your toilet. Somewhere around $70, I believe. This is a far quicker and easier repair than trying to rebuild it yourself.

Soaking it in acid was probably not something you should have done.

Thanks but I know I can buy. and a new complete toilet is about USD 156.

But just the 70 bucks pump delivered here will be about 200 USD. Gawd knows how much a new toilet would be. But the point is I want to keep learning, I'm not one of those guys who can fix anything with a wad of greenbacks..

The acid should be ok.. I used 8% hydrochloride acid (muriatic acid) which is lot milder than the 30% or so folks use for cleaning the insides of these in the US, Or so I've heard..

So, anyone brightening/whitening ABS/Polypropylene plastics..?

[wrwakefield]

Originally Posted by ErikFinn

So, anyone brightening/whitening ABS/Polypropylene plastics..?

Hi Erik,

I have had ongoing, reasonable success using MDR Krazy Clean on vinyl, shore power cords, plastic cowlings, fiberglass, and the like.

It is available from about every boat supply retailer in the US. I don't know about your area...

Good luck resolving your issue.

Cheers! Bill

[ErikFinn]

Thanks for your info Bill.

[masonc]

How about a spray can of white paint for plastic?

[UNCIVILIZED]

Wet sand it?

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by masonc

How about a spray can of white paint for plastic?

THis solution works very well. BTDT. Wet sand the outer surfaces, wash with warm soapy water and rinse well, cover the bearing surfaces with tape and apply several very light coats of white spray paint. If you can find it in your locale, a "plastics primer" is advisable but, if not, very light coats of paint alone will work with very light roughening with sand paper between coats after each has thoroughly dried. (One needs keep coats light so that the solvent in the paint media does not effect the plastic in the part being painted.)

FWIW...

[redhead]

I've also had very good results with white spray paint for plastics. Several things done below and also tried it on my old white plastic dorade cowls. So far, I'm very pleased. I'm sure the UV will have something to say about the cowls.

If your back is up against the wall, try the spray paint. Nothing to lose really.

[travellerw]

I agree with spray painting.. I tried the whole whitening thing on our toilet paper holders. Didn't work worth crap..

In the end I sanded them with 220 grit and used Krylon Fusion paint. They look fantastic and should last lots longer before the paint yellows..

[senormechanico]

Here's what a friend of mine did:

Retr0Bright Restores Yellowed Vintage Plastic to Factory Fresh

It came out like new. Glycerin, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Oxygen bleach.

[JPA Cate]

Considering that the acid has probably given it some tooth, a light sanding, wipe with turps, and then paint it is probably your best option. Wet sanding it to get down to fresh material would be a fair wee bit of work, and so many notches where it would be really difficult to get down into. If you do paint it, you could do the rest of the plastic bits at the same time, and then, it would all "match", color wise. Or, I suppose, you don't have to go white, any color you like could do.

Life's all experimentation.

Ann

[Redpcx]

For cosmetic improvement, white spray paint, made for plastic. I think i had "Fusion"
It worked well, easy to use, and lots of other white things on a boat to use the leftover on. Also works great on metals, etc.

[windcat]

I've successfully used automotive spray paint. I've also used it on the lazarette covers in the cockpit. If it works on plastic cars like corvettes, I figured it should work for boat applications.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by ErikFinn

............. But the point is I want to keep learning, ..............

OK, I can help you with that "learning thing". Figure out what you're doing before you make maters worse. Acid isn't the proper thing for restoring plastic.

If you want to pretty up your toilet, paint is your best bet at this point. And while regular $1.00 per can spray paint may stick for a while, they do make paint for plastic and that's worth the extra cost. I needed a replacement cable for my VHF microphone and black was no longer available, only "off white". I cleaned the cord carefully and used paint made for car seats (about $12 per can) and it's held up for several years exposed to the weather and use.