Plastic Polishing/Cleaning Tips Wanted...

[Wotname]

Can you please share your plastic cleaning and polishing methods?

I have the metal aspects of my fuel tank refurbishments sorted but I am unsure of the best practice for getting the 40 year old plastic fuel cap looking good.

Out of interest, the tank was stripped, sprayed with a high build 2 pack primer and then three coats of 2 pack poly topcoat. The inside was painted with Red-Kote tank liner.

[a64pilot]

I don’t think you can rejuvenate that old cap.
But you may want to look up aircraft windshield polishing, it may give you some ideas.
It’s essentially the same as polishing a hull, or paint.

[Sailmonkey]

I would just clean the cap and paint it black. Just me though.

[JPA Cate]

Hi, Wottie,

Err, uh, how come you didn't match the paint color to that of the cap?

Ah, well, I agree with A64 that the color of the cap cannot be much improved, but, jewelers rouge can put a fine polish on it. Then it will be shiny, and stained. Or, you can use Meguiar's cleaner on it, followed by Meguiar's polish. Then, it will be shiny and stained. Sorry.

Cosmetically, possibly the best solution, imho, would be to repaint the tank itself, in a color to match, as I'm not sure you can get paint to stick to the cap. You could try painting the cap, and then, if it tries to come off, remove the remaining paint with citrus
stripper.

Ann

[a64pilot]

Sometimes you can buy a new cap.

[model 10]

Why the hell didn't you paint the cap with the same stuff?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Can you please share your plastic cleaning and polishing methods?

I have the metal aspects of my fuel tank refurbishments sorted but I am unsure of the best practice for getting the 40 year old plastic fuel cap looking good.

Out of interest, the tank was stripped, sprayed with a high build 2 pack primer and then three coats of 2 pack poly topcoat. The inside was painted with Red-Kote tank liner.

Go on, leave it as it is, clearly indicating a renovation not a restoration.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Sometimes you can buy a new cap.

Let me explain that, I wasn’t trying to be smart, but sometimes new old stock parts are available.
I’m surprised how many parts I can still buy for my 1946 airplane, and it’s weird parts. The most commonly used parts were sold out decades ago.

[er9]

it would be a lot of work to restore the cap color. you would probably have to sand the cap surface down about a half millimeter or so to get past the weathered, decomposing surface and then polish it with a medium grit rouge on a muslin buffing wheel. it would be a two to three hour job and about $30 or so in supplies. and it wouldnt be perfect because the surface texture of the cap would prevent you from getting a 100% polish.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Let me explain that, I wasn’t trying to be smart, but sometimes new old stock parts are available.
I’m surprised how many parts I can still buy for my 1946 airplane, and it’s weird parts. The most commonly used parts were sold out decades ago.

Fair point, I will look into this as a possible option - although it goes against the grain buying new if old can be made reasonably good again .

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Hi, Wottie,

Err, uh, how come you didn't match the paint color to that of the cap?

Ah, well, I agree with A64 that the color of the cap cannot be much improved, but, jewelers rouge can put a fine polish on it. Then it will be shiny, and stained. Or, you can use Meguiar's cleaner on it, followed by Meguiar's polish. Then, it will be shiny and stained. Sorry.

Cosmetically, possibly the best solution, imho, would be to repaint the tank itself, in a color to match, as I'm not sure you can get paint to stick to the cap. You could try painting the cap, and then, if it tries to come off, remove the remaining paint with citrus
stripper.

Ann

Already had the paint leftover from another project (tractor repaint). I don't think the original Yanmar paint and cap was all that close anyway - although closer than mine .

Main reason for the thread is so I don't waste a shipload time trying things that don't work or cause further damage. I have found that someone on CF usually has the answer...

Painting the cap is not really an option as far as I can tell. I have yet to see any paint job successfully stick to an old plastic diesel and grime embedded object that has to be handled regularly. Although Ecos may know how to do it successfully.

I am not concerned about getting a close colour match, I just would like the cap to look cleaner etc.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by er9

it would be a lot of work to restore the cap color. you would probably have to sand the cap surface down about a half millimeter or so to get past the weathered, decomposing surface and then polish it with a medium grit rouge on a muslin buffing wheel. it would be a two to three hour job and about $30 or so in supplies. and it wouldnt be perfect because the surface texture of the cap would prevent you from getting a 100% polish.

Thanks, I will further into this method. I not trying to achieve perfection, just improvement.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Go on, leave it as it is, clearly indicating a renovation not a restoration.

Well patina is important

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Ecos

Why the hell didn't you paint the cap with the same stuff?

Help me out here, what is your method of getting a 2 pack paint to successfully adhere to a somewhat flexible well used dirty (diesel etc) old piece of plastic and be tough enough to cope with daily handling and the bumps and knocks of general use?

[a64pilot]

What is this thing anyway? Stationary engine?